"So high," he screams at the top of his lungs. I reach into my pocket for my phone. I want to take a picture of this for Hunter. I want him to see the joy in Cory's face.
"My phone," I mutter under my breath. I left it on the counter. I remember putting it there before I slipped a sweater on. Dammit. We'll just have to come back later this afternoon so I can recreate the moment for Hunter.
"We should get ice cream." Cory points towards an ice cream vendor near the edge of the park.
I fumble in my jeans pocket hoping I have some money.
"It's my treat." My mother's voice is behind me.
"Sadie's mom," Cory giggles as the swing slows.
"We have to come up with a better name for you than that." Part of me wants to embrace her. I want to thank her for being here, for coming to see Cory.
"Grandma is nice." She pulls her lips into a tight smile. "He can call me that."
I stop on my way to retrieve Cory from the swing. "What?"
"You're going to marry his father." Her tone is calm and controlled. "I'll be his grandmother."
"You're my grandma!" Cory struggles to get out of the swing. "I have another grandma?"
I arch a brow in her direction.
"You do." She races past me to pull him free of the restraint that is holding him firmly in the swing. She cradles him to her chest as he kisses her cheek. I can't do anything but stare at the two of them.
"How did you know we were coming?" He's pulling on her hand leading her in the direction of the ice cream vendor.
"I was hoping, " she says to him before she turns to me. "I want to do better this time, Sadie. I'm trying to make up for all my mistakes with you. "
I watch as she races along behind him, her designer loafers picking up sand as they scurry together through the dus
t.
"Sadie, what do you want?" Cory calls back towards me as my mother pulls a bill from her wallet.
"Nothing." I can barely form the word. I feel as though I've stepped into a dream.
"My grandma is having an orange ice pop." Cory points to my mom. "I'm having grape."
"It's purple." I point at the ice treat he's holding in his hand.
"It's my favorite."
I follow as the two of them walk towards a bench near the edge of the grass. I settle in next to Cory listening as he tells my mother a story about giraffes.
"We should take him to the zoo tomorrow, Sadie."
"I have school tomorrow." I wish I didn't. Right now I just want this moment to last. I want to stay on this bench with these two people for days and days.
"I can take him. Do you think Zander would mind?"
"Grandma." Cory taps her knee through the beige slacks she's wearing. "It's Hunter."
"Hunter." She reaches to hold his hand in hers. "Sadie will ask him if we can go to the zoo."
"Are there giraffes?" His entire mouth is stained purple from the ice treat.
"Lots of them."