Page 89 of The Best of Times

Aron blew his nose.

“Has he broken your heart?”

The earnest way that she said this touched something in Aron.

“I suppose he has a bit. It’s a long story.”

“I’ve got the time,” she replied. “Your Granny isn’t even in her outfit yet.”

Aron frowned. “Why?”

“Sorry?”

“Why have you suddenly got the time? After all these years.”

She sighed. “It’s a fair question.”

“I’d like to hear the answer.”

She got up and walked over to the window. It had been many years since they had been in such close proximity alone. He tookthe chance to study her. A face almost as familiar as his own yet a total stranger nowadays.

“I don’t know when it started,” she said. “Not long after your grandfather died, I suppose.”

His maternal grandfather had been a pig of the highest order. He had disowned Aron and left him nothing. Of course, his siblings had offered to share the estate when he died but Aron wouldn’t take a penny of the old man’s money. He’d been touched at the gesture nonetheless.

“I hope you’re not going to say he poisoned your mind and once you were free from his shackles you remembered you had another son?”

She stiffened. “You asked for an answer. At least give me the courtesy of listening.”

He blushed. That outburst had sounded like the teenage Aron, railing against the world for not understanding him.

“I’m sorry. Go on.”

“Of course, I’m not going to blame your grandfather for my behaviour,” she said. “These things aren’t caused by one thing. You know what he was like, though. Your dad tried to play peacemaker but I came down firmly on grandfather’s side.”

“Why?”

“I thought I was doing the right thing for the others and…”

“And?”

She sighed. “I thought that I would end up losing you so it was easier to do it on my own terms. I couldn’t face grieving for my son and my father at the same time. Totally selfish, I realise. I’m not going to pretend to be perfect.”

Just as well.

“Anyway, one night your father came in the lounge after having one of his furtive phone calls to you.”

Only furtive because you demanded it be so.

Aron was quite proud that he’d only thought that. He remained silent on the outside. Perhaps he was learning some valuable lessons. No matter how painful they were.

“After he’d gone to bed, I suppose I cyberstalked you.”

Now this had got his attention.

“First the library website. Then your social media accounts. I saw your whole life. How much you’d achieved. And how much I’d missed.”

“Wow. I’ll have to check my privacy settings.”