At 12:14, my phone rang.
Scott.
I let it ring twice.
“Hi.”
“Mom.”
He sounded breathless.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes.”
“I just saw—”
He stopped.
“Is this real?”
“Yes.”
“Clear Path Learning is your company?”
“I’m one of the founders.”
“And they bought it for…”
“The reported figure is accurate.”
Silence.
Then Scott said, “You never told me.”
I looked through the kitchen window at a squirrel trying to reach the bird feeder.
“I did tell you, Scott.”
Another silence.
Thanksgiving sat between us.
“Right,” he said quietly.
For most of his life, I had rescued him from uncomfortable pauses.
This time I waited.
He cleared his throat.
“Can I come over?”
“Not today.”
That seemed to surprise both of us.
“I have interviews until four. Nina and I have a transition meeting afterward.”
“Oh. Sure.”
“We can talk Thursday evening.”
“Okay.”
Before he hung up, he said, “Mom?”
“Yes?”
“Congratulations.”
“Thank you.”
Thursday evening he arrived carrying a bakery box.
Scott bought familiar things when he did not know what else to do.
We sat in my living room.