Page 24 of Forever Mine

When the boat docked Oscar requested ice cream. Steph and Mark decided to join us. As we were walking to a nearby place, Steph came up beside me and linked her arm through mine. The others were just ahead of us.

“I'm really happy you and Liam found each other.”

I cringed. “Don't be,” I whispered.

Steph stopped and turned to stare me in the eyes. I had never felt quite so vulnerable in that way, like she could see all the way to my soul.

“You're certain? I mean I'll admit I was little skeptical when I heard you had a kid, but Oscar's great and Liam's going to be a wonderful dad.”

“I know,” I said softly.

“And you're sure this is what you want?”

“No,” I said shaking my head, “but it's what I have to do.”

She brushed a tear away and hugged me close. Panic flared inside for only a moment. I took a deep breath and was surprised to find I was okay.

“Do me a favor, and make it fast. He's a really great guy, and I don't want to see him hurt any more than needs be.”

I nodded and started to cry. Oscar must have sensed it, as he turned to stare. I saw the disappointment in his eyes and quickly wiped my tears away.

“Mommy, what's wrong?”

I put on my biggest fake smile and lied to my child. “Nothing's wrong, baby. Mommy's just really happy for everything Steph and Mark did today and I was just thanking her. Papi has your ice cream, go, enjoy it.”

Steph and I shared a look and I suddenly had a flashback to my sisters. It was a similar look we'd give each other when we shared a secret. I took a deep, cleansing breath.

“It's going to be okay,” I said aloud to no one in particular, or maybe just to reassure myself.

I watched Oscar finish his ice cream before I pulled him aside and stepped away from the others. I needed to give him a heads-up that I wouldn't be going back to the hotel with them, but that Mimi had promised he could go swimming after dinner, if he didn't give her too hard a time.

He was so used to always having me around that on the extremely rare occasion I left him, even with his grandparents, he pitched a fit. He would sometimes refuse to eat, or cry and throw a tantrum. Of course, it was much worse when he was little; now it was more of pouting and being stubborn.

To my surprise, he took the news better than I expected. He was still elated from the trip to Alcatraz and he didn't even bother asking me where I was going or anything. Sometimes in moments like this, under the scrutiny of his inquisition, it could feel more like I was the child and he was the parent, but he just smiled, hugged me, and told me to have a good time.

A short while later we all said goodbye as Annie and Jacob left with Oscar, and Steph and Mark said their goodbyes also . . . and then there were two. Just me and Liam. Suddenly I had no clue where to even begin.

“So, I have you for the entire evening?”

I nodded, feeling shy all of a sudden.

He grinned from ear to ear. “Perfect, come on,” he said, taking my hand.

“Where are we going?” I asked.

“Come take a ride with me.”

“Where?”

“You'll see,” he said, reaching for my hand.

We walked back to the road and caught a cab to the hotel. Instead of going inside he escorted me to the parking garage where a sleek black SUV waited. He held the door and helped me up into it before walking around and climbing into the driver's seat, and then we were off.

We were both quiet as we drove along. I stared out into the bay and admired the beautiful Golden Gate Bridge as it got closer and closer.

“Are we going across?” I finally asked, excitedly. I had never been to the other side where the hills rolled high above in plush green landscapes so opposite the hustle and bustle of San Francisco.

“We are, there's a special place I know that I want to show you. May be a little weird, but probably my favorite place in the whole Bay Area.”

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