Page 54 of Forfeits

“Hello, Fletcher Marin. How are you doing?”

“Hardy har. Cut the pleasantries and please forgive me.”

He laughed, and it was the most beautiful sound I’d heard in a while.

“Hey. You needed some time, and I gave it to you. We’re good.”

“Really? We can just pick up…right where we left off?”

“I take it you missed me?” he said.

“Yes. More than I— More than I thought I would.”

He laughed again. “I’m trying to decide if that’s an insult.”

“It probably is. I’m so sorry.”

“Would you stop apologizing? You didn’t do anything wrong. I’m glad you took a step back if you needed it. And I’m thrilled to be talking to you again.” There was a long silence and the sounds of Aiden’s breath. “But I missed you every day…as much as I knew I would.”

“Aiden,” I said, full of emotion.

“Well, at least we don’t have to hide our relationship from Lucy,” he said. “But what do we do now? Go on a couple of dates then suddenly we’re serious?”

“Well, I’m serious. You should know that. I…I wouldn’t be talking to you if I wasn’t.”

“Fletcher, I feel that way, too. I just hope…”

“What?”

“I hope you don’t have to put me through that again. But, honestly, I want to give you what you need, whatever that is.”

“I think…” I said. “I think we go on a couple of dates then I start having you over here.”

There was silence. “You know, Lucy may feel differently about this if I start coming to the house.”

“Hmm. I wonder.”

“Don’t you think?”

“I suppose there’s only one way to find out. She definitely likes you.”

He laughed. “So, dinner?”

“Sure. I’d love that.”

“I’ll kill the spider this time.”

“Aiden, I’ll never ask you to commit murder for me.”

* * * *

After Aiden and I had gone on a dinner date and a movie date with Lucy’s knowledge, she grilled me.

“So, Dad, do you like him?”

We were putting the Christmas lights up around the front porch on a warmish day, before the temperature plummeted and the snow fell, which usually happened in December. Daniel had usually done this, and now Lucy and I took pleasure in taking care of it, knowing he’d appreciate that we kept the tradition.

“Yes, I do. Thanks for setting us up.”

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