When There Is Nothing Left But Love

I quickly knelt down next to Gregory and pacified him, saying, “Silly boy, Mommy only left for a while. How could I have left you behind? Didn’t we agree that we’d stick together?”

However, Gregory could not be so easily appeased. He frowned in deep thought. After a moment, his eyes lit up. Extending his tiny pinky towards me he claimed, “We didn’t make a pinky promise last time, so it didn’t count. Now we have to!”

I put on an unsmiling face and hooked my pinky with Gregory’s. He cheered up considerably afterward.

Looking down at Gregory clad smartly in a tuxedo, I guessed that the three of them were heading out to dinner. In a friendly manner, I asked, “Are you going out to dinner tonight, Gregory?”

Before Gregory could reply, Ashton cut in with a low voice, “We’re going to meet my parents. You have to come too.”

We’re going to meet the Hall family? I thought, amused. I guess today isn’t a wasted trip after all.

I smiled cheerfully at Ashton, then replied, “Sure! Let me go back and change. Wait here for me.”

“It’s alright,” Ashton commanded, halting me in my tracks. “You can come as you are. There’s no need to be so formal.”

word, Ashton got into the van

Gregory’s hand. At least I’ve saved some

They must be a callous bunch who

the back with Gregory while Ashton sat in the front. We seemed to have come to a mutual understanding that the earlier matter with John would not be

on endlessly, filling me in with all the news from school that I’d missed in

I asked, “Gregory, you don’t really like to mix with the younger children at school, do you? Do you find them dull? If you have a younger sister who’s very childish, would you

course, I won’t!” Gregory declared stoutly. “I’ll stay with my sister always and protect her. I won’t let anyone bully

contrast with his still-babyish voice. A picture

ruffled Gregory’s hair. I looked at him fondly, commending, “You’ve

sneakily watching us through the rearview mirror. However, Ashton looked away from the mirror the instant our eyes met, All that remained was the stiff, icy look

me with another look of utter contempt that doubled up as a

he had full assurance that he would be

was thus occupied in thought. It seemed

me forward while holding onto Gregory’s hand, I