In the corner of the photo.
I couldn't help but recognize a beautiful, fair hand.
I had touched and looked at those hands for almost thirty years. That ring—I designed it myself, Jocelyn had it custom-made—it was our wedding ring.
My heart was in so much pain, to almost numb, almost feeling like it had lost all feeling, when Alexander sent me a video.
In the video.
Alexander's son, Alden Russo, hugged Jocelyn and asked her affectionately, "Aunty, can you be my mom?"
"Can I call you mom?"
The little boy tugged at her arm and said, "I think you're the best aunt in the world, you're my mom."
"I really like you and I really want a mom like you."
"Please be my mom, okay?"
Alexander laughed and called out to him, "Alden, stop being silly."
Jocelyn scolded him. "Alex, why are you saying such a word to him?"
She bent down to be at the child's eye level, her eyes incredibly gentle and asked the little boy, "Do you like me?"
Alden nodded.
"Do you want me to be your mom?"
He even nodded in excitement.
She then responded, "Okay."
"Then call me Mom and I'll be your mom, okay?"
Alden's happy voice echoed in the video and Alexander sent me a voice message.
"Phillip."
"What makes you think you can compete with me?"