"He's really growing up well."
I nod, looking out the window.
"You've done a fine job with him, Del."
/Don'tturnaround, don'tturnaround.../ "Thank you..."
Fingers brush against my cheek. "You know, it's a shame he doesn't know me..."
I wince, trying to focus only on the sight of my son through the window. /If he knew you, he wouldn't be the good boy he is today./ "If you say so..."
He takes a step back. "You know, Del, you're always welcome back with me. Both of you."
Greatful to no longer feel his touch, I sigh. "I know I am."
Outside, Ash picks up a stick and waves it around. Under ordinary circumstances, I would have giggled, but with that man still around, I can't.
That hand rests on my shoulder, and I can see he's still wearing his wedding ring. "Tell me about him."
I pull away, moving over to the chair. He kneels down next to me, and I resist the urge to comment on his powerless posturing. At first I'm silent, but he has this way of making people talk without doing anything.
"...He's a good boy," I say. "He's energetic, and loves to play with his friends. He helps me out a lot, and he can't wait until he's ten so he can go on his trainers journey..."
"Go on."
/Do I have to? You know you can't have him.../ "No...no, that's all."
"All right." He stands, kissing me on the forehead. "You've done a good job with him, Delia," he says before exiting.
A few minutes later, Ash comes in. "Mama, who was that man that was here?" he asks, tracking dirt in the house.
"...no one."
I nod, looking out the window.
"You've done a fine job with him, Del."
/Don'tturnaround, don'tturnaround.../ "Thank you..."
Fingers brush against my cheek. "You know, it's a shame he doesn't know me..."
I wince, trying to focus only on the sight of my son through the window. /If he knew you, he wouldn't be the good boy he is today./ "If you say so..."
He takes a step back. "You know, Del, you're always welcome back with me. Both of you."
Greatful to no longer feel his touch, I sigh. "I know I am."
Outside, Ash picks up a stick and waves it around. Under ordinary circumstances, I would have giggled, but with that man still around, I can't.
That hand rests on my shoulder, and I can see he's still wearing his wedding ring. "Tell me about him."
I pull away, moving over to the chair. He kneels down next to me, and I resist the urge to comment on his powerless posturing. At first I'm silent, but he has this way of making people talk without doing anything.
"...He's a good boy," I say. "He's energetic, and loves to play with his friends. He helps me out a lot, and he can't wait until he's ten so he can go on his trainers journey..."
"Go on."
/Do I have to? You know you can't have him.../ "No...no, that's all."
"All right." He stands, kissing me on the forehead. "You've done a good job with him, Delia," he says before exiting.
A few minutes later, Ash comes in. "Mama, who was that man that was here?" he asks, tracking dirt in the house.
"...no one."