Mad About You

occasional outings, with stolen hours here and there, with being a spectator in her son's life. Within time her own loss would be offset by seeing him happy under Bailey's care.
    Virginia inhaled deeply. No more tears.

    * * *

    "Bailey." Lenny walked into his office and tossed a note on his desk. "Cassie forgot to give you this message. Lady named Virginia called about an hour ago."
    Frowning, Bailey snatched up the note. No need to stop by—will be out this evening. Everything's fine. "Everything's fine," he muttered. "What the hell does that mean?"
    Lenny looked perplexed. "Means everything's fine, Bailey."
    "Not with Ginny, it doesn't."
    "I take it she's your ex?"
    "Yeah."
    "Mine's a heap of trouble too."
    Bailey pulled a hand down his face, then loosened his tie. "That's not the problem, Len. Ginny's the one that got away."
    "Oh, I see. Well, she must be the only woman in the world to turn you down."
    "No," Bailey said, smiling faintly. "Just the only one to turn me down who mattered."
    When Lenny left, Bailey reached for the phone and dialed her number again, but hung up when it rolled to voice mail. He banged down the phone in frustration, then glanced at his watch. She was already gone.

    * * *

    Virginia passed the evening shopping for Chad. She gathered underwear, socks, shirts and pajamas—it made her happy to rummage through the racks alongside other mothers shopping for their children. She bought him a pair of workboots, sturdy jeans, a ball cap, and a new life jacket—all things he would need at Shenoway.
    It was strange, but after making the decision to let him leave, she felt more like a mother. Perhaps to fully appreciate the privilege of motherhood, one had to first experience personal sacrifice.
    She dozed fitfully that night, missing Chad in the house and wrestling with the consequences of her own bad judgment where Bailey was concerned. But near morning she fell asleep, content with the knowledge that it wasn't as bad as nights she'd spent wondering if her baby was dead or alive, and wondering what had happened to her marriage. Considering her previous heartbreak, this was a mere crack. She'd make it.
    She slept late and awakened to her phone ringing. It was Bailey again, and he left another message. "Please call me, Ginny. I need to talk to you."
    Swinging her feet to the floor and pushing herself up, Virginia grabbed her robe and reached for her absent locket. She played the message twice more, listening to his deep, husky voice. Then she erased the message.
    Her parents brought Chad home after lunch. When Virginia hugged her mother, Peg whispered that Chad had been subdued most of the trip. Virginia assumed he was still upset about not living with Bailey, so she decided to tell him her decision as soon as her parents left. She carried the wrapped shadow box to the kitchen, then called his name from the bottom of the stairs. For once, his music was at a normal level.
    "Hungry?" she asked when he came to the top of the stairs.
    He shook his head.
    She waved him down. "I have something for you, and we need to talk."
    Looking apprehensive, he descended the stairs. "Is it about the letter?" he asked.
    She frowned, then remembered the court date. "No, we can discuss that later."
    He followed her to the kitchen table and sat down, arms crossed.
    Pulling the wrapped shadow box from behind the snack bar, she said, "I know this can't make up for my behavior, but I hope you like it."
    Frowning slightly, he tugged at the heavy paper, then uncovered the shadow box a little at a time, saying nothing. He studied the frame, squinting. "It's my game—and all the stuff my mom gave me."
    Virginia nodded nervously. " You can open the door and add more things if I left out something that’s important. "
    "You did this yourself?"
    She nodded again. "I hope you don't mind me looking through your pictures—I didn't touch anything else in your room, I promise."
    He chewed on his lip, studying the contents. "I like it," he said finally. "Thanks." Then he stood and walked over to her and gave her a hug.
    Not a quick, little obligatory hug, but an honest-to-goodness hug. Virginia could have held on forever, desperately fighting her tears of happiness. When he pulled back, she said, "There's more. Sit." She patted the chair.
    He sat, waiting.
    Taking a deep breath, Virginia began, her voice only a little shaky. "Chad, I love you very much, and I'll never be able to tell you how thankful I am to have you in my life