Gerald sat in a quiet corner of the café, the sounds of clinking dishes and murmured conversations blending into a distant hum around him. His brow was furrowed, his gaze fixed on the screen of his phone. The usually confident and easygoing man wore an expression of deep concern as he scrolled through his messages.
The last message from Aubrey stared back at him, a brief and vague response that did nothing to ease his worries.
"I’m okay. I’ll try to find time with Mason."
That was all she had said. Gerald had read those words countless times since she had sent them, but they brought him no comfort. He had tried to reach out to her several times since then, sending messages and even trying to call her, but there had been no reply. Just silence.
His thumb hovered over the screen as he scrolled up through their previous messages. He frowned, seeing the growing gaps between her responses. Did something happen to her?
Gerald sighed deeply, a sadness settling over him like a heavy blanket. He couldn’t help but worry about her, wondering what she was really feeling, what she wasn’t telling him. Was she okay? Was she really fine, or was that just something she said to keep him from worrying? And what about Mason? Was she happy with him? Was she finally getting what she wanted?
The thought brought a sad smile to Gerald’s face. If Aubrey was happy with Mason, that should be enough for him, shouldn’t it? He had always wanted the best for her, even if it meant stepping aside. But the idea of her being out there, possibly struggling, and him not being able to do anything about it, gnawed at him.
He was so lost in his thoughts that he barely noticed the world around him when suddenly, the sharp sound of something heavy hitting the table snapped him out of his reverie. Gerald jerked his head up, startled, his eyes widening in surprise as he met the stern gaze of his mother. She was sitting across from him, her hand still resting on the table where she had just tapped it with force. Her expression was far from pleased.
"Gerald," she began, her voice laced with a mix of irritation and impatience, "I didn’t come here to have lunch with my son just to be ignored."
Gerald blinked, the weight of his worries momentarily pushed aside by the guilt that surged through him. He had been so absorbed in his thoughts that he had completely forgotten about the lunch they were supposed to be having. A sheepish smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he quickly set his phone down on the table, screen facing down.
"Sorry, Mom," he said, his voice sincere as he looked up at her. "I didn’t mean to ignore you. I just got a bit... caught up."
His mother’s expression softened slightly, but there was still a hint of disapproval in her eyes. She took a seat across from him, her movements graceful yet deliberate, as if she were trying to remind him of the importance of their time together.
"You’ve been distracted this entire time, Gerald," she said, her tone more gentle now but still firm. "Is everything alright?"
Gerald hesitated for a moment, unsure of how much to share. His relationship with his mother had always been a good one, built on mutual respect and understanding. But he certainly didn’t want to tell her what he was doing. His mother would be furious if she knew he was trying to break up someone else’s marriage.
"Yeah, everything’s fine," he finally replied, forcing a more convincing smile. "Just thinking about a friend."
His mother’s gaze softened even more, and she reached across the table to gently place her hand over his. "I see," she said quietly. "You’ve always had such a big heart, Gerald. It’s one of the things I love most about you. But you also need to take care of yourself. Don’t let someone else’s problems consume you."
Gerald nodded, appreciating her words even as the concern in his heart remained. He squeezed her hand gently, grateful for her understanding. "I know, Mom."
His mother studied him for a moment longer, then gave a small nod of acceptance. She took a sip of her coffee, her gaze thoughtful as she glanced out the window of the café, watching the world go by for a moment before turning her attention back to him.
"So, how’s Mason doing?" she asked, her tone light and casual, but Gerald could sense the underlying curiosity. "I haven’t heard much from him lately. I assume he’s doing well?"
Gerald managed a smile, trying to push aside the unease that always accompanied thoughts of Mason these days. "Yeah, he’s doing great," he replied, his voice steady. "Busy as always. Work’s keeping him on his toes, but that’s nothing new."
His mother’s face brightened at his words, a genuine smile spreading across her features. She had always been fond of Mason, treating him almost like a second son. Their families had been close for as long as Gerald could remember, and his mother had always had a soft spot for Mason, especially after the loss of Mason’s parents.
"I’m so happy for him," she said, her voice warm with affection. "And now that he’s married, I feel even more at ease. It’s good to know that someone’s there to take care of him, to share his life with him."
Gerald’s smile faltered slightly as he looked at his mother, her expression one of sincere contentment. It was clear how much she cared for Mason, how deeply she valued his well-being.
"Yeah," he said quietly, his voice a little strained as he tried to match her enthusiasm. "It’s good that he has someone now."
His mother’s smile lingered, but her eyes grew more curious as she continued. "And what do you think of his wife? Ellen, isn’t it?"
At the mention of Ellen’s name, Gerald’s gaze darted away, his eyes focusing on some distant point beyond the café’s windows. He took a moment before responding, feeling the familiar tension rise within him. He didn’t want to lie to his mother, but he also didn’t want to burden her with his true feelings.
"Yeah," he finally said, his voice almost too casual. "Ellen."
He let the name hang in the air for a moment, his mind racing with thoughts he didn’t want to voice. How could he explain to his mother that every time he saw Ellen, he was reminded of everything he wished were different? That she was in Mason’s future, despite Gerald’s belief that Mason should be with someone else?
"She’s fine," Gerald added, the words coming out flat, almost bitter.