Page 112 of Desolation

“What did you tell the kids?”

“That a friend would be staying with us for a while.”

“Even though that friend changes.”

“They didn’t ask many questions.”

“Even Makayla?”

It makes me happy inside that he remembers that Makayla is the queen of questions. “I think she knows something is going on. Ever since she heard her grandfather and Michael yelling.” I sip my coffee and stare out into the ocean. “She knows about the divorce.”

“How?”

“According to her, it’s because she is smart and has excellent deductive reasoning.”

He laughs. “Wow.”

“Yeah she is quite the character.” I study him as he looks out at the waves. “Are you nervous about meeting them? I know you don’t like kids and all but—”

“I want to meet them. It’s just strange, you know.”

I go to answer but the screaming of my children ends our conversation.

“Marky mark!” Makayla yells as she stomps across the deck. “You’re not Mark. You are much younger than him.”

Landon laughs at that, surely wishing Mark were here to hear Makayla say that. “I’m Landon. I am a friend of your mom and Mark. And yes, I am much younger than him. He is old. Really old. Next time you see him you should ask about his cane.”

That sends Makayla into a fit of giggles. “So, are you a superhero like Mark?”

He glances over at me and I bite back a laugh. “Is that what Mark told you?”

“He said he saves everyone from imminent death. Do you know imminent means on the horizon? That means he keeps everyone alive like a superhero.”

“I am much cooler than a superhero.”

“How’s that?”

Landon leans over on his knees as he looks her right in the eye. “Because I‘m just human but I save everyone I can.”

“Even from imminent death?”

“Especially imminent death.”

“Whoa,” Makayla declares. “That is cooler. Well, only because Mark said he couldn’t fly.”

I watch Landon as he talks with Makayla. For a man who said he didn’t want kids, he is sure good at engaging with them.

“I’m gonna go ask Abuelita for a glass of orange juice. Do you want one?”

“I’m fine,” he responds.

“Okay, be right back.” She runs off into the house faster than she came out and I worry she is going to smack into the door.

Olivia walks out sipping on a juice box. “Mommy, can we play at the beach today?”

I pick her up and set her in my lap. “Of course. Then maybe we can go get ice cream after that.”

She slurps on her juice box. “Only if I can get double double chocolate.”

---