On the train to work, I texted Devin, asking him how his father was. I didn’t hear anything back, and I worried it wasn’t good. I texted him again at work, letting him know that if there was something he needed, to let me know.
It wasn’t until I arrived back at my apartment building that I got a text back from Devin.
He’s going to be fine, but have to make changes. Plate is full, baby, I’m sorry.
Part of me wondered if he didn’t need my help because he didn’t want his mother to know he was seeing someone like me. Not that he was ashamed of me, but because he knew his mother wouldn’t approve. He had a lot going on with his father, his taking over the business, and having met his mother on two occasions, I suspected she was a handful now too.
It’s fine. Let me know if I can help with something.
I didn’t hear anything further.
“So, how’d it go?” my mother asked when I picked up Andrew. We steeled away in the kitchen where we could talk while my father played Go Fish with Andrew.
“I didn’t have a chance to tell him. He got a call that his dad had fallen.”
My mother’s face pinched together like she was trying to decide if I was telling the whole truth. Which I supposed I wasn’t. I could have told him when we got back, but instead I chose to make love to him first. It didn’t seem unreasonable to want one last moment of intimacy before I blew up our lives.
“I want to invite him for dinner again,” she said. “But he needs to know about Andrew first.”
“He’s got a lot going on. His dad, the business…”
“Yes, of course. Is there something we can do to help?” my mother asked.
“I offered.”
“Maybe you don’t offer. Show up. Help.”
I shook my head. “I don’t think his family knows about me.”
“What do you mean?” my father said entering the kitchen.
“I mean he hasn’t told them. I haven’t met them.”
“Why not?” He scowled. “He doesn’t think you’re good enough.”
“I’m sure he does, but his family won’t.”
“Well!” my mother said indignantly.
“They’re snooty. I told you, Dad, she tried to pay me off. Personally, I don’t want to meet her.”
My dad put his hands on his hips and glared at me. “The two of you aren’t good for each other.”
“Why, because his parents are conceited? That’s not Serena’s fault,” my mother said.
“No, because the two of you have too many secrets. If you can’t tell him about Andrew and he can’t introduce you to his parents, what sort of life can you have?”
I sighed. I’d thought the same thing at one time. Wasn’t that why I tried to avoid him? If I didn’t see him, I wouldn’t feel compelled to tell him about Andrew. What he didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him, right? Of course, it was too late for that now.
“That’s why I tried to avoid him. I’m scared of how they’ll treat Andrew.”
“They’ll treat him just fine,” my mother said confidently. “He’s a part of her son.”
“When are you going to tell him? The longer you let that go, the worse it will be, Serena,” my father warned.
“I know. I need to wait until he has time.”
My father shook his head. “No, you need to push him. I know he’s got a lot on his plate, but I doubt he’ll see your holding off as being nice to him.”
He was probably right.
“I’ll find time this week to see him. Maybe I can arrange lunch at his office or something,” I said.
My mother put her hands on my shoulders. “This isn’t just for Devin. It’s for Andrew too. He loves Devin. He can’t stop talking about him. He’s going to be over the moon about this.”
Andrew and I did our regular routine that night, although my mother was right, Andrew couldn’t stop talking about Devin and his airplane flight and trip to the Air and Space Museum.
“Do you think Devin can hang my airplane up on the ceiling like at the museum?” he asked of the toy plane Devin bought him.
“Don’t you want to be able to play with it?” I asked, pulling his covers over him.
“I want to have them hanging like they did there.”
“We’ll ask him next time we see him.”
“When will we see him?”
I pushed Andrew’s hair out of his face, making a mental note to get him a haircut. “His daddy is sick and he needs to help his family right now.”
“Can I make him a card?”
“Yes, of course. Why don’t we make it tomorrow morning and I’ll try to arrange to get it to him.”
“Okay.”
“Give me a hug, baby. Goodnight.”
Andrew sat up and hugged me. It occurred to me at that moment that he could be upset when he found Devin was his father and I hadn’t told him. Cripes. I really did mess things up. Inwardly I prayed they’d both forgive me.
The next day, Andrew drew a card with an airplane for Devin that said he hoped his dad got better soon. After I dropped him off with my mother, I texted Devin asking if we could meet for lunch or coffee. Whenever it was convenient.
I didn’t hear back until that afternoon. This time he called so I was at least able to hear his voice.
“I’m so sorry Serena. It’s just been crazy…my dad is going to need rehab which my mother is insistent needs to be done at home. But she’s driving every potential PT person to run for the hills. The board is concerned that without my dad guiding me, I’m going to run the business into the ground. I’m pretty sure a tabloid is going to come out any moment with a picture of my sister doing shots off a drag queen’s abs…”
“Oh God, Devin. Is there
