As Patrick approached Central Park, he instantly recognised his mother in the distance as she patiently awaited his arrival. "Victoria..."
"Patrick!" She swivelled on her favourite pair of five-inch heels, which allowed her to finally match his height, and her arms curled around him for their first real embrace since his return. "It's so good to see you!" Although only a few days had passed since their chance meeting at Starbucks, their conversation had been severely limited due to Charlotte's presence. "I've missed you!"
"I've missed you too!" Patrick declared, pleased by the ability his presence appeared to have in terms of uplifting her mood and her smile proved evidence to as much. "We didn't really have much of a chance to talk the other day; how was Thanksgiving?"
Victoria exhaled softly and her eyes fell to her feet, "Quiet." While Conrad had holed himself in his personal office, Charlotte retreated to her bedroom to focus on the school work she had missed and Victoria had been left with nothing to do but count the days, hours and minutes before she could return to the solace of Grayson Manor and her new lease of life with Patrick. In fact, the only time the three of them had shared the same room for more than five minutes had been Thanksgiving dinner and the conversation had been dismal. Much to the dismay of Victoria, Daniel didn't bother to call from Paris and Conrad revelled in the opportunity to stir more salt into her wound, pleased that they would both suffer their son's sentiments of hatred and disdain.
"Well, Charlotte looked good." Patrick pointed out, his tone remaining positive. "How's she coping?"
"She's doing much better than expected." She responded, "Declan's death and the loss of the baby will never be easy to deal with but the more she focuses on the school, the easier it'll become for her." Her arms linked with Patrick's as they strolled alongside the edge of the lake and she made a new direction for the topic of conversation. "And since Charlotte's so focused on school right now, I've made the decision to return to the Hampton's within the next couple of days and I hope you'll join me there." Before Patrick could respond with his answer, she continued, "Conrad will remain in the Governor's mansion in Albany on a permanent basis and Charlotte has expressed her wish to stay with him while she completes the school term. The way things are between us right now, I highly doubt Daniel will return to the Hampton's until the beginning of the summer and Grayson Manor is far too much space for our entire family, let alone one person."
"I would be happy to return with you!" He happily accepted, astonished by the perfect timing of his return into her life. With her family divided, physically and frankly emotionally, it permitted them the opportunity to become properly acquainted on their own terms with no time constraints and no external pressures. "If that's the only reason you asked me here, then allow me to thank you..." Patrick checked that his mother had said all she needed to before he continued. "...for your reaction, or perhaps your lack of one, when I told you... the way that I am." Victoria remained silent, a soft, soothing smile settled on her full lips as she sensed the importance of the matter to Patrick. "It probably sounds silly but, even though I've known for quite a few years now, it's still so hard for me to let others know. Most of all you because I realise my choices not only affect my life but yours too, in a weird roundabout way of looking at it." He awkwardly motioned to a nearby family where an elderly couple fed the ducks with their infant grandchildren, "I mean, I guess every mother dreams of that normal family structure, right? The day their son finds the woman he loves and marries her and has children..."
"What every mother dreams of, Patrick, or at least every decent mother, is that their child find happiness." Victoria replied, with the only assurance she possibly could. "Whether you find that happiness with another man or a woman makes no difference at all." The relief was evident in his facial features, "Since we're on the subject, is there anybody in your life right now?"
Her unapologetic lack of subtlety caused Patrick to chuckle, "Not right now, no!"
"Patrick, you'll forgive me for being somewhat pleased; it simply means I have you all to myself for the foreseeable future at least." Victoria referenced her small smile and Patrick reflected it, "Of course, it's always possible you might meet someone in the Hampton's." Despite her indifference to many of the individuals in her world of high-society, Victoria did find a small percentage of the Hampton's could be bearable and several names already entered her mind. But, in light of her strained relationship with Daniel, Victoria decided to repress her desire to interfere in Patrick's private life.
"It's possible!" Patrick granted his mother's point, "But I think the only relationship I should concern myself with right now is this one here." His hand softly patted hers as they continued to stroll through the park and Victoria made a poor effort to disguise her exceptional happiness at his response to her remark. "The only reason I came back into your life was because I had always wanted to know the kind of mother my mother was and for her to see the man I had become without her. Not just the big things like your children, your life, but the little things." He admired their surroundings, in search of inspiration, "Like what your favourite season is! Mine's fall, right now..." he gestured to the countless leaves that had already departed from the trees and were scattered beneath their feet. "The golden, reddish colour the leaves turn before they hit the ground, the slight chill in the air and the way it becomes darker earlier in the evening and the fires indoors that make homes so much cosier than before." Patrick began to laugh at his babbled speech, which Victoria listened to with utter fascination. "Maybe I'm exaggerating a little but I want to know you, not Mrs Conrad Grayson." If he knew only one thing, he knew that the public display his mother offered was little more than a façade to conceal and protect the woman underneath. "Come on... we're not too far from my favourite coffee shop and they make an amazing homemade pumpkin soup! Another thing I love about this time of year!"