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“I miss them, King,” I confess, saying it out loud for the first time. “I crave what you have with your parents.”

Yesterday, Kingston surprised me by video-calling his mom and dad and introduced me to them. He basically told them I was his in true Kingston fashion. I was nervous as hell on the inside and a blushing mess on the outside. I, for sure, thought his parents would think their son was insane, but they just smiled and said hi. I could tell they instantly felt the connection between the two of us.

His mom, Sakshi, is gorgeous and doesn’t look a day over thirty. His father, Dravid, is just as handsome with salt-and-pepper hair and a smirk just like his son. I finally understand where Kingston gets his good looks.

They were also the sweetest and funniest couple. Their eyes shined with so much love for Kingston as they chatted and joked with him. The call was brief and before we said goodbye, they said they couldn’t wait to meet me in person.

“You deserve to have that happiness, darling,” says Kingston, hugging me to his chest as we lay on my bed. “Do you want me here with you?”

“I want to talk to them alone,” I softly reply, hoping he doesn’t take offense. “But will you please wait downstairs while I do?”

“Of course. Whatever you need.” Kissing my wrist, he stands and puts on his shirt. I miss the sight of his tattoos immediately. Tucking my hair behind my ear, he whispers, “Everything will work out, okay?”

“Thank you.”

As soon as he leaves and shuts the door, I gather a deep breath and pick up my phone from the nightstand. I scroll to my mother’s contact and hover my thumb over the dial button.

My heart beats so fast, I’m afraid it’ll fly out of my chest.

Before I lose the courage, I press dial and put the phone against my ear. It starts to ring and I jump to my feet, pacing back and forth at the foot of the bed. It will be morning there due to the time difference. My strength wavers when it keeps ringing and I’m crushed Mom won’t pick up. Suddenly, , her light voice fills my ear.

“Twinkle?” There’s shock in her voice as though she’s unsure it’s me.

I don’t know what to think about that. “Hi, Mummy.”

“It’s really you,” she gasps, a telltale tremor in her tone.

Tears clog my eyes and I push past the dryness in my throat. “How have you been?”

“I’m-m good, Twinkle. Is everything okay? Are you all right?”

“Why wouldn’t I be okay?”

She hesitates and answers after a long pause. “You stopped calling, Twinkle. It’s the first time I’m hearing from you after three years of silence. Of course, I’m worried.”

“You could’ve called,” I shoot back, feeling hurt. “You have my number.”

“Twinkle,” she sighs my name like an apology.

All it does is make me mad and distraught. “Or did you delete it after deciding to cut me out of your life?”

“Cut you off? You’re my daughter, I could never—”

“Yet you did. For years, you’ve felt more like a stranger than my mother, Ma. Forget the last three years, before that, it was me who kept calling and texting you to maintain any semblance of a relationship. Where were your efforts?”

“Because it never felt like you needed me, love. Whenever we talked, you sounded happy, living the life you wanted. Ever since you moved out for college, you became close with Tina and her family.”

“Because her parents treated me more like a daughter than you or Dad ever did. Do you have any idea how many times I’ve cried in Tina’s mom’s arms? You can’t use me getting close to them as an excuse for your lack of parenting. You abandoned me after you got your new family. Any time I mentioned visiting you, you had something or other to do. It was the same when I suggested you come visit me. That’s why I stopped making any effort. I got sick of you brushing me off.”

“You’re right about everything, Twinkle. I know my lack of actions has hurt you, which is why when you stopped calling, I didn’t reach out. I didn’t want to cause you any more pain. And I realize that’s the biggest mistake I ever made,” she replies brokenly, hiccupping on the other end. “But I can never abandon you, kiddo. I’m here whenever you need me. I love you so much. So does your dad. I think I also caused another blunder when Iconvinced him to give you space. He wanted to reach out when he didn’t hear from you, but I told him not to. I know how much our divorce affected you, Twinkle. Your father and I didn’t handle it well and neglected you. For that and everything else, I’m terribly sorry, and I promise, I will do my best to fix our relationship. That’s if you still wish to.”

Her apology isn’t perfect but it’s heartfelt. I believe when she says she loves me. Hearing it soothes a little of my wounds. As I listen to her side of the story, I wonder how so many misunderstandings came between us.

“Why didn’t you just talk to me, Mummy?”

“It sounds like the simplest solution, but it’s the hardest to do,” she murmurs. “Please tell me you’ll give your dad and me a second chance? You say yes, and I’ll fly out tomorrow to come see you.”

“It’s going to take a lot more than meeting me to fix this.” Years of abandonment and trust issues don’t go away in a blink. But I won’t deny there’s a weight lifted off my chest and a sense of hope flaring in my heart.