The Name His Mother Never Forgot
Chapter 02 - The Name His Mother Never Forgot
Adrian asked Lucas his age.
“Ten. Eleven in September.”
The dates matched.
Emily had disappeared from Adrian’s life eleven years earlier, shortly after a career-ending injury. Adrian had believed she left because she could no longer handle his broken future.
His father, Richard Vale, had told him Emily moved away and wanted no contact.
Now Lucas stood before him with Emily’s ball.
Lucas said his Aunt Nora was raising him because his mother had died after a long illness. He practiced alone because organized soccer cost more than Nora could afford.
Adrian offered money. Lucas immediately stepped back.
“My mom said never take money from strangers.”
The answer sounded exactly like Emily.
Adrian asked to meet Nora.
Lucas studied him before saying, “Why?”
“Because I knew your mother.”
Lucas’s face softened.
“Was she happy?”
That question hurt Adrian more than anything else.
“She was when I knew her,” he said.
May you like
Lucas lowered his eyes.
“She wasn’t happy much at the end.”
