Page 91 of Mister Mom

“Not until I’m here, remember?” I open the door to a smiling Carver.

“Daddy!” Payne runs into the arms of his dad.

In the last month, Carver has impressed me by using all his free time outside of filming to spend time with Payne and Via. I’m not even sure what made him realize he needed to step it up, but this is their first weekend away. The first time they’ll be out of my sight with their dad overnight. Carver has spent the night here a few times—in the guest room—but I’m still there.

Carver picks up Payne in his arms. “Hey, Payne.”

“What are the beads for?” Payne asks.

I almost choke on my own saliva. How he can remember to ask his dad the question he had last night I have no clue. Kids are priceless.

“Beads?” A deep groove forms between Carver’s brows.

“Why are they there?”

“Why are what where?” Carver asks, still not following. And why would he?

Payne reaches down between his legs. “Here.”

“Whoa. Okay, don’t touch them.” Carver shares a look with me that says, What the fuck is this about?

“Why don’t you talk about it tonight?” I’m barely holding my laugh inside.

Payne squirms and Carver places him down. “Go get your bag.”

“Okay.” Payne runs out of the room. “I’ll grab Via, too.”

“Isn’t this something we should be talking about together?”

“I don’t have beads.” I smile.

He rolls his eyes.

I slap him on the shoulder. “This is a daddy job.”

“Ha ha.”

Payne runs in with his bag, but before he can escape out the door, I grab his arm.

“Hug.” I hold my arms out. “I’m going to miss you.” I inhale a whiff of his hair and kiss him all over his face. “I love you.”

“Okay, Mom.” He wiggles out of my hold, wiping his face.

Via walks in dragging the stuffed elephant she loves so much.

“Does she have to bring that thing?” Carver whines like he’s Payne’s twin.

“She loves it.” I scoop her up in my arms.

“Jackass won it for her.”

“Who’s Jackass?” Payne asks. “Vance won it for her.” Then he stares at me. “You said we’d see him soon.” His hands land on his hips.

“You did?” Carver asks.

I sigh. “He won’t stop asking.”

“Rip off the Band-Aid,” Carver says, holding his arms out to Via. She leans into his arms with one hand on her elephant, her thumb in her mouth.

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