Page 106 of Long Time Coming

“Visit?” My chest tightens for my son. “What are you saying?”

“I took the promotion, and I’m moving to Paris. I’m engaged and starting a life there. Marcel wants children.”

I stare at her, waiting to see where she’s heading with this. “Of his own.”

“Doesn’t every man?” She turns to her wine and takes another sip.

“I don’t know about every other man. You’re allowed to start a new life, but I’m wondering how Beckett will fit into it. That’s my only concern.”

She seems to be at a loss, but when tears fill her eyes, she says, “I love him more than anything, but I can’t compete against what you’re offering him.”

“What are you talking about, Anna?”

“He doesn’t want escargot or the Louvre. I could tempt with chocolate croissants because he loves those.” She smiles as if a memory has returned. Her eyes shift back to mine, and she says, “He loves horses, Peachtree Pass, the ranch and being a cowboy, painting the house with you, and . . .”

I can see the pain she’s fighting through, but she still carries her smile bravely. I need to know, though, so I ask, “And?”

Taking a deep breath that has her leaning back, she exhales slowly. “Your Christine.” My Pris. There’s a pause where her lips twist as if she doesn’t want to admit defeat. But it was never a contest. “He adores her. He’s told me so much about her that I think I adore her.” Dropping her hand, she shakes it under a humorless laugh. “I was so rude to her, too, and to you. I’m sorry. I don’t know why I was jealous, but I’ve thought so much about it and I’m happy you’ve found someone who not only loves you but also our son like her own. Though I don’t want him calling her mom. Okay?”

“Okay. Same goes for Marcel.”

“Do you love her?”

“I love her.”

Her smile is genuine, which gives hope for some reason. She says, “We’re moving in different directions, across continents, and he needs to live with one of us. Although it will shatter my heart to pieces, he’s happiest with you, and his happiness is more important than my sadness of missing him.”

I breathe. For the first time in weeks, I feel my lungs pumping air freely through my system. “Do you mean that?”

She nods, the confidence in her eyes and the smile that sits firmly in place underneath have me believing her. She says, “School starts at the end of August. I’ve already done research, and there are no private schools in the surrounding eight counties. But you have time to enroll him in Peachtree Elementary before the start of the year.”

“I’ll take care of it,” I say, not minding the to-do list she’s giving me because it’s more than errands and tasks. She’s giving me our son to raise where there’s room to spread his wings and run without cars threatening to hit him.

After taking another sip, she sets her heels back down on the floor. “I need to go. Marcel has never had a hot dog, and I told him Beck and I can take him to the best stand in the city.”

“Minelli’s on Fourth?”

She laughs. “You know I don’t care for street meat because yuck, but for Beck and I guess for Marcel, I’ll be hot dogging it for dinner.”

“I like this side of you.”

“The one risking my gastrointestinal tract?”

“The one that believes she deserves happiness as well.”

She playfully points a finger in my face. “I still get him during breaks.”

“And anytime in between. You’ll always be his mother, Anna, and as such, you have a place to stay in Peachtree Pass. Or if it’s too boring for you out there in the middle of nowhere, there’s a Four Seasons Resort near Fredericksburg.”

“I like the sound of that.”

“I’ll bring him to see you.”

“You’ve got yourself a deal. Tell your attorney to contact mine, and we’ll get everything sorted legally.” Leaning in, she kisses my cheek. Not quick to leave, she whispers, “You deserve happiness as well.” Straightening her back, she takes her purse from the bar and tucks it under her arm. “She’s a very lucky woman.”

I knew the moment I saw Pris in that sundries shop that I was the lucky one. She starts walking but turns back to say, “Oh, you got the tab, right?”

“I got you covered.”

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