“Mom wants to do this on her own for as long as she can. I just wish she knew that she didn’t have to.” Tears that he couldn’t let fall threatened too anyhow. He tried to blink them back.

Jaz put her head on his shoulder, “I think it’s okay if you just show up. Sometimes, strong women need someone to show up anyway.”

She didn’t remove her head from his shoulder. They sat together taking in the peace of the park in the morning. The world was still and so were they. Everything did feel better when he was next to Jaz. Sam’s words echoed in his ears. She was giving him all the signs, if he had the courage to act.