The Man Who Has No Sight - Victoria Quinn Page 0,48

grateful that I get to see you every day…and watch you grow up.” When I’d moved to New York, I was so devastated to leave my son behind. It was like a bullet hole that wouldn’t close. “You’re my best friend.”

“I am?” he whispered.

I nodded.

“Can you have more than one best friend?” he asked.

“Yeah, I think so.”

“Good. Because Tommy…I think he’s my best friend.”

I smiled. “I’m okay with sharing you.”

“Good. And isn’t Cleo your best friend?”

I nodded. “Yeah…she is.”

“I really like Cleo.”

“Yeah, I really like her too.”

“Are you guys gonna get married?”

This was why I loved him. We could have conversations despite his young age. He didn’t quite grasp adulthood, but he was mature enough to understand some of it. “Yes. Someday.”

“Why don’t you ask her now? She lives with us.”

“You think I should?” I asked with a smile.

“Yeah. She already lives with us, and she’s really pretty.”

I chuckled. “She is pretty, huh?”

“She looks like a Disney princess.”

I chuckled again. “She does.”

“You want me to ask her for you?” Derek asked. “Are you too scared?”

That was when I was reminded he was just a young boy. His intellect was caged by his age. “I’m not scared, Derek. But thank you for the offer.”

“Tommy likes this girl in our class. He was too scared to talk to her, so he asked me to do it for him. So, I’ve done this before.”

I laughed. “I didn’t realize you had so much experience with this.”

“Yeah. I’m pretty good.”

“Okay, I’ll keep that in mind.” I patted his chest. “Good night, little man.” I leaned over him and kissed him on the forehead. “Love you.”

He closed his eyes. “Love you too, Dad.”

I turned off the lamp then left his bedroom. I turned off the lights in the condo as I went, making it to the bedroom where Cleo was already under the sheets. I shed my clothes, set my alarm, and then got into bed.

She turned to me, giving me a sad look. “You think he’ll be okay?”

I nodded. “Yeah, I think he will be.”

Her condo was packed up, her furniture sold, and now the place was bare.

I thought it was best to leave Cleo behind for this, so Derek and I went to the condo alone. Thankfully, Jake wasn’t there either.

I’d probably rip out his throat.

She kneeled and talked to Derek. “I’ll call all the time, just the way you and Dad used to do.”

“Okay,” he said. “How far away is London?”

“It’s across the Atlantic Ocean, so about a seven-hour flight.”

“That’s as far away as California.”

She nodded. “True. I’m sure your dad will bring you to visit sometimes.”

Nope.

Derek wasn’t as verbal as he usually was. Not being around Valerie for a few weeks seemed to make him awkward, like he didn’t know how to interact with her.

“I’m gonna miss you, honey.” She pulled him in for a tight hug and held him for a long time.

Derek just stood there, like he didn’t care.

When she pulled away, she gave him an encouraging smile. “You and your father are going to have such a good time together.”

“I know,” Derek said. “I’m happy I get to stay with him.”

Ouch. Fuck, that must have hurt.

Valerie stilled slightly, her gaze dropping like she didn’t know what to say. “Well…that’s good, then.” She rose to her feet then patted him on the head. Then she turned to me, a subtle hint of disdain moving into her features.

I didn’t want to end on bad terms, so I’d stopped being angry with her for leaving. I believed in science and entropy, randomness, but sometimes I wondered if things happened for a reason, if things worked out the way they were supposed to. Maybe this entire thing benefited everyone. “Take care, Valerie.” I eyed her bags on the floor. “Need help with those?”

“No. Jake will get them.”

This could be one of the last times I ever saw her. If things worked out in London, our conversations would grow less frequent. I wouldn’t see her in the flesh. And those phone conversations would probably die away too. I didn’t feel sad about it. It felt bittersweet, honestly. “If you ever need help or anything…you can call.” She wasn’t my problem anymore, but I would always try to help her out since she was Derek’s mother.

“Well, I should get going.” She turned to Derek again. “I love you, honey.”

“Love you too, Mom,” Derek said automatically.

I patted him on the head then guided him out of the condo. We moved into the hallway and stepped onto