Page 101 of The Dirty Saint

“Only if Uncle Manni and Aunt Eva agree to it. But, honey, didn’t I tell you that David’s mom is getting ready to have a baby? I don’t think it’s such a good idea to have her look after two rambunctious little boys.”

“Well, then he can come over to our house. I just got the latest Mario Brothers, and I need someone to play with. Please, Mom? Please, please, please?”

I look at Manni and Eva.

“Are you two okay with this?”

Eva tries to stand from her chair, her cute pregnant belly weighing her down. Manni goes to help her, but she waves him off.

“Sure. Take him. In fact,” Eva grunts, “you can have him.”

I laugh and wrap her hand in my own.

“It would be my pleasure.”

“Ez, are you sure you can handle the two of them alone?”

“Yes. Of course. You two go and have some quality Mommy-Daddy time before another one takes over. I’ve got your son.” Eva blows me a kiss, and Manni thanks me.

“You ready, boys? David, say goodbye to Mom and Dad.” When David doesn’t look up from his tablet, I take his arm and start waving for him. “Bye, Mom, bye, Dad.”

He giggles, and I kiss him on the top of his head.

“You’re so silly, Aunt Ezra.”

“And you, my friend, need to pick your head up from your tablet!” I start tickling David and Noah, and they both start laughing and thrashing.“Now, why don’t we get my two favorite boys home? We can bake cookies!”

Their two faces light up with joy.

“Can we make chocolate chip cookies?”

“And M&M ones, too?”

I nod my head.

“I think that can be arranged. Boys, take my hands. It’s a busy street.”

When I feel both Noah’s and David’s hands in my own, I start walking to my car. It’s late at night, and I don’t want anything to happen to them.

“Mom?”

“Yes, sweetie?”

“Your friend Joey would be really proud of you.”

“Thanks, bud,” I say, smiling.

“I just know that Uncle Joey is looking down on us right now. I bet you he’s so happy.”

I squeeze David’s hand.

“I bet you he is.”

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