Even though she hadn't taken a sip of her coffee, Lorna sat at the tiny corner café with her fingers clenched around her cup. Gazing out the window, she observed the gentle commotion of the street beyond—mothers pushing strollers, couples giggling, kids chasing pigeons.
She secretly wished she had that ease. That levity.
She glanced up as Michael entered, dressed casually in jeans and a navy sweater but still exuding that quiet, authoritative presence he never quite lost. When he saw her, he gave her a gentle smile, and she briefly forgot the burden of everything between them.
He sat down and said, "Hey." "Thanks for the meeting."
Lorna gave a nod. "Obviously. It's crucial.
After a brief pause, they asked, nearly at the same time, "How was the weekend?"
"How is Jason doing?"
They gave a warm, clumsy smile.
"He had a great time," Michael remarked as he relaxed. We spent most of our time exploring outside. He has a keen sense of adventure.
Lorna allowed herself a smile and said, "He told me." "He kept bringing up the marshmallows and the squirrel he named Larry in his conversation."
They laughed lightly together. It felt, for a second, natural.
However, the atmosphere between them changed once more as the laughter subsided; it was now more cautious but also more tender.
Michael said in a cautious tone, "I wanted to talk to you about school holidays, longer visits." "Lorna, I don't want to press. However, I would like to participate in more than just weekends. I want to be consistent with him. A room at home. a pattern."
Lorna's fingers clenched around the cup as she hesitated. "I understand. I'm not saying no, either. I simply need time.
He gave a nod. "I understand. Yes, I do.
Once more, a heavier, though not uncomfortable, but charged silence descended between them. Jason wasn't the only one. The pull, the ache, that undercurrent had not disappeared. Now that they were back together, if anything, it had gotten stronger.
At last, Lorna uttered, "You appear... better." "More rooted."
Michael stared at her. "Yes, I am. However, that does not negate my continued longing for you.
She gasped.
Before her heart betrayed her, she hastily said, "I'm not ready." "Too much is still entangled in everything." in Jason. In... us.
"I understand," he said softly, refusing to back down. "I don't want to rush you. It all comes down to honesty."
Slowly, she nodded. And the truth is, I still have feelings. But I'm terrified of what it could signify. For Jason. For myself.
Michael steadied his eyes and leaned forward a little. Then, let's just get started by talking. co-parenting. with faith and no expectations.
Lorna took a deep breath and turned her head away. Something softened in her eyes as she turned back to face him.
"All right," she muttered. "That's where we start."
They didn't notice their knees grazing the table as they sipped their coffee and started talking about Jason's next term.
Or how neither one moved.
Something was beginning again—slowly, gently—between the lines.