Page 35 of Crying Shame

Being part of the Norouzi family had always been my dream, though I’d forgotten that. I’d busied myself with work at the theme park and raised Sam in my small apartment. But he’d deserved Elon’s protection.

Once we landed, and a crew member opened the door for us, I asked my son. “Sam, are you ready?”

He hurried out of the helicopter but then waited for us. “I'm hungry, so I hope they have food. Mom, are you okay?”

Although I was fighting the temptation to believe I could share Elon’s life, I nodded. “Yes.”

Sam took my hand and then Elon’s. “Watch out for her if I’m eating,” Sam said.

Elon winked at me. “I will. I promise.”

It wasn't anybody's responsibility but my own to fix my life. I lifted my chin. “I look out for myself.”

Sam shook his head. “She said Hunter was okay because he helped her carry groceries from the store where they met.”

“Yeah?” Elon asked.

I cringed. Sam was only aware of some parts of the Hunter story, and the parts he’d experienced were horrifying enough. My face felt tight. “Let’s not talk about him today.”

Both of them nodded.

We made it to the back terrace and headed through the sliding doors. I remembered my unsmiling mother standing at various places in the house, always watching.

Roxanne Norouzi appeared, wearing a bright smile. Her dark hair was in a loose bun. She threw open her arms, and tears formed in her eyes as she hugged Elon, Sam, and then me.

Elon said, “Maman, this is Sam.”

She put her arms around Sam. “Oh my goodness, you’re the spitting image of your father. Come inside, come inside.”

Elon and Sam walked ahead of me to the grand room, from where I could hear his brothers in the dining area. I pressed my hand over my heart at the thought of seeing all the familiar faces I’d never thought I would see again.

Sam laughed at something Roxanne said.

I whispered to Elon, “They’re already getting along.”

I stepped back, hesitating before joining his family in the dining room.

A servant approached and slipped her phone into my hand. I heard my mother’s voice. “You had Elon’s child and didn’t tell us?”

My heartbeat quickened. I never wanted to speak to my mother. I hung up and shoved the phone back at the servant and backtracked to the main room. Elon was suddenly at my side. He directed me to the library.

“Maman is so excited to be a grandmother and wants to know everything about you and Sam,” he said. “I thought I should warn you.”

Roxanne’s voice carried from the library, and it was clear Sam was being introduced. I felt like I was on pins and needles, like this was all a dream. “I remember she was always nice.”

He hugged me.

I closed my eyes and rested my head on his shoulder. I told myself it was only for a minute.

With Elon, I wasn’t alone. Honestly, it was nice.

From behind us, Roxanne said, “Your son already seems to get along well with Charlie.”

I let go of Elon and turned, feeling guilty, as though I'd been caught doing something wrong. Roxanne was nothing like my parents, but panic settled into me.

“Elon, go talk to your father. Clarissa and I are going upstairs for a few minutes.”

Elon gently pressed his hand on my back. “Oh… okay.”