His hand found mine.
Then he kissed me.
Not tentative this time.
Not hurried.
Just certain enough for that moment.
When we separated, we heard a sleepy voice from the hallway.
“Mommy?”
I stepped away immediately.
Mia stood there in dinosaur pajamas rubbing one eye.
“Hey, sweetheart.”
“I need water.”
“I’ll get it.”
She noticed Adrian.
“Hi.”
“Hello.”
She squinted at him.
“Why are you here?”
Adrian looked at me.
I bit the inside of my cheek.
“I came for leftover pasta.”
Mia nodded.
“Okay.”
Apparently that was sufficient.
Then she disappeared toward the kitchen.
Adrian whispered, “That went better than my board meetings.”
—
His father recovered steadily.
The London decision remained unresolved.
For another month, Adrian divided his time between work, family, and us.
Then, one Sunday afternoon, we visited William Kane at his home in Connecticut.
I had expected a difficult man.
Instead, I found an older version of Adrian sitting beside a fireplace with a cane resting against his chair, looking deeply annoyed by the fact that everyone kept asking whether he needed anything.
Mia liked him immediately.
“You’re bossier than Mr. Kane,” she informed him.
William looked at his son.
“I like her.”
“I suspected you might.”
While Mia explored the conservatory with Adrian’s sister, Caroline, William asked me to stay behind.
“I owe you an apology.”
I blinked.
“We’ve met for twelve minutes.”
“Not for anything I’ve done to you.”
He looked toward the doorway where Adrian had disappeared.
“For what I taught my son.”
I didn’t answer.
William’s hands rested on the cane.
“His mother understood people. I understood obligations. When she died, I thought keeping him busy would keep him steady.”
My chest tightened.
“He learned that very well.”
“Yes.”
Regret crossed the older man’s face.
“Too well.”
Then he said something I had not expected.
“I don’t want him in London.”
I stared.
“He thinks you do.”
“I asked whether he would consider it.”
“Adrian seems to hear requests from you as assignments.”
William gave a weary smile.
“That may be my fault.”
