“So much of how it started was when that cop got out and came up to me. But I didn’t know all this when it first happened. I didn’t know there would be a Leonard or that this man would be his father, or that anybody would have to die.” - Pearl
Pearl, the devoted teenage mother of five year old Leonard has spent the last five years hiding from a violent past. Life has given her every reason to mistrust people but circumstances force her to trust her neighbour, Mitch to look after her son while she’s at work. Then one day Pearl drops her son off and never returns.
Mitch and Leonard are an unlikely pair but in the wake of Pearl’s unexplained disappearance, the two form a bond that will change the course of their lives forever.
Love in the Present Tense is my second read by the author following the previously highly acclaimed Allie and Bea novel. Set in modern day Los Angeles, the novel is written in alternating chapters in the voices of three individuals; Pearl, Leonard and Mitch at various stages in their lives.
Pearl, the daughter of a drug addict, has been on the run from the law following a violent incident which resulted in her falling pregnant at the tender age of 12. Five years later, she’s a doting single mother of a son who she loves above all others until fate deals her a cruel blow and her past catches up with her. While Pearl’s appearance is brief, Leonard’s love for her permeates throughout the story.
Mitch is a twenty five year old, unattached successful business owner who is having an affair with a married woman.
Leonard is a precocious intuitive five year old boy with asthma and vision problems as a consequence of being born premature. He’s grown up without a father but his love for his mother is absolute. When she disappears, it’s his unlikely relationship with Mitch that takes centrefold. Leonard’s chapters alternate between the ages of 5,17,18 and lastly 30.
I couldn’t help falling in love with Leonard from the opening chapters. He’s such a sweet, loving, altruistic soul who is wise beyond his years. While Pearl’s fierce and unconditional love for Leonard combined with her tragic end had me tearing up, it was Leonard’s enduring bond with Mitch that had me continually welling up at the most inopportune moments.
‘He reached out and put his hand on my chest, feeling around for a heartbeat. Pearl must have done this with him, I thought. A kid this young doesn’t make these rituals up on his own. Or does he? I wasn’t sure. When he was sure he had my heart, he held his hand still, and it felt warm against my skin. “That’s how much I love you, Mitch. Okay? Do you feel it now?” Then a second later he said, “I didn’t mean to make you cry, Mitch.”
“No, it’s okay. It’s a good thing. Thank you. Thanks for the forever love. It helps.”
“Yuh.” Leonard said, “I know.”
Often dark, with themes of poverty, statutory rape, teenage pregnancy, single motherhood, murder, corrupt policemen etc this is nevertheless a heart wrenching story about love, loss and devotion. The bond between Mitch and Leonard as parent and child alternates and endures throughout the book with each needing the other equally. Their lives are richer as a result of their camaraderie.
“This is the problem every time I see Leonard. I go in as a guidance counsellor, come out as his personal cheerleader. Everything he does seem so right in person and in proximity.” - Mitch
There were times when I felt a sense of unease as to where the author was going with Leonard. That he’d meet a tragic end.
“I’ve noticed too lately, that Leonard has been dancing really close to the edge of danger. Real, physical danger. But he is a human being. Somewhere deep down he has the same make up, the same basic urges as all of us. He just has this thing about transcendence. Doesn’t want too many earthbound connections. This makes me edgy because I get the sense that this is just a stopover for him, that he has no real plans for staying. Like if a guest came to my house and refused to unpack his suitcases. I might tease him about it. I might say, hey, loosen u and stay awhile. But the statement of intent would be pretty damn clear. That’s Leonard approach to life itself. He refuses to unpack.” - Mona speaking about Leonard to Mitch
I’m glad that the author included the note towards the end and that Pearl’s absence wasn’t left unresolved. A small part of me hoped that by some small miracle, Pearl would return. At least Leonard was able to get some closure at the end.
If you’re looking for a heartwarming story of selfless unconditional love than look no further. This is a powerful well written story of love, friendship and so much more, delivered with characters you won’t soon forget.
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Top reviews from other countries
Linda Pfeiffer
A compelling story of parental love
Reviewed in Canada on 9 July 2019
