“I loved my wife,” he said. “Nothing will ever change that.”
He turned to me, and I could see his eyes were welling up, or at least he was doing his best to keep them from doing so.
“She gave me one of the most amazing children in the world. I’ve done my best to raise him as she would have, but in the end, she barely got a chance to hold him.
“She had complications from childbirth and horrible internal bleeding. It was a terrible way to go. She held him in her arms for about five minutes before she passed on. And as she did so, she told me that she wouldn’t have thought twice about saving Kevin’s life over her own.
“I took the loss of her incredibly hard. I threw myself into my work, hoping that I might find some solace in doing what I did best. But nothing ever replaced her.
“I gave every ounce of my love to my son, and I wanted him to find someone to spend time with. I wanted him to choose for himself the person who would keep him happy. I only want the best for him, and he knows what’s best for him.”
I listened to William pour himself out to me. I wanted to throw an arm around his shoulder and give him a hug, but it still felt too soon, and I was still frustrated.
“I was surprised when he chose someone who looked a lot like my wife. He never even met her. The only mother he’s ever known is the photograph in my bedroom.
“I talked to him the other night. He told me that he didn’t pick you to be his playmate; he picked you to be his new mother. I should have known sooner, but I felt myself drawn to you. Part of me wanted it to be real, and when I saw the chance to make it real, I took it.
“Growing up in a ghetto will make you take any chance you can at being happy. You can hate me all you want for taking that chance, but I’ll never hate you for bringing hope back into my life and making my son the happiest person in the world for just two weeks.”
William reached into his pocket and produced a small envelope, which he handed to me.
“It’s the money promised to you. Your work was worth more than two weeks, so I paid you for the entire year. I’d love to have you back in the house again, but I understand if you would prefer to keep your distance.”
He stood up from the bench, and before I could say anything, he walked to his car and drove off. I sat on the park bench for a few minutes before I moved.
I wanted to think that I was doing something good by being in his life, but I also felt terrible for dredging up old feelings he’d buried a long time ago. It wasn’t even his fault that he’d come on to me.
I needed to sleep.
8.
Another day passed, and I dwelled sullenly on the story I’d been told by William. The look on his face as he’d revealed one of his most intimate secrets had told me all I needed to know about him.
The ice cream in my bowl was melted before I even took a bite, and by then I just had to throw it away.
I pulled the check he’d written to me from the envelope and found something else tucked inside. It was a small letter. The letter was written in crayon, and I welled up with tears the second I read it.
“I’m sorry,” it said in terrible writing.
Kevin must have snuck the note inside without William knowing. I felt terrible and guilty. I was so full of frustration, but I needed to tell them that it wasn’t their fault. I knew what today’s date was. It was the day they’d be leaving for Europe.
I put on some of the finest things I could steal from Janey’s closet and took a cab to the airport. I needed to see William and Kevin and make sure they would be okay. I wanted to explain my actions to them and tell Kevin that I wasn’t his mother.
Security at the airport was tight, but I still pushed my way past. If my memory served me right, they would be taking off for Germany in less than half an hour. I had to be quick and find the jet that William owned.
A lucky word or two from a security guard found me on a tram to the private airstrip. I hoped I would make it in time, but the seconds kept ticking by.
I sprinted into the hangar just in time to see Kevin and William boarding the flight. I wanted to scream out to them and tell them everything that was on my mind.
Those thoughts faded as soon as I saw them. William turned around and saw me. He smiled widely and waved. Kevin’s eyes lit up when he spied me from his window seat. I waved at him with excitement.
William strode from the plane and met me, shouting at the pilot to wait a second.
“Does this mean you’re coming with us?” he asked.
“I had an entire speech prepared about how frustrated I am, but, you know, it just doesn’t seem like the right time or the right place,” I said.
“So you’re not coming with us,” he said, sighing.
“Oh, I’m coming. And you’re buying me an entire new wardrobe,” I said.
He held out his arm for me to take. This time, it didn’t seem like an empty gesture. I wrapped my arm in his and followed willfully.