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“Well, it’s true.” He plowed past my warning tone. “You were great—staying home when we needed you.”

I’d left a good-paying government job with stability, benefits, and a pension, for a more flexible job in the private sector. In this case, I’d taken a pay cut. “I did what I had to do. Zero regrets. I hope you know that.”

He nodded. “So maybe, if things settle with me, you could do something else—if you wanted to. Alaina and I don’t need babysitting anymore.”

“You’ll be in high school while she’s finishing middle school. And there’s the matter of your French studies…” Erlene had registered both kids in French Immersion. And, according to their teachers, both excelled. If they could stay in their programs until they completed high school, they would be considered officially bilingual. That would open worlds for them—including government jobs.

I, on the other hand, had barely spoken two words of the language before I’d become friends with Erlene. The day I’d met the kids—and seen their homework—I’d bought an app and started studying fifteen minutes a day. In all these years, no matter how chaotic life had been, I’d never missed a day. Last thing before I went to bed. Even the day Erlene died and her funeral. I just had to repeat to myself, over and over, that I was doing it for the kids. And after all this time? My spoken wasn’t great, but I could at least understand some of their homework…

“The Mission City high school has a French Immersion program, and I know several of the French Immersion teachers at Cedar Street Elementary. I even went to school with one of them—Felix Stevenson. Great guy. Loves kids. Newly married. To Jacob.” Cody met, and held, my gaze.

More gay folks. More people I could connect with. More members of the community who would, quite probably, support my son. “I’ll…take all this under consideration.”

Keegan pumped his fist.

“I haven’t made a decision.” I attempted to keep my voice stern.

Cody covered his mouth—and likely his smile—with a hand.

Keegan jumped to his feet and came over to me.

I rose quickly and caught him in a big hug.My little boy’s growing up. If he can face change, maybe I need to as well.

Alaina had texted me with a flurry of exclamation points and emojis—letting me know how damn excited she was. I had sent back a gently worded text. First asking if she was okay—given she wasn’t supposed to have cell service—and secondly cautioning her nothing had been determined.

My message had gone unread, and I hadn’t heard back.

Her friend Shanice’s mom was driving them back from the island on Monday and dropping her off.

Cody rose as well. “Give me a couple of minutes with your dad?”

Keegan nodded. “Yeah, that would be okay.” His gaze shot between the two of us. “But you’re going to talk him into it, right?”

The psychologist smiled. “We’re going to have an adult conversation.”

My boy pursed his lips.

I placed my hand on his shoulder and guided him to the door. “I promise to keep an open mind.”

To my surprise, he gave me another hug. “I love you.” He whispered the words fiercely under his breath.

Then he was gone.

I pivoted back to Cody. “So tell me what you really think.”

And the psychologist did.

Thirty minutes later, I wandered outside, still in a bit of a daze.Am I really considering this? What does it mean for the kids? For me?I spied a picnic table and headed that way. No campers were in sight. In fact, I was completely alone. I plopped down, yanked out my phone, and checked to see if I had any messages from Alaina.

Nothing.

“May I sit with you?” A woman’s soft voice pulled me from my contemplations.

I glanced up to see Alessandra MacLean. The patron saint of the camp. Her idea and her family’s money had made Pride Camp a reality. “Uh, sure.”

She sat across from me. “I’m taking a break from everything—social worker, mother, wife…even camp…whatever I am. I’m just being Allie for a few minutes.”

“Oh.”Am I supposed to know what to say? I wish I wasn’t such a dork when it came to some interactions.Anything to do with the kids? I was intelligent and articulate. Life in general? Not so much.