“I really want to get in to Juilliard. And I like living at home with you.”
“I love having you at home too.” She had been gone for long enough. Too long. Eleven years. And she was great company. But what Blaise would need to make it work was someone to take care of her when Simon left to go back to Caldwell. He would have to finish out the school year when they reopened. “I think we’re getting ahead of ourselves. Let’s try to figure all this out after Christmas.”
“Will Simon stay with us if he leaves Caldwell? I mean like live with us?” Salima looked intrigued by the idea.
“Maybe. I’d like that. It’s up to him.”
“Have you asked him to?” She was curious about them now.
“Not yet,” Blaise laughed, just as Simon walked into Salima’s bedroom carrying a tray.
“Am I interrupting anything?” he asked. He could see that they’d been having a serious conversation, but both mother and daughter looked pleased.
“I was telling Salima about us,” Blaise said quietly, and for a minute he looked as though he were going to drop the tray. “Actually, she guessed, when the nurses thought you were her father.”
“I think it would be nice for you both,” Salima said generously. “What’s for lunch?” She clearly wasn’t having a problem with it, and Simon looked relieved.
“Caesar salad and an omelet. I’ll do better tonight. But let’s check your blood glucose and adjust the bolus before you eat.”
“Okay,” Salima said, sitting up in bed and smiling at him, as he set the tray down on her desk, and took care of the necessary routines. Salima was used to it. “Just think, if you stay with me and Mom, we’ll have great food all the time,” she said when she was ready to eat.
“I’m sure that’s the only reason your mom wants me,” he said, smiling at Blaise. He set the tray down next to Salima and touched her hand so she would know it was there. “Our lunch is in the kitchen,” he said to Blaise, and after kissing Salima again, she told her they’d be back in a little while. Salima grabbed her iPod then and put the earpiece in.
“Have a nice lunch,” she said to her mother, as Blaise followed Simon back into the kitchen.
“How did that go?” Simon asked her, as they sat down at the kitchen table. He had made the same for them, and had covered it to keep it warm.
“Amazingly well. I think she was startled at first, but not really surprised. She said she suspected it.”
“She’s very sharp.”
Blaise nodded. “And she likes you. A lot. She isn’t bothered by the difference in our age at all. She doesn’t want to go back to Caldwell. She wants to stay and go to Juilliard in the fall.”
He wasn’t surprised to hear it. He knew Lucianna had been lobbying heavily for the school. “How do you feel about it?”
“I think it’s the right thing for her. She’s too old for Caldwell. And she loves her singing lessons. Juilliard would be good for her.”
“Are you willing to keep her at home?”
“Only if I can find someone for her after you leave. I can’t take care of her alone. I’m out all day, and I travel too much.”
“We’ll figure it out, Blaise. Right now, let’s just eat lunch.” They had covered a lot of ground in two days. They had hit some heavy bumps but were closer than ever. And their relationship had come out of it unscathed. They had told Salima about their relationship, and she didn’t object to it. And she wanted to drop out of school, stay home, and study music. It was a lot to digest. Simon leaned over and kissed her, and they dug into their omelets, and for now everything seemed to be on track.
Chapter 12
THE CHRISTMAS THAT Blaise, Simon, and Salima shared was perfect. They all loved their presents, and opened them on Christmas Eve after a delicious dinner. They went to midnight mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and as she always did when she went to church now, Salima lit a candle for Abby. It was hard to believe she’d been gone for almost three months. Salima knew she’d never forget her, but so much had changed in Salima’s life since she died. It made it seem like much longer.
They stayed up late that night, and Blaise put Salima to bed. And afterward she found Simon already waiting in her bedroom. He thanked her for the beautiful Christmas and the lovely presents. And he had given Blaise a narrow gold bangle to wear with the one she always wore now, from Dubai. She loved Simon’s more. He had had a message engraved inside: “Merry Christmas, I love you, S.” And she had given him a watch. It was a Rolex he could wear every day, and he loved it. And she loved the ivory bangle from Salima too. And Salima loved all her gifts. Simon had recorded some wonderful music for her, and made a number of CDs, compiled from his own music collection.