“It was an easy decision,” she assured him, finally dry-eyed. “It was the right call. I’d do it again.”
“Afra.” He wondered if she’d let him hug her.
“But I also knew I couldn’t…. Open wasn’t an option, because how could I be a part of the baby’s life when it wasn’t even supposed to exist? And now I can’t go looking, I can’t ask.” And she would spend the rest of her life wondering about the only natural child she would have.
“I’m sorry you had to go through that… are going through that. The past few years must have been really hard.”
She shrugged. “Yes. Not being able to get pregnant hadn’t occurred to me.” She gave a wobbly smile. “But that is all in the past, and there is nothing left to be done but to move forward, right?”
“Right.”
“And to make sure you’re making decisions just for you. You’re not a dumb eighteen-year-old. You’re thirty-two, with your own bank account, and you know you’ve got me and Ben in your corner.”
Ari was in his last year of high school when she first brought Ben home, and he had spent all of his twenties knowing that Afra and Ben were his safety net, always. He’d run to them after the messy end to his first serious relationship. “I know. Likewise.”
Afra smiled. “Now, finish your sushi, because you and I are going to go for a walk. I could use some sunshine, even if it is cold as balls. And you probably could too. Noella says you’ve been sending stuff regularly, which means you’ve probably spent most of your time locked up with your piano.”
“Maybe.”
After they finished their food and tidied the coffee table, Afra stepped into her sensible flats and Ari his favorite slip-ons, and they put on their coats and headed out the door.
“I need to buy something at the pharmacy.” Afra turned them to the right. Having no opinion to the contrary, Ari followed her.
As they went, they avoided the topic of their parents and focused instead on fun things. Afra talked about Ben’s new origami hobby—“He says it’s useful when talking with kids and getting them to open up, but he’s actually kind of terrible at it.”—and how weird it was that Theo was back at school and not underfoot anymore.
At the pharmacy, Afra picked up Band-Aids and a bag of Starburst—Theo’s favorite—and stuffed her purchases into her sensible bag. “He’s stressing about finals already,” she said, shaking her head. “I guess he missed his target mark on one of his midterms.”
They were meandering toward a park when a familiar blond head caught Ari’s eye. Jax was walking slowly down the path, a backpack over one shoulder and a chubby toddler waddling before him.
Ari must have given something away, because Afra said, “What—” and then followed his gaze. “Oh my God. Ari, tell me you’re going to put a ring on it.”
Ari spluttered. “Afra,” he hissed. But he was frankly relieved. He thought it might be difficult for her to be around children.
She laughed loudly enough to draw attention.
Jax lit up when he saw Ari—how had Ari ever thought Jax wasn’t emotionally invested?—and waved.
“I need to see this close up,” Afra said, and they made their way to Jax and Alice together.
Jax made the introductions. “Alice”—Afra jerked and looked at Ari—“meet my friends, Ari and Afra.” He pointed to them and prompted Alice into a wave.
Alice gave a clumsy flap of her hand and said, “Hi.”
“Hello, Alice,” Ari said seriously.
“Hi.” She smiled, showing off her chubby cheeks.
“Hi,” Afra said. “Lovely to meet you, Alice. Good to see you again, Jax.”
The smile he gave her was genuine and sweet. “You too. How have you been? Keeping Ari in his place, I hope.”
“Oh, always. Today’s job was to get him out of the house. He’s been composing too hard.”
“Don’t I know it.” Jax grinned.
Afra gave Ari a look. “Oh, I’m sure you do.”
Ari elbowed her gently and said, “She dragged me out for a walk.”
