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𝐄𝐏𝐈𝐋𝐎𝐆𝐔𝐄

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Late Spring, the days growing long, Central Park, the girl having torn ahead to toss coins into the hat of a steel drummer. Cora watched with a smile. And felt the unmistakable prickle of being watched.

She turned and there he was.

All seasons in a moment as the years ticked by. Grey had cropped up against his temples, the indents of time around his eyes. Wind stirred a gust of leaves, and she half expected him to disintegrate amongst them, but when he remained solid, she took a tentative step. And another. They closed the gap.

Cora stammered. There was a loud splash, and she turned, her hair whipping softly across his face in a fragrant cloud. The girl had fallen into the fountain. Cora pulled her, sopping wet, not the only one who saw the situation's hilarity, from the laughter over her shoulder.

He was out in California, doing all the things he'd wanted to do with his siblings. Sometimes he came back to fish upstate with Connor, begrudgingly, but also not. No, Kendall wasn't lying when he said they didn't talk, no, Shiv doesn't ignore his emails, but she does most of his texts. Yes, he will go to dinner with her.

"Is that your way of asking me on a date?" Cora said, trying to keep her tone light. He dipped his head, almost sheepishly, and smoothed his hand against the back of his head. The girl had an ice cream cone in her hand, and the ice cream itself on her tunic, from the effort of eating while playing tag. Cora and Roman watched from a bench.

"Possibly ... Actually, fuck it, yeah. I am. Go on a date with me. With me. I don't know if you know this, Cordelia whatever the fuck, but I'm kind of a big deal."

"I didn't take anyone's name," she said. "I'll consider it."

"Consider?"

"Mmhmm. That's how I liked it best. You chase me."

"Call me lazy, but I preferred the reverse." He grinned. "Damn, she's all you, isn't she?"

The girl had been handed a fistful of earthy flowers from her new friend. She took one and put it in her pocket, crushing the rest underfoot. Cora swatted him on the thigh. They jostled, brushing against one another.

"What's her name, anyway? Rude not to introduce us properly."

She watched him carefully. "Call me cautious." Clearing her throat, she rested her eyes on her daughter. "Enya. Her name is Enya."

"Weird. Pretty. Sound familiar?"

He accompanied them back to Frank's brownstone. Enya raced ahead, swinging against the metal gate. She regarded Roman with the dark flash of her eyes, having yet to speak a single word to him, even after he'd identified himself as Uncle Ken's brother. Arriving at the front, she was off once more, up the front stairs and thumping her fists against the door. Roman's smile was wry as he watched her disappear.

Frank, who had answered the door, did a double take.

"Son. Roman, sorry. I thought I saw a ghost."

"Me too."

He invited Roman for dinner, but she shooed him away. When Frank had stopped his gawking, a brief lull fell between them.

"I better go in, but ... It was very nice to see you."

"It was very nice seeing me, and you'll let me take you out tomorrow," he said.

"And I'll think about it."

Roman snickered: "I'll play along, only to see how long it'll last."

Another elongated pause, where neither attempted to move away. What was the protocol? Should they hug? Shake hands? Cora reached up and brushed invisible lint from his collar, mumbling a soft goodbye. He watched, smiling gently. With a nod, she pushed open the gate and walked to the door.

"Hey, Cora?"

There was a sudden rumble of pattering feet. The door burst open. Enya rushed down, jumping up, swinging her body over the gate as high as she could manage, and thrust her fist at Roman. He opened his hand. She dropped something into his palm. Then she was gone.

Roman had already attached the silver Schnauzer pin to the collar of his shirt. Blood rushed to her cheeks.

"What was it?"

"You think people would buy she's mine?"

Cora laughed in disbelief as he rested his hand against the curve of the gate. One brow arched above the other. Growing quiet, a smile affixed itself painfully to her lips.

She nodded.

"Yeah, I think, they would."

He dipped his head.

"Cool. I'll see you tomorrow."

Cora watched until he had disappeared. She sank to sit on the top of the stairs. Her vision swam. For a while, she'd wondered if he'd even gotten the letter. Some nights, she'd prayed he hadn't. But as she watched night fall, already on her phone, she couldn't think of anything she wanted more than to hear his reply.

You've always known my heart. I'm sorry I haven't been kind with yours.

I hope you'll allow me the error of my ways. Here is the truth. I love you and I promise this time, things will be different.  

The End.