“It’s the least I could do. I disappeared for years on end without so much as a visit, yet you welcome me back with open arms. You’re the greatest,” I said, threading my arms through hers as we strolled along slowly past the tables and kiosks.
“You’re going to make me cry, sweetie. I just do what any parent would. You’ll see, once you have your own babies. You’d do anything for them, and there’s almost nothing they could do to make you stop loving them. Nothing.”
“To be honest, I don’t know if that's ever going to happen for me.” I usually didn’t get personal with Mom, but this time I had no choice. She’d struck a nerve, and since she was always so good with advice, I figured it couldn’t hurt to dwell into my feelings with her. Just this once.
She turned to look up at me, with a concerned look in her eyes. “What do you mean? Don’t tell me I’ll never have grandchildren. I’m sure you’ll find someone that’s right for you. Why wouldn’t you?”
“I have my doubts about that, Mom. With my hours at work, I’m lucky if I get to exchange a few words with my doorman, let alone a single omega who isn’t completely crazy. Because there are a lot of crazies in New York. People there have a whole different idea of what a relationship should be.”
“But look at you! You’re handsome, charming, and smart. You can’t let all that go to waste. Besides, why do you have to stay in New York, anyways? You’ve got a long life ahead of you. The town is growing, and there are more and more jobs every single day. Have you ever thought of moving back here?”
I fell into silence for a moment. “I can’t say that I have. You really think I should give up everything I’ve worked for?”
Out of the corner of my eye I spotted a happy family scarfing down Belgian waffles and felt a stab to my heart. There were two dads, with a little boy and little girl, both kids giggling with chocolate smeared all over their cute little faces. Deep down, I knew I wanted that for myself one day, but I just didn’t see how it would happen. Where would I meet someone? And when? I was working non-stop.
“Son, what is there to give up? All you do is work, work, work. Do you even have time to enjoy the money you make? Or is it all going to rent? Money isn’t everything in life, and happiness doesn’t appear out of nowhere. You have to look for it, or at least give it a chance to find you. And one thing I do know is that it’s not going to find you on the thirty-fifth floor of an office tower. Get off the hamster wheel and live your life.”
Wow. She wasn’t usually so straightforward, but she obviously felt strongly about this issue.
“You might have a point there, Mom.”
“You mentioned your ex-boyfriend Colton a couple of times over breakfast this morning. What’s new with him? Maybe you should give him a ring.”
I chuckled. Mom obviously had no idea what went on last night, and neither should she.
“Him? Yeah, we dated for a while before I went to New York, but he’s a fun and carefree sort. He’d probably be bored to death with me.” I sighed. “I could never give him the sort of adventurous lifestyle he wants.”
“You don’t know that. Maybe he’s changed.”
“No ma'am, that train has left the station. He probably wants someone who’s spontaneous and fun, and we all know that's not me.”
She let out a deep breath and patted my arm. “All I’m saying is keep an open mind. Everybody changes. Take you, for instance. For the longest time, all you cared about was work and your career. And now look at you. You’re wanting a future outside the office. Maybe he’s looking to settle down too. You’ll never know unless you ask.” She shrugged.
“You’re right, Mom. I’m not that happy in that box in the sky in Manhattan. Colton is sweet and fun, but it might be too late now.”
“It’s never too late when destiny is involved,” Mom said wisely. Then she spotted the crepe stand, and to my relief, all talk of Colton went out the window.
I chuckled as I ordered us a couple of Gundel crepes. Colton didn’t come up in