17
“Jaden, please tell me you’re okay,” Blaire says for the third time. “Jaden, are you there?”
“I’m here, Blaire. I’m okay, but why do you care? You broke up with me, remember?” My heart aches when I speak to her so harshly, but I need to try to move on, as futile as that will be.
“I still care about you, J. Come on, you know why I had to break it off with you.”
“It doesn’t matter now. You don’t have to worry about me. I’ll be fine and back to finish up the year in a few days.”
“Yes, it does matter. You matter to me, Jaden. You always will. Don’t mistake my actions for not caring about you. That’s not the case at all, J. I wish…” Blaire goes silent, but I can hear her sniffles through the phone.
“I need to go; my mom’s calling me.” Ending the call before she responds, I fall onto the pillows piled on my bed behind me.
“Jaden. Who were you talking to?” Mom asks as she stands in the bedroom doorway with lunch on a tray.
“No one. Wrong number.” A stabbing pain passes through my heart as I toss my phone on the bed and drag my hand through my hair.
“Perfect timing, Mom. I’m starving.” I smile at her. She walks toward me and sits the tray across my lap.
“You know I can come downstairs and eat with you and Dad at the table.”
“I know, but I like to take care of you. It won’t be long before you won’t need me.” Mom pats my leg and sits in the chair beside the bed.
“I’ll always need my mom.” I hold my hand for her, and she takes it.
“Love you, Mom. And thanks for taking care of me. I want to get up and move around more. I have to get back to classes soon. There’s only two weeks left before my first year is over.”
“I’m sure you can talk to your instructors and figure something out.” She winks, then stands from the chair and walks toward the door.
“No, I want to go back for the rest of the semester. I want to finish in class.”
“Okay, son. But take it easy the rest of this week, please?”
“I will. How about you and I take a walk to the park and back when I’m done with this delicious lunch?” I squint and smile.
“Sure, honey. I’ll go to my bedroom and put on my walking shoes.” She turns and leaves me to eat lunch.
After a few minutes, Mom reappears in the doorway.
“Finished?” she asks.
“I am, and I’m ready for our walk.” I stand and attempt to take the tray, but Mom grabs it from me.
“I’ll take that. You hold on to the railing going down the stairs.”
Before we leave, I walk into the living room and say to my dad, “Hey, Dad. How’s it going?” I pat his shoulder.
“Good, son. How are you doing?” Dad mutes the TV without messing it up for a change.
“I’m better and will be good as new soon. Mom and I are going out for a walk. Want to join us?” I ask, knowing he won’t come.
“No, thanks, Jaden. Enjoy your walk with Mom. She loves spending time with you.” He unmutes the TV and returns to his news show.
In the kitchen, I lean on the counter.
“Ready when you are, Mom.”
“Okay, let’s go.” She takes my hand, leading me out the back door and to the side alley.
As we walk down the alley toward the neighborhood park, I kick the small stones with my feet and let out a sigh.
“Jaden, what’s wrong?” Mom stops and grabs my good arm.
I shake my head and release a long-winded sigh.
“Nothing I can’t figure out.” We continue walking until we get to the entrance to the park.
“Can we sit for a minute?” I wave my arm toward the empty bench. “I need to catch my breath.”
“Sure, honey.” She sits and pats the faux metal bench.
I sit next to her, leaning back and staring up at the blue, like Blaire’s eyes, cloudless sky. I sigh again and rub my hand across my jaw.
“Mom,” I begin, and look at her.
“Jaden.” She smiles and lets out a laugh.
“Now that we know each other. What’s bothering you, son?”
“When did you know Dad was the one?”
“Instantly.” She straightens her spine and takes my hand in hers.
“Your father swept me off my feet on our first date. I didn’t want or need anyone else.”
“But how did you know?” I scratch my hand through my hair.
“I mean like, what was it about Dad that made you feel it all for him, immediately?”
“Oh, honey. It’s something you’ll know when it happens to you. I promise you will. And if you’re asking me these questions, I think you already know.” Her head nods, and she squeezes my hand.
“I hope she makes you as happy as your dad has made me.”
“I don’t know, Mom.” I drop my head to my chest and bite the inside of my cheek.
“Yes, you do, Jaden. You definitely know. Trust your heart.” She stands and tugs my hand to join her.
I stand and walk beside my mom all around the small neighborhood park and back home. Before we go inside, I stop her and ask, “How do you know so much?”
She curls her index finger at me, and I bend down to her. She cups my ear with her hand and whispers, “Because I’m your mother.” She kisses my cheek, then takes the three steps up onto the front porch.