"I know," Ronald murmured. "I am sorry."
"No," Benjamin said at once. "Don't be. I understand why you stayed away."
Ronald exhaled slowly. "I just, I am not ready yet."
Benjamin rubbed his temple, then straightened. "It's been a long time, Ron."
"I know," Ronald said again, quieter now.
"Mom misses you," Benjamin added.
That got a reaction.
There was a faint hitch in Ronald's breathing. "She does?"
"She asks about you more than she admits," Benjamin said. "She pretends she is busy but she notices everything."
A beat passed.
"And Margaret?" Ronald asked carefully.
Benjamin hesitated, just a second. "She would be glad to see you."
Ronald didn't respond right away.
"You don't have to come back for good," Benjamin continued, voice calm and reassuring. "Just visit and stay a while. Let everyone see you again."
"I don't want to make things complicated," Ronald said.
Benjamin's tone softened even further. "You don't complicate things, you never did."
