“Allison, go to work. I really don’t mind taking care of him.” I fold my arms and lean against the wall, watching Allison perched on the edge of Leon’s pirate ship bed.

I’d planned on returning to my place two days ago, but when Leon got sick, I offered to look after him during the day while Allison is at work.

“Are you sure it’s not too much? I don’t want to take advantage.” She brushes the hair from Leon’s face and gives him a kiss on the forehead, her blonde, wavy hair covering both of them like a curtain. “You’ve done so much for us already.”

“That’s a joke, right?” I shake my head. “You do a lot for me all the time. Seriously, I’d be a mess without you in my life.”

“I doubt it. You’re the strongest person I’ve ever known.”

“I wish I could believe that.”

Allison rises from the bed, stretching to her full 5’11″ height. She doesn’t only have the height of a model, she has the body to match. And the most beautiful heart.

“Give yourself more credit.” Allison pulls the Superman bedsheet up to Leon’s neck and gives him another kiss.

“Mommy, my head hurts.” Leon’s voice is barely a croak. As soon as the words come out, he starts to cough uncontrollably. I feel sorry for the little man. Bronchitis is a pain. I had it several times as a child.

“I’m sorry, baby. You’ll feel better soon.” Allison places a hand on his forehead. “Is he still burning up?”

“Are you sure you don’t want to take him to the doctor again?”

“I don’t know. He said to come back in three days, if he doesn’t improve.” Allison folds her arms in front of her chest. “If he doesn’t feel better by tomorrow, I’ll take him.”

I close the colorful blinds of Leon’s window to keep out the harsh morning sunlight, and turn back to Allison. “Go get ready for work. I’ve got this.”

“You’re a rock star.” She plants a kiss on my cheek and leaves me standing in Leon’s room.

The weight of grief lowers me onto the edge of Leon’s bed, I place a hand on his small, curled up body. “Mommy will be back before you know it. We’re going to have a lot of fun together, like we did yesterday.”

“Can we play Memory?” he asks.

In the space between his question and my response, the sound of the shower being turned on rushes across the hall. “Of course. Now, rest a little bit. When you wake up we’ll play anything you like.” I smooth his hair with the palm of my hand.

A smile curls his lips. “But don’t let me win because I’m sick.”

“I never let you win.” I hide a smile. “You’re so much better than me. Now get some sleep.”

The doorbell rings the moment the rush of water in the bathroom stops. I go to answer the door, expecting it to be one of Allison’s packages. Like me, she does most of her shopping online. I prefer to shop on the internet especially when I purchase sexy lingerie for work.

No mailman. No package. The man standing in front of me is Derrick, the person I never wanted to see again.

“What are you doing here?” I fold my arms across my chest, feeling suddenly cold.

“I came to see you.”

“Please leave and don’t come back. And stop following me around.” I attempt to close the door, but he shoves his foot in the crack between the door and the frame. “I need to talk to you, Brooke. I know you’re pissed at me. But please hear me out.” He glances over my shoulder into the apartment. “Can I come in?”

“It’s not my place. I’m only a guest here.”

He steps back. “Then meet me for breakfast in an hour.”

“I can’t. I have responsibilities.” I glare at him. “Unfortunately, you wouldn’t know much about responsibilities.”

“Brooke,” Allison’s voice comes from behind me and I turn, my hand still on the door handle. I glance over my shoulder to find her behind me, looking like an angel in a white towel. Since the door is open only a fraction, Derrick can’t see her.

I manage to decipher the message she’s trying to tell me with her frantic hand gestures. “Go,” she mouths.

I stare at her, wanting her to read from my expression that I can’t leave Leon and make her stay home from work.

I close the door just enough to hide my face from Derrick and turn to Allison. “I don’t want anything to do with him.”

“You need closure. Go and get it.” Her whisper is so loud I wouldn’t be surprised if Derrick heard.

I let out a breath, and open the door wide again. “Where do you want to meet me?”

“Be at The LaClaire Restaurant in an hour.” He plants his hands on both sides of the door. “Brooke, I prefer your real hair. You look beautiful.”

“Thanks,” I say reluctantly and close the door. I glare at Allison, who looks pleased with herself. “Why did you put me on the spot like that?”

“Like I said, you need closure. You’ll never get past this if you don’t talk to him. Your anger toward him is eating you up inside.”

“I’ve had this anger for years and I’m fine.”

“Look,” she tightens the towel around her body. “You’re not doing this for him. If you ever choose to forgive him, you’re doing it for yourself. Forgiveness is a form of healing.”

“I don’t know what I’ll say to him,” I say, my shoulders slumping forward.

“You don’t have to hide your feelings. Be as honest as you can, pour out your anger. Let him deal with it.”

“Fine.” I run a hand through my hair. “But I can’t promise I’ll tell him about Eric. He made the choice not to be a part of my son’s life.”

“I guess seeing him is a good start.”

“Are you sure you’ll be able to stay home today? Seriously, I really don’t have to go. You and Leon are my priority, not Derrick.”

“No, it should be fine. I’ll get a substitute teacher to teach my geography class. You go and do what you have to do.”

“Actually, there’s no reason why you should stay home the entire day. The LaClaire is not far from here. I should be back in about an hour. You could still go to work then, if you want.”

“That would work. Thanks so much.” She chews on a fingernail as she always does when uncomfortable. “But Brooke, after today, I think you should return to your apartment.” She pauses. “Don’t get me wrong. We love having you here. It’s just that you shouldn’t let him stop you from living.”

“You’re right,” I say. “You’re so right. I won’t let him chase me out of my own home.”