I watched Terrence take his seat.
For the first time that morning, he looked unsure of where he belonged.
Mason sat nearby.
Wyatt was talking to Lorraine.
Delilah and Savannah were looking at the Christmas decorations.
The children seemed comfortable.
Terrence didn't.
He kept glancing at them as though he was afraid they might disappear if he looked away.
I understood that he was overwhelmed.
But I also understood something else.
He had spent eight years living without them.
They had spent eight years growing up without him.
Those were two very different experiences.
Lorraine tried to keep the atmosphere pleasant.
She spoke to the children about Christmas.
She asked what they enjoyed most about the holiday.
Mason answered enthusiastically.
Wyatt added his own thoughts.
Delilah laughed.
Savannah smiled.
For a few minutes, the house sounded like a family home again.
Terrence leaned toward Mason.
"Would you like to hear another story?"
Mason nodded.
Terrence began talking.
I listened from my seat.
It was strange hearing his voice telling our son about childhood memories.
There had been a time when I thought I would hear those stories every Christmas.
That future was gone.
But the children were listening now.
And I wasn't going to take that moment away from them.
After a while, Lorraine looked toward me.
"Keahu, would you like something to drink?"
"Water would be lovely."
She nodded and went toward the kitchen.
I watched the children.
Savannah was showing her grandmother something.
Delilah was sitting beside her.
The boys were still listening to Terrence.
Then Mason asked a question.
"Why didn't you come to see us before?"
Terrence stopped.
I felt my fingers tighten around my glass.
It was an innocent question.
No accusation.
No anger.
Just something a child naturally wanted to understand.
Terrence looked at him.
"I didn't know about you."
Mason considered that.
"But Mama knew."
Terrence glanced at me.
I stayed quiet.
"Yes," he finally said. "Your mama knew."
Mason nodded.
Then he returned to his conversation with Wyatt.
Terrence looked down.
I knew that answer hadn't been easy.
But it was the truth.
And the children deserved the truth.
Lorraine returned with my water.
She placed it beside me.
Then she looked toward Terrence.
For a moment, mother and son exchanged a glance.
Neither spoke.
I took a sip.
The morning was moving forward.
Not perfectly.
Not without pain.
But forward.
And that was enough for now.
Click here to continue reading: PART 18: His Fiancée Finally Faced the Reality of His First Marriage, While I Realized I No Longer Needed Anything From Him
Eight Years After He Abandoned Me, My Ex-Husband Sent an Invitation That Revealed Exactly What He Still Thought of Me
Part 17 of 20
