“Oh good,” she sighs, “I figured as much, when my husband told me you’d quit the bar Eric goes to without telling him, and with such little notice. As you said, you’re a hard worker. I verified that with Mike, because I knew my son wouldn’t fall for a woman who didn’t have strong character. I didn’t raise my children for anything less. And as such you’d have given two weeks, maybe even a month. But you left hastily with only one. I bet that final week was torture, wasn’t it?” She tilts her head, eyes warmed by empathy, “Wondering if he’d come in and there you were, terrified you’d not be able to push him away if he were right in front of you.”
Shocked I whisper, “Yes! It was awful.”
She glances to her diamond ring, twisting it in thought. “I had a similar reaction to his father when we met. I wanted to run away or into his arms and the latter decision didn’t seem wise considering what kind of man I thought he was.” Meeting my eyes she asks, “Were you afraid my Eric couldn’t be truly serious with anyone, especially since his career brings all those women into his life?”
Pain twists as I nod, “Yes.”
“Do you miss him?”
“I can’t stop missing him, Mrs. Cocker.”
Sweetness and compassion glows from her as she reaches over and lifts my hand off the bar, holding it while she gazes at me. “Wren, you’re the first woman my son has ever loved, did you know that?”
Tears rush to my eyes as I shake my head. “But he…”
“Tut tut, I don’t need to know how he messed this up. I came here to meet you for myself, to determine whether or not I should tell you that he hasn’t been able to play since you vanished.” She lets me go, sighs, “And while I care about football for his sake, I’m much more interested in seeing his smile return to him again. Eric is my baby. My Emma is her father’s daughter, they share a special bond. Ethan has always been able to take care of himself—his mind is far above mine or Jake’s. I never worried about him. But Eric followed them around like a puppy, and then his team became his siblings, a whole group of rowdy ones. He went where they went, loyal as the day is long. The partying, the girls, they came with that package.” Pausing she fixes her determined gaze on me. “But you don’t know my son the way I do, and maybe he doesn’t know himself just yet. He needs someone to love and he’s fallen for you. The team isn’t enough anymore now that you’ve come into his life. His siblings, not enough. If you love him, and I think you might, consider the possibility that he is likely to take all that loyalty in his heart and pour it into you.” She straightens up. “Or let him go. He’ll heal but he won’t be the same. And I’m afraid a life of boozing and women will take the place of true love, and a mother can’t let that happen without a fight, can she? Do I have to worry about my boy?”
Wiping my eyes and laughing with happiness I tell her, “Not anymore.”
“Good,” she smiles, inhaling deeply and reaching for her purse. “Now I have to go listen to my husband yell at me for butting in. But it’s worth every cuss word he’ll invent. I like to rile him up.” Giving me a wink she adds, “It keeps him happy. Word of advice, woman to woman.”
I wave away her money. “It’s on me.”
“Oh bullshit!” she objects in a whisper, making me laugh on purpose as she pushes the cash toward me. Glancing over as happy people file into the bar, she asks, “The birthday party?”
“I think so, yeah.”
“I like to believe God has good timing. Wren, I hope to see you again soon.”
“Me too, Mrs. Cocker…me too.”
CHAPTER 37
WREN
T he Falcons against the Saints was a massacre, black and red telling black and gold who was boss. I watched the game on the edge of my barstool on the wrong side of the counter at O’Neal’s, in my estimation anyway. Sure felt weird when Mike poured me a beer and I just sat here and accepted it.
Eleanor manages to push her way through bodies to get to me, the weight of what’s about to happen in her dark brown eyes. “You ready? They should be here any minute.”
My heart kicks in my chest as I shake my head to ask, “Dion texted you?”
“Just now, yeah. I told him not to tell Eric but to make sure he was here.” She and I hold an anxious look before she grabs my arm, her other hand balancing a tray of empty glasses. “It’s gonna be okay.”
“Then why am I am so terrified?”
“Like stage fright scared or excited?”
Thinking about it I confirm, “Stage fright. I might run.”
“I’ll stop you.”
“You won’t know.”
“Then don’t run.” She angles her head.
“What if he doesn’t want to see me after all this time?”
“Eleanor, the ice is melting in these drinks!” Mike shouts, jogging his chin to the service station. “How is that possible when it’s forty-four degrees outside? Oh yeah, because you’re not doing your job!”
She rolls her eyes at him, “Maybe if Carla hired more staff I could tell you where to shove that attitude!,” then returns to quietly tell me, “You’re about to find out,” disappearing into the throng. It’s a grueling shift but I wish I was on it. Turns out I like the drama, and my new bar is gorgeous but quiet, subdued and much too classy for my taste.
“I need a shot!” I call to my friend.
Mike’s eyebrows lift. “Of?”
“You pick. No, a kamikaze!” Under my breath I say to myself, “Suits the occasion doesn’t it?” while pulling out my compact. I never carry these but today I’ve been checking my face
