We don't have to go if you don't want to, honey.” Elizabeth sipped her coffee and watched her stepson carefully from across the table.
"It's not that I don't want to go, Mom. I'm just saying it won't be the same without Dad." Mike leaned back in his chair and ran his hands through his hair, calming himself and trying not to tear up in the bustling coffee shop.
"I know, sweetie," she said, rubbing his thigh soothingly under the table.
Mike could see it pained his mom to think he didn't want to go on the pre-booked luxury holiday. He averted his gaze to stare out the coffee shop window. He always enjoyed their little lunch-time meetups, watching the people in the park outside, couples strolling arm in arm by the lake. He wanted that for himself. He felt more than ready to meet someone now
