A Touch of Fate (BWWM)

20 | Making Amends

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Imani

The basketball game was a real nail-biter. Dylan's team, the Hawks, nearly beat the division's top team, the Outlaws. The boys were close to winning, but their opponents prevailed in the end. The long line of sad faces leaving the changing room made Imani pleased to take her son to lunch to cheer him up.

But lunch only lasted an hour. After buying garlic bread to go with spaghetti for dinner and wallpaper at the hardware store, she ran out of ideas for things they could do together, and Dylan couldn't wait to get home. She had no choice but to drive across the bridge while gripping the wheel. She felt uneasy and tense. Garrett's sudden appearance this morning had enraged her.

What in the world was she thinking? Could they move on from the past and become friends again? It was all or nothing this time. She relaxed and fiddled with the radio at a red light three blocks from home.

"Do you like Garrett?"

Imani quickly looked at Dylan, who stared at her with expressive brown eyes. "Why are you asking that?"

"Because he makes you smile." Her son's happy expression moved her. "I want you to be happy like Christopher White's mother is with her boyfriend. The man is kind and treats him like a son."

"What are you getting at, Dylan?"

He beamed. "I think Garrett will be good for you."

She took a deep breath and traveled through the intersection once the light changed. "He and I are friends."

"Why not become his girlfriend?"

"Dylan, I can't think about that. My focus is on you."

"I'm fine with him being my stepdad."

She glanced at him again with a small frown. "Where are you getting this from?"

Dylan shrugged and looked down. "I just want the best for you, Mom."

Her heart began to melt again.

"You're really pretty. And the team thinks so, too. Christopher said..." As they entered their driveway, Dylan continued. "My friend said that his mom didn't have a boyfriend for a long time because she didn't want to upset her kids. But none of them cared." His chin stuck out. "Now, the whole family is happy."

"Dylan..."

"He is different from the others," he added, with a hint of sadness in his voice. "He's not like Dexter. Garrett won't hit us just because we left the refrigerator door open."

"Baby, that man had no reason to hurt either of us. People like Dexter deserve to be in prison. And after what he did to you," she said in a weak voice, turning to face her son. "We had to run. Our life in New York is over, and he will never find us. Dexter had no idea where I grew up. You don't have to worry about him coming after you, okay?"

Dylan nodded slightly, shedding a tear. "I want you to be happy."

"I know, baby. I am happy with you."

"That's not what I'm talking about."

Imani put the car in park and spotted Garrett's truck parked on the side of the road. She let out a soft sigh, turned the engine off, and looked at Dylan. She hesitated, unsure if this was the right moment to talk about Garrett, but they needed to.

"Listen," she began, but her son cut her off.

"I don't mind you two being together. He's a good person."