HANNAH

I folded my arms in front of my chest. “What do you want?”

She opened her mouth, closed it, then opened it again. “This isn’t easy.”

“What isn’t?”

Her hands were fidgety. “Coming here to admit I was wrong.”

“About what?”

“Lots of things.”

“I’m listening.”

She glanced at the house. “My son hasn’t spoken to me in two weeks.”

“I heard.”

“And I guess I deserved it for what I tried to do.”

I agreed, but I let that one go by.

“I miss him. I feel like I’ve lost both sons.” Her voice caught, and I felt pang of sorrow for her. “We had terrible words, he and I. Before he left.”

“Oh?”

“Didn’t he tell you?”

“No.”

She nodded, then she stood up straighter. “Hannah, I owe you an apology. I’ve treated you unfairly. Not only in the last few weeks, but for years.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “Go on.”

“It was hard for me,” she said, pausing to pull a handkerchief from her purse, “to see Drew so taken with you. He no longer seemed to care what I had to say about anything. He loved you more than he loved anyone else. I resented you for that, and it was unfair.”

“Yes, it was.”

“And later, when Abby was born, I thought you’d turn to me a little bit more. I thought you both would need my help.”

“We could have used it, Lenore. But you always made me feel like I was doing things wrong. I was nervous enough being a first-time mother. I didn’t need the criticism.”

“I know. I know. And I’m sorry. I let my jealousy get the better of me, and it was wrong.” She took a breath. “Then when Drew died, I—it was so unfair, so unthinkable that he was gone, I needed someone to blame.”

“So you chose me.”

She nodded and dabbed at her eyes. “I chose you. Because he’d loved you more. And I’m sorry.”

I felt my anger dissolve a little. “It wasn’t a competition, Lenore. Love isn’t a zero sum game.”

“You’re right,” she said, crying openly now. “But when I saw it happening with Wes, I felt all those terrible things all over again. I saw you taking away my son, the only one I have left. I saw him choosing you over me, and I panicked. I’m sorry.”

How ironic, I thought.

“Please forgive me, Hannah. Let me try again.”

At the sound of the front door opening, we both turned. Wes came out and walked toward us, his hands in his pockets.

“She’s on the couch watching a movie,” he said. “I hope that’s okay.”

“It’s fine.” I nodded toward Lenore. “Your mother apologized to me.”

“Oh yeah?” He looked at her.

“Yes,” she said. “And I owe you an apology too, Wes. I’m sorry I acted the way I did. It was wrong. Can you forgive me?” She looked back and forth between us.

“Can you accept that Hannah and I are going to be together?”

“Yes. If you truly love each other, I’ll give my blessing.”

“We do.” Wes put his arm around me.

“I just want you to be happy, Wes. And I want to be part of your life. And part of Abby’s life. When I think of having to live without you—” She broke down, weeping into her handkerchief.

“I forgive you, Lenore.” I reached out and touched her arm. “You don’t have to live without anybody.”

“Thank you, dear.” She sniffed.

“I forgive you, too,” said Wes. “Let’s move forward, okay?”

“Okay.” She took a deep breath as she looked at us. “Will you both come to dinner tomorrow night, please?”

Wes and I exchanged a glance, and he raised his eyebrows, leaving it up to me.

“Of course,” I said. “We’d be happy to.”

“Oh, good.” Lenore looked relieved. “I was worried you wouldn’t.”

“Family is important to us,” said Wes. “You’re important to us, Mom.”

She smiled. “Thank you. I guess I raised you right, after all.”

“You certainly did,” I said, watching as Wes gave his mom a hug.

She turned to me, and I embraced her as well, telling myself this would be a fresh start for everyone.

“We’ll see you tomorrow night,” Wes said. “We’ve got a lot to celebrate.”

* * *

“Want to stay over?” I asked him. We were lying naked in my bed, my head on his chest, my body tucked alongside his.

“Of course I do. But what about Abby?”

“I think she’ll be happy to find you here in the morning. You were going to come early, anyway. She might not even realize where you slept.”

“Who says I’m going to sleep?”

I laughed and snuggled in closer, and he kissed the top of my head.

“This is everything I’ve ever wanted, Hannah. Better than any birthday gift I could have asked for.”

“Good. I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

I drifted off to sleep wrapped in his arms, surrounded by his love, swept away by my hopes and dreams.

Eternity was real, and it belonged to us.