Page 60 of Erase Me
“Very.”
“Married?In a relationship?”
Of course, these were the things that mothers typically asked about.My own mother was no different.It was one of her greatest concerns that I hadn’t settled down and started a family.
“Yes.She’s married to my father.My guess is they’ll remain married for as long as they live.They’re very happy.Two peas in a pod.Inseparable.”
“What’s his name?”Xander asked.
“Callum.Callum Briar.”
“Irish?”he inquired.
“Do you have something against the Irish?”I teased.
He chuckled.“No, as a matter of fact, a young Irish woman in Hythe, England, was the one who saved us.”
“Deirdre,” they both said simultaneously, sharing a smile.
It was a story I hadn’t heard before, and I made a mental note to ask them about it if I ever had the chance.
“Do you see them often?”Nadine asked.“Do we see them?Wait, don’t answer that.”
She glanced at Xander.
“What’s the matter?”he asked.
She turned to me.“You said that I’m still alive in your future time, but I don’t want to know if Xander isn’t.Just tell me more about you and your mother.”
“First of all, you’rebothalive and well,” I told her.“In my time, you’re ninety-one years old, and you still walk two miles a daybeforecoming and getting Xander for a stroll around your gardens.”
“What’s wrong with me?”he asked.
“You’re too stubborn to get the hip and double knee replacement that you’re due for,” I said, motioning towards Nadine.“But she’s working on you.”
“Stubborn?I’m shocked,” he chuckled but immediately grew serious.“Butdowe see you often?”
“You see me all the time, and we see my parents whenever they come to visit.They’re living on a horse farm outside of Cork, in Ireland.”
“Lovely!Is that where you grew up?”
“No.They moved there just eight years ago.My father inherited the property from his parents, and they jumped at the chance for a simpler life,” I explained.“They love it there.The world’s climate has seriously deteriorated, but where they live is still quite green.The farm is close enough to Cork City to offer some culture, but their village is small enough that everyone knows their neighbor.”
“And where do you live?”
“I live in L.A.You two live in Montecito, near Santa Barbara.We get together almost every week.”I felt my voice thicken with emotion.“Your house has always been my second home.You two are my everything.”
“Hey, come here.”
She stood up and pulled me to my feet.A moment later, her arms encircled me.This was the Nadine I remembered.All affection.Her embrace had the power to make everything better.
She released me from the hug but held onto my hands.As she held my gaze, there were tears on her cheeks.
“But I want to know about you.You’re here.I assume that means you’re in the Quantum Commute Division.”Her voice carried a note of worry.“Do you have what I have?”
“Had.As I said, your cancer seems to be in permanent remission.”
She nodded.“But what about you?”
