“I haven't accomplished anything yet."

“Don't be so humble. You're an academic success thus far, driving off to a prestigious university. But more than that, you're a strong, compassionate young man. You're the kind of man I..." Her voice trailed off and she turned to stare out the window, and I got the impression there was someone very specific she was thinking about at the moment.

But then she turned back to face me and finished, "You're a good man,

Matthew. Again, I take no credit for that. If anything, I think that growing up with Belle and then Samantha's leadership of the BTC are far more responsible for that development than me.”

I chuckled and shook my head.

“I won't disagree with you there.”

Mother took a deep breath and sighed.

“What I'm trying to say is: you don't need me. You never have. And although I'd like to think our relationship grew more in the past year than it had during the previous eighteen, that's more an indictment of your early years than praise of this one."

I frowned, sensing she was about to make some kind of announcement.

“What are you getting at?"

Mother took a deep breath again.

“I'm leaving.”

“What ?"

“I'm moving. To New York."

“WHAT?" It was a minor miracle I didn't veer into the center divider.

“The timing is perfect. My only child is out of the nest. I've been offered the opportunity to head up one of the firm's divisions. And like I said: you don't need me anyway."

“What about the house?"

She shrugged.

“I'll rent it out. You've packed everything you truly need. The rest can go into storage.”

“What about your boyfriend?"

“Warren is..." Mother pursed her lips, paused, and then finished.

“He'll be fine."

It wasn't a real answer, but then again I didn't really want to press

Mother about her dating life. Shaking my head, I sighed.

“So that's it?