“That’s right,” Dominique answered, her voice becoming soft as well. “Because no one’s perfect, Justin. We all make mistakes: children and parents.” Dominique reached out and rubbed her son’s shoulder. “Everything I do is with your best interest at heart, Justin. It’s because I love you. Do you understand?”

Justin nodded.

“So you forgive me?”

He nodded again.

“I didn’t hear you,” Dominique said softly, a smile in her voice.

“Yes, Mommy. I forgive you.”

“Thanks, baby. Do you think I could get a hug to go along with that? I haven’t had one in a while.”

Justin got out of his chair, and came over to where Dominique sat. She wrapped her arms around him and held him tight, breathing in his fresh-washed scent, and rubbing her cheek against his still-smooth skin. She cherished the moment, knowing that all too soon things would change: he’d become a teenager and a rowdy peer would replace her as his best friend. And then the thought occurred to her that maybe she’d already been replaced... by Jake McDonald.

After Justin left for school, Dominique called her sister. “Hey, Faith.”

“Good morning, sister,” Faith answered. “This is a pleasant surprise. Your Monday mornings are usually jam-packed.”

“Yes, well, I’m thinking that maybe I need to rethink my priorities.” She paused. “I talked to Jake.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yes, and I apologized to Justin again. I reminded him about the time he ruined my expensive suit and I forgave him.”

“You should have reminded him about those doggone porno pics and how you didn’t ground him until he was eighteen.”

“Girl, I didn’t even want to go there.”

“That was probably best. What happened this time?”

“He’s removed the iceberg that existed between us.”

“Good. What about Jake? Any melting going on there?”

Dominique knew by Faith’s inflection that hers was a question with multiple meanings. “I don’t know whether Jake is still angry with me or just done with me.”

“What did he say when you apologized?”

“That he appreciated me coming over and would think about what I said.”

“You saw him?”

“Yes.”

“I assumed you guys talked on the phone.”

“No, I went over to his house; didn’t want to risk him not answering my call.” Dominique paused, remembering the encounter. “He looked good, Faith. I wanted to stay with him.”

“Why didn’t you?”

“Because I refuse to beg. I told him that I missed him. And his response was basically, ‘See you later, bye.’”

“Give him time, Nikki. And a little room. You bruised his ego, sister, and you know how men can be. You took away something that is probably very important to a man like Jake... your trust—”

“But I do trust him!