Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 87439 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 437(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87439 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 437(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Chase scrambled to sit up. “It’s hot in the sun. I wish we had ice cream.”
“You always wish we had ice cream.”
“Don’t you?”
I chuckled. “Of course. Put your feet in the water. That’ll help you cool off.”
“Okay.” He took his towel with him. “My feet can’t reach the water. Only my toes. Want to try it?”
I sat beside him, kicking water in his general direction. “Better?”
“Yep! This is the life,” he exclaimed, sounding more like an old man than a nine-year-old.
My lips quirked in amusement, but I agreed with the sentiment. And after a couple of weeks of moody uncertainty, it was nice to see both kids happy and cheerful.
As expected, they hadn’t taken news of their mom’s impending move well.
According to Cooper, the family meeting had been tear-filled, upsetting, and fraught with confusion. Sarah had explained Frank’s job situation and their dad’s suggestion that staying in Wood Hollow would cause the least amount of friction. Sarah promised bi-monthly visits, holidays in Burlington, and a family vacation to Disneyland. In no time at all, they’d be back and the kids could help choose a house for them in Pinecrest.
They weren’t impressed. They’d cried, their mom had cried, and Cooper had stoically assured them all that everything would be okay.
He tried to remain even-keeled and strong for the kids’ sake, but he wasn’t a machine. No doubt he was overwhelmed. I didn’t know how to offer comfort…not to a parent. However, I’d been the kid who’d gotten shuffled in a divorce, and my folks hadn’t been as accommodating as Cooper and Sarah. Bottom line…I could talk to Ivy and Chase. Or just hang out.
A wise man told me that being there was all the assurance they needed.
Unfortunately, I was running out of time here. We all knew it and…well…it kinda sucked the fun out of the moment, so no one mentioned it.
Buzz buzz
“Whoa! I thought I left my cell on the boat.” I rummaged through the towel bag, located my phone, and automatically answered. “Ger?”
“There he is! Geez, I almost forgot what you sound like, ya goon. How’s forest life treating you?”
I surveyed the lush landscape of brilliant blues and greens under a glittering sun, and grinned. “It’s great. Love it here.”
“Nice. But you’re gonna love Boston too. Did you find a place?”
I wrinkled my nose. “A place?”
“To live. Christ, Si. You need a house or at least a great condo setup with excellent security. I’ll have a realtor get in touch with you. Listen, I’m still planning on coming to your last flag football game to get some footage and—”
“This isn’t an elite group of NFL hopefuls, Ger. It’s kids having fun, running amok on the field or picking daisies if they’d prefer. I don’t think that’s what you’re looking for.”
Ger scoffed. “Are you kidding? That’s even better. Feel-good vibes make for sweet PR and a great start to your tenure on a new team. You excited?”
“Uh…yeah.” I scratched my nape and glanced down at Chase, who was actively eavesdropping on my conversation. “Hey, I’m at the lake and the reception isn’t great here. We’ll talk later.”
“Better yet, I’ll see you next Saturday. Bye, man.”
I tucked my cell into a pocket of the towel bag and rejoined Chase on the edge of the dock.
“When do you go to Boston?”
“Next week.”
“Oh.” He pushed his sunglasses up his nose. “Do you want to go?”
“I signed a contract. I have to go,” I replied.
“I wish you could stay.”
“Me too.”
He kicked his toe in the water. “Maybe we could visit you.”
“I’ll get you tickets to a game. Best seats in the house,” I promised.
“Cool.” His smile faded slightly. “I think it’s a good thing that me and Ivy are staying here.”
“Oh?”
Chase nodded. “Yeah. Mom has Frank, and they’re all lovey-dovey. And sometimes, when they don’t think we can hear, they talk about having other kids. They don’t need us as much. But Dad does. He has you now, but when you go, he’ll be alone and he works too much, so…I guess we’ll keep him company. And maybe you can come back someday.”
It wasn’t an eloquent speech but delivered in the undiluted matter-of-fact point-of-view of a nine-year-old, it packed a powerful punch. They fucking saw the whole damn picture—their mom, dad, and…me.
“Yeah.” I swallowed around a lump in my throat. “I’d like that.”
We kicked at the water and stared at the horizon. Chase probably looked like my mini-me in his sunglasses and his uber relaxed pose. The thought made me smile…and it made me want to cry.
Fuck me. I didn’t want to go.
Days slipped by in a flurry of barbecues, lakeside jogs, hikes in the forest, and a couple of jaunts to explore Elmwood, Pinecrest, and Fallbrook. The kids were with their mom a lot, which gave Cooper and me more time alone. I found myself memorizing odd details—the smell of his sheets, his coffee mug next to mine, the sound of his laughter, and the crinkly lines at his eyes.