“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.”