Page 45 of Forever Mine

Butterflies swirled in my stomach as he led us to the back of the house.

Mary Westin was cooking in the kitchen with her back toward us. I hung back as Liam went to hug his mother. Oscar hid behind me, suddenly uncomfortably and unsure of himself. I watched the two embrace and she kissed his cheek.

“Let me look at you,” Mary said. “So, how was San Francisco? Anything exciting? You left in such a hurry, and never even called. What was that all about? Did you bring me back something good?”

He laughed patiently, letting her interrogations flow.

“Actually, I did bring home something rather interesting.”

“Well, come on, you know how I love surprises. What is it?”

“My mate,” he said, and I knew my cheeks pinked. I looked down at Oscar, seeing the surprise in his eyes as he stared back at me. I was certain Liam had covered that part already, too.

“Mom, this is . . .” Before he could finish, she gasped.

Her hands flew to her mouth in shock. “Madelyn?”

I started to cry and nod as she descended on me, wrapping her arms around me and pulling me into the comfort only a mother could provide. She broke away and stared up at me in wonder.

“You’re alive? You’re really here? Does your family know?”

Questions kept bumbling out of her and I was reminded of Oscar when he was excited about something. Oscar. I looked around. He was hugging up next to Liam, just quietly observing it all.

“No, I haven’t spoken to my parents,” I confessed, feeling the full weight of the guilt I had carried for the last eight years.

“Liam, how?” She paused, looking at her son and noticing mine for the first time. With hands on her hips in true Mary Westin fashion as I remembered as a child, she asked, “Now who do we have here?”

“Hi, I’m Oscar,” he said bravely. “Are you Liam’s mom?”

“I am, and you know what? I just baked some cookies this morning and I haven’t had a tester yet. Would you like to help me?”

He hesitated, but the thought and the smells from her kitchen were too alluring and he nodded happily. “I can help.”

“Well alright then, come on.” She took his hand and walked the short distance to the counter to retrieve two large chocolate chip cookies and a napkin before escorting him to the kitchen table. They both sat.

“Now tell me, Oscar, how old are you?”

“I’m seven,” he said with a mouth full of cookie.

“Oscar, don’t talk with food in your mouth,” I scolded without thinking.

Mary’s quizzical eyes flew to meet mine. I could see her brain working out a puzzle, doing the math. It wasn’t what she thought, but I couldn’t tell her that in front of my son.

“Sorry, Mommy,” he said after swallowing, confirming what she already knew.

“Kelsey and Zander will be by shortly.” Then she turned to Oscar. “Zander’s my grandson. He just turned one, but he’ll be excited to have someone to play with if you think you can handle a toddler.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he said. “I can teach him how to play basketball. Did he like the gift Liam got for his birthday?”

Mary continued to struggle to put the pieces together. “How do you know what Liam got him for his birthday?”

“It was my suggestion,” Oscar admitted proudly. “I knew he’d love it. He did, right? He loved it?”

“He sure did. You are a fantastic gift picker-outer.”

“I know,” he said before shoving the last of his cookie into his mouth.

“Mary?” A woman’s voice came from the front of the house as I heard the door shut behind her. “Up or down?”

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