Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 69025 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 345(@200wpm)___ 276(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69025 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 345(@200wpm)___ 276(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
“Why not?”
“Because I don’t think he was a good man.”
“Is that why you aren’t with Uncle Rodney? DJ knew something was wrong, but I…I liked him because he gave me toys. I know now that he wasn’t so great. His messages were scary.”
Brandi tried to shield her kids, but... “You heard those?”
Mya nodded.
“Oh, sweetie, don’t think about them, okay? Rodney won’t be bothering us again.”
After the confrontation in the park, she phoned the police to report that he violated his restraining order. She wished she hadn’t taken so long to realize just how off Rodney was. She found it disturbing that she had allowed him so deeply into their lives.
“Okay, but what about your other boyfriend?”
“What about him? It’s over.”
“But you were so happy.”
Brandi sighed. She had been happy. Dammit, why did he have to turn out to be so damned rotten? “I told you, he wasn’t a good man.”
“Why? What was wrong with him?”
“He did some bad things.”
“Oh. Did he say he was sorry?”
“I don’t think sorry will fix what he’s done.”
“Why not? You said if you do something bad, you should say you’re sorry to make things better.”
“It’s more complicated than that.”
Mya obviously didn’t understand. She gave Brandi a long and inquisitive look. “It doesn’t have to be. I think you should make him say he’s sorry and then you can be happy again.”
“It wasn’t something he did to me.”
“Oh. Well, did he say sorry to the people he did the bad things to?”
“I don’t know. I didn’t ask him.”
“Why not?”
“You know, you’re asking a lot of questions.”
“You said I should ask questions if I don’t understand something.” Kids always had a way of throwing whatever you said to them back in your face. Brandi silently prayed for the Lord to give her patience.
“I didn’t like what I found out about him.”
Mya was silent for a moment. “I think you should say you’re sorry to him.”
Brandi looked at her daughter in disbelief. She couldn’t believe she was having this conversation with her eight-year-old daughter.
“Why should I apologize?”
“Well, it doesn’t sound fair that you didn’t ask him to explain. I would be sad if I was him.” Mya turned back to the sink to finish washing the potatoes.
Out of the mouths of babes. Had she been wrong? Should she have heard Mason out?
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Mason held Ben’s hand as they walked down the corridor of the retirement home.
“Do you think Nana will remember me? I haven’t seen her in a really long time.”
“Of course, she’ll remember you. I think you’re just the person to cheer her up. She’s been a little sad lately.”
“Why?”
Because her son was a cold bastard.
“I think she’s feeling lonely.” Mason knocked on his mother’s apartment door. A middle-aged nurse with a friendly smile opened it.
“Mr. Collins, how good to see you. And this handsome young man must be your son. He looks just like you! I’m sure Mrs. Collins will be thrilled with another visitor.”
“Yes, this is my son Ben, Rita. How is Mom today?” Mason asked as they entered the apartment.
“She’s about the same as always. She’ll watch a little television in the morning, then go for a walk. She’s starting to socialize with the other residents a little more, which is a positive sign, but you still get the feeling that….”
“That she’s not completely involved?” Mason asked.
“Well, yes, but she has improved. Why don’t you both go into the sitting room and I’ll tell her that she has company. I know she’ll be happy to see her grandson.” Rita walked off.
Mason and Ben took a seat on the sofa and waited patiently for his mother to come out of her room. After several months, Mason had not made any headway with Helen Collins. She looked at him with cold eyes, not saying a word. No matter what he said to her, his words were always met with a stony silence.
After dropping Ben off after another weekend together, it occurred to him that if she didn’t respond to him, maybe she would respond to Ben.
Helen walked out of her room with a wary expression on her face. Her iron gray hair was pulled back into a tight bun, and she wore a black velour jogging suit.
Mason stood up and walked over to her, kissing her cheek in his usual greeting. She remained still. It was like kissing a marble statue. Helen didn’t respond to his greeting but walked over to Ben and sat down next to him.
He watched as his mother took Ben’s face in her hands and gave him a long stare as if she were searching for something. “Oh, Benny, it’s really you. I’ve missed you so much.” She kissed Ben and pulled the little boy in her arms. “You have gotten so big. You will be strong and handsome…like your father.” She sounded as though that was what she least hoped for.