Chapter 61. One Last Time

Jason’s POV

Sitting beside my mother on the garden veranda, I watched her observing the children play on the green. She looked like she had aged since this morning, which told me Father had filled her in on today. She looked so vulnerable and lost in memories I decided not to mention my ideas of a party; she had enough to deal with.

Pulling her into a hug, I wrapped my arms around her delicate shoulder, kissing her forehead.

“Ma, you know I will never let anything happen to you, right?” I asked, unable to hide the concern in my voice.

“I know, Jace.” She answered, but her eyes were glued on my sibling playing. Sitting with her for a while, I just enjoyed the moment, both of us turning around and seeing Tommy come and join us, a giant share bag of crisps in his hands that we all knew he would demolish himself—sitting on the other side of my mother he winked at her playfully.

“So - Party or no party?” He asked, offering my mum some of his crisps; I