Page 97 of The Explorer
“It’s a peace offering for taking Indiana away from you for this year.” Since she was sitting, the rest of us followed and sat down at the table.
Christina’s face softened as she touched Indiana’s shoulder, and then emotions overtook her. She waved her hand in front of her face while tears pooled in her eyes.
“Mom, why do you get so emotional?”
“It’s weird. When you give birth to a little boy no one prepares you for what’s ahead,” she said in a brittle voice. “These six months that you’ve been gone, I’ve thought about how fast my time with you went by. A boy will go through all these stages from baby, to toddler, and then they run around in the woods getting bruises that hurt you more than them. It’s like loving a lot of different people who all answer to the same name and call you mom, but they look different and their needs change as they grow. The thing is that the morphing from one age to the next happens so gradually that you don’t even notice that your little boy is gone until you see a picture of how he used to be. Suddenly your boy is a man with a beard, who’s taller than you and speaks with a deep voice. It’s strange, but these past months I thought a lot about how being the mother of a son is sort of like going through a slow break-up. You start out as the center of his universe only to see him break away and eventually leave you.” Christina dried away a tear and looked to me. “And of course, you want him to leave you. That’s the whole idea, you know.”
I was moved by her words and took her hand. “I’ll be good to Indy. I promise.”
“I know you will.” She squeezed my hand. “I’m just sappy because Jones began building his own house too, and Lara met someone at the festival that she’s falling in love with. It’s all wonderful, but it also means that we’ll be alone in that big house soon.”
Alexander reached across the table for Christina’s hand. “It’s about time. I’ve shared you with these brats long enough.” He winked at her.
“How about you enjoy the quiet time before you’ll have grandchildren scratching your floors and needing your time? Aubri and I definitely want children at some point.”
“See,” Alexander smiled. “Nothing to worry about. Everything will happen in its own time.”
For a moment we sat smiling around the table, then Alexander took a cookie. “You know, sweetheart, sometimes I feel like all the Motlander mothers are softening the men of this country, but then when I hear you talk about your love for our children…” He took a bite and sighed. “I don’t know if this generation of children realize how lucky they are.”
Indiana and I exchanged a smile.
“We know,” Indiana said. “At least, I’m deeply grateful that I have two women in my life who love me.”
“And a father too,” Christina said.
Alexander chuckled low and finished his cookie. “I don’t know about that. Maybe I can admit to loving him a little. But mostly when he agrees with me, and when he brings me cold beer.”
“Argh.” Christina shook her head at Alexander, but we all shared in his laughter.
“Anyway, we were hoping that you’d come over for lunch,” Christina said and pushed her chair back. “I’ll just pack this gorgeous clock, so nothing happens to it.”
“What are we having?” Indiana asked her.
“I baked the loaf of bread that you like so much. Your dad is grilling a salmon to go with the salad I prepared and there are some delicious dill potatoes and vegetables.”
“Your mom also made a peach pie for dessert.”
I grinned at Alexander. “Oh, we’re definitely coming for lunch. My mouth is already watering from the thought of a homemade meal like that.”
“I can imagine. French food can never beat your mom’s cooking,” Alexander said with pride and took the box from Christina. “Here, let me carry this thing.”
Indiana took my hand as we left our house to walk with Alexander and Christina to theirs. “New things are great, but I prefer the familiar.”
“Is that why you picked me?” I teased.
“No. I picked you because you’re the woman I admire the most.”
“You admire me?” Of all the things he could have said, expressing his admiration touched me deeply.
“Mm-hmm.” Leaning closer, Indiana whispered in my ear so that his parents couldn’t hear him. “And you also drive me completely insane with lust.”
I intertwined our fingers and swung our hands back and forth feeling a childlike delight in my chest. Who would have thought that I could find my perfect match so close to home?
“By the way, you two, did you hear what happened to Banni while you were enjoying your honeymoon in the mountains?”
“No, what happened to him?”
“Pearl and Freya took him to the Motherlands to visit Athena and Finn.”
