Chapter 32
Sandra had barely sat at her desk, placing her cup of Bess’s Bakery coffee in front of her, when Portia appeared at her door.
"There's a Patricia Williams here to see you. She doesn’t have an appointment but said she's Emma and Toby's mom."
Sandra's stomach tightened. She'd known she would meet Patricia tonight at the recital but hadn't prepared for an unexpected visit. "Oh… sure… send her in."
The woman who entered was exactly what Sandra had imagined from the Christmas photo in Emma's room.
Tall, blond, impeccably dressed in a pale gray suit and soft pink blouse that reminded her of the power suits she used to wear.
Patricia moved with the confident efficiency of someone accustomed to boardrooms and business decisions.
"Ms. O'Neill? I'm Patricia Williams." She extended a manicured hand. "I hope you don't mind me dropping by. Your assistant said you had a few minutes between appointments."
Sandra shook her hand, noting the firm, businesslike grip. "Please, call me Sandra. And I don't mind at all."
Patricia settled into the chair across from Sandra's desk, crossing her legs with precise movements. "I thought meeting before tonight would be less awkward than introductions at a middle school concert."
Sandra leaned back, trying to read the other woman's expression. It wasn't particularly warm, but it wasn't hostile either. Professional, maybe. Like Patricia was conducting a business meeting.
"Terry mentioned you'd be there. I’m sure the kids are excited to see you."
"Are they?" Patricia's mouth quirked upward, but there was something wistful in the expression. "Emma told me you went to Toby's soccer game. Apparently, you cheered louder than any of the other parents."
Sandra felt heat rise in her cheeks. "He scored a goal. I got carried away."
"I'm sure he loved it." Patricia was quiet for a moment, studying Sandra with the kind of analytical gaze she used when sizing up a situation. "Can I ask you something?"
Sandra's stomach flip-flopped. "Of course."
"Do you genuinely enjoy being around my children, or are they just part of the package deal with Terry?"
The question was so direct that it took Sandra's breath away.
She considered her answer carefully, recognizing this was some kind of test. “I love being with Emma and Toby.
Getting to know them has been an honor." Sandra paused, then decided on complete honesty.
"They've become part of my heart faster than I expected. "
Patricia nodded slowly, and Sandra caught something like relief in her expression. "That's what I hoped you'd say."
"Were you worried I wouldn't enjoy being around them?"
Patricia's smile was genuine now. "Terry said you were honest to a fault. I needed to see that for myself."
Sandra hesitated, then decided to address the elephant in the room. "I want you to know I would never try to replace you. You’re their mom. You’re important to them, and that’s something that I’d never come between."
"Replace me?" Patricia's laugh was genuinely amused. "Sandra, I’m not worried that you'll replace me. You're filling gaps I can't."
Sandra wasn't sure how to respond to that level of self-awareness.
Patricia leaned forward slightly. "I love my children, but I'm not maternal. Never have been. I get restless during bedtime stories, impatient with homework that should take ten minutes but stretches to an hour. I can't fake interest in Pokémon cards or sit through pretend tea parties."
"That doesn't make you a bad mother," Sandra said quietly.
"Doesn't make me a particularly good one either." Patricia's voice held a trace of something Sandra couldn't quite identify. Regret, maybe. "I tried for years to be someone I wasn't. Made myself miserable, frustrated Terry, probably confused the kids."
Sandra studied the other woman's face, seeing shadows of old struggles. "What changed?"
"I stopped pretending I was something I'm not." Patricia's shrug was elegant as well as practical. "The kids need consistency, patience, someone who genuinely enjoys the small moments. That's Terry. And now, hopefully, that's also you."
"You really don't mind? Me being in their lives?"
"Mind?" Patricia's expression grew serious. "Sandra, I've watched my daughter light up when she talks about you. I've heard Toby accept you in a way he's never quite accepted me. They trust you."
The words hit Sandra harder than she'd expected. "I hope so."
"I know so." Patricia stood and smoothed her skirt. "Look, I'm excellent at assessing situations objectively. Terry's happier than I've seen him in years. My children are thriving. You clearly adore them. Why would I fight that?"
"Some people would."
"Some people are idiots." Patricia's smile was wry. "I want Emma and Toby to have as much love and support as possible. If that comes from their father's girlfriend and possibly future wife, then I'm grateful."
Sandra rose as well, still processing the unexpected turn of the conversation. "Thank you for saying that. For coming here."
"Thank you for caring about them." Patricia extended her hand again. "I hope we can be friends, Sandra. Or at least friendly co-parents."
Sandra shook her hand, feeling a weight lift from her shoulders she hadn't realized she'd been carrying. "I'd like that very much."
Patricia gathered her purse and headed toward the door, then paused. "Oh, and Sandra? Save me a seat tonight. I'd like to sit with all of you."
"Of course."
After Patricia left, Sandra sank back into her chair, staring at the space where the other woman had been.
She'd prepared for territorial hostility, not grateful acceptance.
Patricia Williams was nothing like what she'd expected.
She was more complex, more self-aware, and oddly, more generous than Sandra had imagined possible.
Her phone buzzed with a text from Terry. How are you feeling about tonight?
Sandra typed back. Much better now. Patricia just stopped by.
Her phone rang immediately.
"She what?" Terry's voice carried surprise and a hint of concern.
"It's fine. Better than fine, actually. She wanted to meet before tonight." Sandra paused. "Terry, she's not what I expected."
"How so?"
"She's... grateful. For me being in the kids' lives. Said I'm filling gaps she can't."
Terry was quiet for a moment. "That sounds like Patricia. She's always been honest about her limitations."
"Is that enough? For the kids?"
"Has to be," Terry said simply. "It's who she is. They're better off with her honesty than they would be with false promises."
Sandra understood that intellectually. But emotionally, she couldn't imagine choosing work over moments with Emma and Toby.
"See you tonight," Terry said. "And Sandra? Thank you. For whatever you said to make her feel comfortable about this."
"I didn't do anything special."
"Yeah, you did. You were yourself."
When they disconnected, a smile curved her lips.