Page 121 of Family Bonds- Gabriela & Luca

“Mom,” Luca said ten days later. “Do you have a minute to talk?”

“Always,” his mother said. “Is everything alright?”

“Everything is great. Things with Gabriela are great too.”

“I’m so happy to hear that. You sound wonderful. Happy. Not even tired. I lose track of your schedule.”

“I finished last night. This is my first of ten days off. I’ll be meeting Gabriela at the gym in an hour, then we’ll get lunch and spend the day together.”

“That’s working for you two?”

“It’s working wonderfully. Well, the hardest part is being apart for ten days. Her five at work and then mine. At first we’d said we’d keep it separate and not put pressure on the other, but now we end up spending a few nights together during that time. I’ll go to her place when I’m out of work or she comes here.”

“I’m glad you’re able to do that. Compromising isn’t easy. I always felt that you bent over backwards for Zoe more than she did for you.”

He wasn’t sure he wanted to go down that path again, but what his mother said wasn’t wrong.

“I probably did,” he agreed.

“But that was your marriage.”

“It was and it can’t be changed. And even if I wanted to change things, it wasn’t a one-way street.”

“I know. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be bringing up old news. I just so want you to find what you’ve been looking for.”

Which led right into where he was going.

“I am. In a lot of ways. Gabriela and I are going strong. I want to say I see a future with her, but I know it’s early. We have a lot in common for sure. We get along great. Hell, we haven’t even fought once.”

“Really? Everyone disagrees or fights.”

“I know, but we haven’t. I’m not sure if it’s just that we are more mature about things. Or think alike. Trust me, she has no problem telling me like it is.”

“It can’t always be all fun and games either.”

“We have a lot of serious conversations.”

More than he’d thought he’d have with her.

He was glad to know she never shied away from it.

Not like Zoe had done for a long time.

And as much as he didn’t want to go down that road, he knew it was the truth.

At times he was the one bending over or giving in.

He always knew that, but it couldn’t always be his way either.

“I’m glad to hear that. I’d really like to meet her. Do you think she’d be willing to do a video chat at the very least?”

“I’m sure she would. I’ll ask her today. Maybe if you’re around we can do it.”

“I’ll make the time.”

He was thrilled to hear the excitement in his mother’s voice.

For too long it’d been filled with sadness. Worry. Concern.