Absent
She stared down at his photo and felt a hollow ache in her chest. Sometimes, just sometimes, she missed not having him with her. Wasn't it what they always said that sons always needed their mums? And in the 'real' world, wasn't it was always the mum that kept the children?
But this wasn't that world and her son didn't need her as much as she thought he would. This in itself was a blessing and heartache. It was heartache as he was so grown up and, well, Paul's new wife helped in that respect. It was a blessing as if he had needed her so badly she would have felt even guiltier for leaving him with his father – even if his reasons were just.
She let one tear slide down her face, than picked up the phone. While she was a police officer it was better this way — what with those twelve hour shifts they sometimes had to do and all the overtime she was given. It really was for the best for her son to have him so far away.
As the phone called through and rang finally being picked up with
"Hello?"
"Hey."
"Mum, how are you?"
As the conversation continued, Diane's face continued to brighten up. Her son was safe, happy and well looked after in a caring place. What more could she provide or ask for?