Page 13 of Stay

“I like her,” Owen says softly.

When I don’t say anything, he looks up at me.

“Do you like her too?”

“I do.”

“Mm-hmm.”

We go through his nighttime routine and once he’s in bed, I can’t put it off any longer—I pick up the phone and call Tracy.

“Hey,” she answers.

I can usually tell by Tracy’s tone whether she’s going to be snippy or flirty or—on the rare occasion, vulnerable.

It’s easiest to deal with her when she’s vulnerable, but tonight sounds like the snippy variety.

“I hoped we could talk about Owen,” I start.

“We can always talk about Owen.” She sighs, already sounding defensive, and I sit down in a chair in the living room, telling myself to be patient for Owen’s sake.

“He has reservations about visiting you in Arizona, and I thought we could come up with some ways to make him more comfortable before the summer.”

“Well, I’m sure after the first visit, he’ll be just fine, Sutton. And that won’t be for another, what—five months?”

“He’s worried about it now,” I say.

“What kind ofreservationsdoes he have?”

“I’m sure they’re typical nerves about going to a new place. He’s…not excited about the move and doesn’t want to leave Landmark Mountain, so I think just telling him about the fun things you’ll do when he visits, that type of thing.”

“You coddle him, Sutton. And I shouldn’t have to blackmail him with fun activities to excite him to see me. He should just be happy to spend time with me. He’s overstimulated ninety percent of the time, with all the running around you have him doing. A little downtime with me is good for him.”

I slide my hand down my face, determined not to argue with her. “I’m not saying you need to schedule every second of his time there. He’s happy doing simple things. Talk to him about books he likes. Let him pick out a movie now and then. Just anything to make him feel like you’re invested in him.”

“Invested in him? I’m hismother. Of course, I’m invested in him. And you always say that about books like I have any time to read. I don’t have a jillion family members on hand to take him, Sutton. Or a full-timenanny. When he visits, I’ll be taking time off of my new job and I’ll make sure he has fun. Okay?”

She makes it sound like I’m never with him…like someone besides me takes him to school and makes his dinner and puts him to bed. Grinny picks him up from school most days, and the guilt I feel over that is acute. It’s important to me that he knows he’s my priority. And I didn’t hire Felicity because I want out of any of those things.I just need the fucking help.

“You never told me he still cries for me when he’s with you.”

“What the fuck is this, Sutton? I’m moving and now you’re going to lay even more guilt on me than you already do? He cries because I don’tspoilhim.”

“I’ve never tried to lay guilt on you. If that’s what you think this is, I apologize. I do want to communicate about our son, and I’m telling you, he doesn’t want to come to Arizona. So, either you talk to him and work on making it good for him when he’s there, or I will be coming with him to make sure he’s not uncomfortable…and if you don’t like those options, you can come here to visit him this summer.”

The silence builds for so long that I look at my phone.

She hung up on me.

I slam the phone down on the table next to me and find myself hoping Felicitydoescome for pancakes in the morning.

I tell myself my desire for her to show up has nothing to do with me, and everything to do with not wanting my son to be disappointed.

CHAPTER SEVEN

SUNDAY FUNDAY

FELICITY

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