Because Ben said he wanted New York pizza, Raymond found a pizzeria. The place was packed, so the three of them sat outside at a metal table.
Ben was chugging ice-cold Coke and devouring pizza, looking like he had a great appetite.
Jolene raised an eyebrow and exchanged a look with Raymond.
“He hasn’t been eating well lately,” Raymond explained.
“Why?” Jolene asked, puzzled.
“He said he had to come to New York—that you pinky-swore and he had to visit you,” Raymond said with a helpless smile.
Jolene was speechless. “I said if you ever came to New York, Emma and I would show you around—I didn’t say you had to come…”
“Wait—are you just visiting, or…?” Jolene narrowed her eyes. Something told her these two might have moved to New York too.
Raymond looked a little uncomfortable and nodded. “Yes, we actually moved here.”
Jolene’s eyes went wide. She turned to look at Ben, who was still stuffing his face, and lowered her voice. “Mr. Ben Raymond? You’re sure about just picking up and moving?”
“Wait—what about Norma?” Jolene’s expression shifted. She’d strongly recommended Norma to them. Had they fired her after just a few days? Then why was she even writing that alcoholism novel?
“No, Norma was willing to come with us to New York,” Raymond said quickly, reading her mind.
Jolene let out a sigh of relief, took a big bite of her pizza, and casually asked, “Oh, so where are you living now?”
“We have an apartment on the Upper East Side,” Raymond explained.
“You’re really settled here?” Jolene still couldn’t quite believe it. She looked up at him. “And your job?”
“Nonprofits exist in every state.” Raymond looked down, a faint smile on his lips, clearly not wanting to elaborate.
But Ben, overhearing them, suddenly piped up, “My brother is always moving—”
“Ben, have you had enough pizza?” Raymond cut him off mid-sentence.
Ben’s eyes widened in confusion. “Yeah, I think I ate too much.”
Jolene laughed, then asked Ben, “So where will you go to school? Did you apply?”
“A public school on the Upper East Side,” Raymond said quietly.
“And where does Emma go to school?” Ben leaned in, eyes wide, even with tomato sauce still on his lips.
Jolene handed him a napkin and motioned for him to wipe his mouth. “We rented a one-bedroom in Battery Park. Emma goes to the public school there—she’s already enrolled. School lets out at 3 PM, and I’m going to pick her up soon.”
Ben took the napkin, wiped his mouth haphazardly, and immediately said, “Can I come with you? I want to play with Emma.”
Jolene hadn’t planned on writing that afternoon anyway—she usually took Emma to the plaza downstairs for sun and exercise after school. “Sure. But wait—are you and Norma not getting along?”
Ben lowered his head, sneaking a glance at Jolene from under his brow. “No, I promised you I’d get along with her. But… I can’t sleep without hearing you read stories.”
Jolene raised an eyebrow, squinting at him. “Are you sure? Can’t you read them yourself?”
“But I can’t do the fox voice, or the elephant voice. Norma doesn’t read picture books. She doesn’t jump rope with me. She doesn’t play Escape Room. She doesn’t know anything. Waaah…” The more Ben talked, the more upset he got, and he started crying right there. “Waaah… Don’t you and Emma like me anymore?”
Jolene sighed. She’d thought they’d settled things before she left. But this kid seemed to lack security. Then again, he was only five when his parents died—maybe even younger. All he had left was a brother who didn’t pay him much attention. Then a nanny came, stayed four months, and left. If she were in his shoes, she’d feel abandoned too.
She grabbed another napkin and reached over to wipe Ben’s tears. “Alright. When did I ever say I didn’t like you? Didn’t I say you were the tallest, handsomest, most thoughtful boy around? Think about it—did I say that or not?”
“Yes… you did… sob…” Ben hiccuped between sobs.
“Okay, cry if you need to. But I have to admit something,” Jolene suddenly sat up straight with a serious face.
Ben was so startled he thought she was about to say something huge. He sat up straight and stared at her. Even Raymond across the table looked serious.
“Ahem—I’ve never met anyone who just decides to move and actually does it right away. Someone so decisive and action-oriented. Mr. Ben Raymond, you are truly admirable. People like you are destined for great things!” Jolene said with a completely straight face, as if she were stating an unchallengeable truth.
