“They don’t make it easy.”
I shrugged. “At least you’ll know you tried. Whatever happens… you’ll have me.”
Devlin smiled. “You know what… that actually does give me the courage I need to make the first move.”
After dinner, he was sitting thoughtfully at the dinner table when I took his hand. “Penny for your thoughts?” I asked.
He shook himself out of his reverie and gave me a small smile. “I was just… contemplating…”
“What were you contemplating?”
“I was contemplating… calling my mother,” Devlin admitted. “You know… making the first move.”
“I think that’s a great idea.”
“You do?”
“I do,” I said, stroking his arm to calm him down a little. I knew that just the thought of calling his mother had put him on edge. “They’re always going to be your parents, Devlin, and no matter what that’s never going to change. At least give it your best shot now so you don’t regret anything in the future.”
I looked at Zoey. “Do you regret not knowing your father?” he asked.
“When I was younger I did,” I nodded. “But he didn’t want to know me… so, in the end, I realized I was better off without him. But I have to admit if he showed up tomorrow and asked for a second chance… I would give him one.”
“Seriously?”
“Yes,” I nodded.
“But he… he basically abandoned you.”
“I know,” I nodded. “But every person has their story. People have their baggage, and sometimes their experiences and their lack of choice shapes the decisions they make. Which might end up being mistakes they realize later. I’ve always believed that everyone deserves a second chance.”
“You’re a better person than me though,” Devlin said. “You’re kind and compassionate and forgiving… it’s harder for me.”
“Don’t you want a relationship with your parents?” I asked.
“Well… I mean I do… but—”
“Then you’ve got to work for it,” I said. “Didn’t you tell me that it was your mother that called and asked you to come to the house to collect your old paintings?”
“I… yes.”
“Well don’t you think the timing’s a little odd?” I asked. “I mean… you’ve been living separately for years now. Why call you now about those paintings? Maybe that was your parents’ way of trying to make a connection with you. Maybe that was their way of inviting you back home.”
I saw Devlin’s eyes grow wide a little and I realized that he hadn’t thought of that before. He was so used to believing that his parents didn’t care about him that he hadn’t even considered the fact that they might also want to try to mend their relationship with him.
“I… will you excuse me for a moment?” Devlin asked.
“Of course,” I said, giving him a smile of encouragement and a kiss on the cheek before he went to his room and closed the door.
I cleared up the plates and then went to the living room. I reclined back on the sofa and decided to give Leah a call. We hadn’t spoken in quite a while, and I missed her.
“Well, well it’s been a while, old friend,” Leah said dramatically when she picked up.
“Ha, ha… it hasn’t been that long.”
“How’re things going with the new roommate?” Leah asked.
“With Devlin?” I asked. “Actually they’re going pretty great…”