“I have always believed in you, Noah.”
“You left.” I shouted. “You abandoned me and my brother and then you disowned my brother.”
“I was wrong to do that.”
“I’m only calling to talk to you because I can’t talk to Sidney.” I ignored her. “And because Skylar taught me that to move on in life we have to forgive those who have hurt us.”
“It kills me that I hurt you.”
“You don’t get to say that. You don’t get to try and make everything okay. I don’t want you in my life.”
“I’m your mother, Noah.”
“And Sidney is my best friend.” I felt the tears rushing out of my eyes again. “You don’t understand how I’m feeling right now.”
“You feel like a piece of you has been ripped out and you can’t find the hole to stuff it and stop the pain.” She spoke slowly.
“You don’t know how I feel.”
“My cancers in remission.”
“What?” My heart stopped for a moment.
“The chemo worked. I’m in remission.”
“So you don’t have cancer anymore?”
“That’s right, for now I’m cancer free.” Her voice grew soft. “If you were calling me because of what I said in my last call, about me dying and wanting to see you, you don’t have to feel guilty. I’m not dying anymore. Well, at least not of cancer.”
“So you’re fine?”
“I’m cancer free, but I’m not fine. I want to see you.”
“You made your choice years ago.”
“I’ll tell your father I don’t need the money anymore. If that will prove to you how much I want a relationship with you.”
“What will you do for money?” I scoffed.
“I can sell the farmhouse. We can move to an apartment somewhere. I’d rather have you in my life, I’d rather Pierre get to know his brother.”
“What about Zane?”
“I was immature and petty.” She sighed. “I will have him in my life if he will have me.”
“Really?” I asked suspiciously.
“I know I’ve a lot to make up for.” She sighed. “I don’t want to waste this opportunity to have you in my life again.”
“You almost sound sincere.”
“Give me a chance, Noah. Let me prove myself to you. Please.”
“I guess so.” I took a deep breath. “But I’m not coming to visit any time soon. If things go well, I will come next year and bring Skylar during the summer.”
“That would be nice. I can’t wait to meet her.”
“Yeah, she’d like to have a grandma.” I said the word grandma hesitantly.
“And I would love to be one.”
“I guess we’ll see how it goes.” I sat back, feeling content with the way the conversation had gone. I knew that Sidney would be happy that I was trying to make amends with my mother. Thinking of Sidney again made me shiver. I couldn’t imagine never being able to talk to him again. I just didn’t know what I would do if I never got to hear his advice or his laugh again.
***
Robin opened the door and stood there with her arms wide open. I fell into them and pulled her into my arms, before slamming the door shut. Wordlessly, we walked to her bedroom. I tore my clothes off and watched as she slipped off the gown she was wearing. She was naked underneath it and I grabbed ahold of her and fell onto the bed with her on top of me, kissing her hard. Our fingers explored each other and she rolled me over onto my back and pulled away from me and stared at me intently. She stared at my bloodshot eyes and kissed every inch of them, licking the residue of tears from my cheeks.
I rolled her over onto her back and kissed my way down her stomach to her most intimate of places. My tongue found her bud, already soaked with lust and I lapped her up with my tongue, delighting at the taste of her as she trembled beneath me. I closed my eyes as my tongue entered her and she buckled underneath me, with a small whimper. I was glad for the silence, there were no words to ruin the moment. There were no words that could touch the magic of the silence that filled the room as our two bodies connected and became one. Robin was like home to me. I hadn’t known her long and we were still in the beginning stages of dating, but I knew in my heart and soul that one day she was going to become my wife. I looked up at her before I entered her, and I felt my heart explode as she kissed her lips lightly against mine as she clenched her legs around my waist and then whispered in my ear.
“I love you, Noah Beaumont.” Five simple words, but they were better than any orgasm I’d ever had. I wanted to ask her to marry me then. I wanted to get down on bended knee and beg her to be my wife, but I knew it wasn’t the right time. When I proposed it was going to be in the midst of a joyous occasion, not when I was still in sorrow over the ill health of my best friend. I loved Robin, but I wanted to ensure that when I told her and asked her to spend the rest of her life with me, that she knew it was for all the right reasons.
Chapter 12
Lucky
“Let’s sing another song.” Skylar was giddy with excitement and I shared a smile with Zane as Noah and Skylar started another chorus of “When the Saints Go Marching In.”
“You guys aren’t getting tired yet?” Zane peered at them in the rearview mirror and then squeezed my knee. “We should be there in about another hour or so.”
“Awesome.” I smiled at him, before yawning. “I can’t believe you surprised me with a family trip to Napa.”
“I thought it would be something you’d enjoy.”
“It is.” I smiled happily. “It’s the perfect way for us all to relax after the last two weeks.”
“Thanks for inviting me guys.” Robin chimed in from the backseat. “I’m happy to be included in family trips. I’ve been dreaming of this day for years.” She laughed. “Only I was ten in the dream.”
“Better late than never though.” Noah kissed her on the cheek and she nodded happily. “Though you really didn’t need to bring 3 suitcases for a weekend trip.”
“You know us girls,” Robin rolled her eyes at Noah. “Can’t go anywhere without an assortment of clothes.”
“Typical female.” Zane threw in and they all laughed.
“So what’s the plan for the weekend?” I wondered aloud. “I’m curious what we’re all going to do, seeing as Skylar and I can’t drink alcohol.”