Raymond: “…”
Ben’s mouth fell open, his tears long forgotten. “Really? I can do great things?”
Jolene nodded firmly again. “Absolutely. Someone who turns their ideas into action without hesitation—that kind of person succeeds at everything!”
Across the table, Raymond had already covered his mouth and was quietly laughing.
He turned away, facing the street so Ben wouldn’t see him, his shoulders shaking with silent laughter.
But Ben believed her. He stopped crying and perked up immediately, even starting to urge his brother to finish eating so they could go pick up Emma.
The signing ended after 12, and they’d eaten for a while, mostly talking about why they moved and Jolene explaining her own reasons for coming to New York.
Raymond had seen her writing in the living room every day, though he never knew what it was—now he finally knew.
Ben found it all very novel. “No wonder you’re so good at telling stories—you’re a real writer! That’s awesome—my best friend is a writer!”
Jolene was surprised. So in Ben’s eyes, she was his best friend.
They strolled over to Battery Park school and arrived just around 3 PM.
After a short wait, Emma came bouncing out.
“Emma!” Ben jumped up and waved.
Emma’s eyes went wide, glancing from Raymond to Ben, then back at her mom in surprise.
“See? I told you Ben’s a kid with ideas. He couldn’t sleep without hearing my stories, so he decided to move to New York—and here he is.” Jolene shrugged at Emma, as if to say she was just as surprised.
Ben puffed out his chest proudly, still basking in Jolene’s earlier praise.
Emma was delighted too. She greeted Raymond warmly, then turned to Ben. “Hi, Ben! Long time no see!”
The two kids grabbed each other’s hands. Emma was finally playing host, since she knew the area and the way to the plaza. She eagerly pulled Ben along.
The kids ran ahead, leaving Jolene and Raymond behind.
The apartment was close by and didn’t require crossing any streets, so Jolene wasn’t worried about Emma’s safety. She didn’t call them back.
Kids love to run—especially when meeting an old friend, they want to show off their turf and new toys.
Even though it was just a small one-bedroom, since the old friends were here, Jolene had to invite them in.
Emma had already pulled Ben toward the apartment building.
It was a high-rise, and Jolene lived on the 11th floor.
Luckily, Emma hadn’t forgotten about her mom and Mr. Raymond behind her.
The two little ones pressed the elevator button but waited outside, holding the doors.
Soon, Jolene and Raymond caught up, and they all rode up to the 11th floor together.
Jolene’s unit was 1102. As she opened the door, she said apologetically, “I’ve been buying a lot of stuff lately and haven’t fully organized it—it might be a little messy. And the one-bedroom is really small.”
The moment the door opened, Emma shot like an arrow toward the balcony to check on her plants and goldfish.
The kids huddled over the fish tank, Emma pointing and introducing each fish by name. She chattered about their trip to IKEA with Uncle Garden, how her mom let her pick her own plant, how she chose the mimosa, and then she dragged Ben over to see the sunflower and morning glory seeds that hadn’t sprouted yet.
Jolene was stunned. Back in San Francisco, Emma hadn’t been like this.
Now Emma was so much livelier—Jolene was amazed. She hadn’t realized how eager Emma was to share all her new things with Ben.
Ben’s eyes were full of longing. He even tilted his head to peer at the goldfish through the glass, calling them by name, then reached out to touch the mimosa.
“Kids see the world so differently—everything is worth sharing,” Jolene mused.
Raymond was standing right behind her, and his voice came from close by, startling her.
“Yeah. I bet on the way home, Ben will make me buy him goldfish and flower pots too.” His voice carried a hint of resignation.
Jolene realized she was still standing in the entryway, blocking him. She quickly stepped aside to let him into the living room.
The balcony was bright with sunlight—it was around 3:30 PM, and the warm glow fell on the kids and Jolene’s writing desk.
Raymond spotted the new desk immediately. Knowing Jolene’s profession, he understood she’d bought it after moving here.
“Uncle Garden is so fun. He said he’d take us to IKEA, and he came right after work. Mom said she’d treat him to dinner, but he said Mom could pay next time.” Emma was expressing herself more and more, and now she was eager to share everything.
Ben pouted, clearly thinking about that “Uncle Garden” he’d met earlier.
Raymond glanced thoughtfully at Jolene, who looked a little embarrassed beside him.
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