It was strange to think that she only had nine more years or so with him living at home with her full time. Of course it was always possible he would commute to college instead of living in a dorm, but even that meant only a few more years. In any case, he would be a teenager soon.
I wish I could give him a house like the one we saw today,she couldn’t help thinking to herself.
Jenny had never been overly worried about money and material things, which was a good philosophy since she was a teacher.
But seeing Gael in that house had tugged at her heartstrings.
It wasn’t just about the house,a little voice whispered in her ear.
That didn’t bear thinking about though. It was bad enough that she’d lost her college years to pining for Erik and then so much of her adulthood missing Jason. She needed to keep her thoughts on her son now. He was the most important person in her life, and she had promised herself from the first moment she laid eyes on him that he would always be her priority over everything else.
Her phone buzzed in her pocket, and she pulled it out, bracing herself for another call from her mom, but surprised to see that it was Erik.
Sliding her thumb across the screen, she hurried to the bedroom.
“Hey,” she said softly.
“Hey,” he said, his voice huskier than usual.
For a moment neither of them said anything more, and all Jenny could hear was her own heartbeat in her ears.
“Listen,” Erik said at last. “I know this is all supposed to be pretend. But it isn’t, not for me. I have feelings for you Jenny, real feelings.”
“Oh,” she managed, the single syllable coming out like a sigh.
“I don’t want to pressure you,” he said. “But would you consider going on a date with me? A real one?”
In spite of everything she had just promised herself, Jenny found herself dying to say yes.
I can’t say yes. I can’t.
“I… I’ll have to think about it,” she said instead.
“Fair enough,” Erik replied, his deep voice measured. “You think about it, Jenny. I’ll be waiting.”
She hung up and closed her eyes, holding the phone to her heart. Life was all about timing, and the timing of all this just wasn’t right.
“What was that about?” Gael said from right beside her.
She opened her eyes, glad she hadn’t actually jumpedwith surprise.
“Was that Erik?” Gael asked, a knowing smile on his lips. “Did he ask you out for real?”
“How did you know?” she said automatically, then wished she hadn’t given herself away.
“But you said you had to think about it,” Gael said, his brow furrowed. “That’s not what you’re supposed to say.”
“What am I supposed to say?” she asked.
“You’re supposed to sayyes,” he said. “Obviously.”
“Gael,” she said carefully. “This has been so much fun, but you and I are just here for a nice vacation. We have to be back in Boston before your school starts up again…”
“They have schools here too,” Gael pointed out.
“Erik and I are just getting to know each other again,” she said carefully. “He and his fiancée only broke up a few days ago. Even if we already lived here, this wouldn’t be a good time.”
Gael sighed, his head dropping to his chest so dramatically he almost looked like a character from one of his comics.
