Page 31 of Lucky Strike

“You said we could get ice cream!”

“Boy, you sure have a great memory when it counts.”

“You’re going to the Frog Pond?” I ask, rising from the table. Fond childhood memories of that place rise like smoke in my mind, disappearing just quickly as I consider the crowds. I can’t say I relish the idea of Bria and Liam out there in the open like that, but what are the options? Keeping them contained like prisoners?

“Yes.” She stacks their plates, dabbing a napkin over Liam’s mouth one more time. “I promised him we’d go for a ride on the carousel, too.”

“Keep a close eye on him, will you?” I glance at Liam. “It’s busy at this time of year.”

9.Bria

Now

Ihold Liam’s hand as we cross the street and enter Boston Common, my heart light. It feels good to be outside. The sky is a clear, bright blue, and sunlight sparkles through the leafy canopies of maple, elm, and oak. There are picnics and naps and games of tag, the breeze redolent with freshly cut grass and hot dogs stands. Liam looks longingly at two little girls running by blowing bubbles.

After stopping to watch a drum circle, we head for the Frog Pond, which is a giant splash pad. It’s a local favorite, and one of Liam’s too, according to Maeve. “Do you want to go on the carousel before or after the Frog Pond?” I ask Liam, smearing extra sunscreen on his pale skin. I covered him from head to toe at home, and he’s wearing a rash guard with his swim trunks, but you can never be too careful with that Irish skin.

“Before!”

“Okay, hold on. Let me get your arms.”

“But you already got my arms.” He giggles, wiggling like an eel as I grease him down.

“Yeah, but you don’t want to get a sunburn, do you?” I tickle his belly. “And look like a little lobstah?”

“I am a little lobstah!” he shouts gleefully, taking off through the crowd. I follow at a quick clip, dodging two guys in sweatpants that seem too hot for the weather, an old couple walking an equally old golden retriever, and a group of teenagers shoving ice cream at each other.

In line, sipping on our water bottles with fruity ice, we debate which horse is the best. Liam likes the striped one. “It looks like a zebra,” he explains, standing on tiptoe.

“You like zebras?”

“Yeah. But.” He wrinkles his nose. “I wish they had dinosaurs.”

“Of course, you do.” Chuckling, I rest my hands on his little shoulders and look around. Conlan was right—it’s incredibly busy. I’ve always dressed my younger charges in neon colors so they’re easy to keep an eye on, and I’m especially glad I did today. The crowd feels like it’s doubled since we first got here.

When it’s our turn, I pay the fee and help Liam on. I hate riding stuff like this, because I tend to get dizzy, but it can’t be helped. Liam’s too short to ride alone. I brace myself against his horse as the carousel starts to move and he chortles, cheeks flushed with delight and heat. Amused, I keep one hand hovering behind him.This isn’t so bad.

I look out to the crowd surrounding the carousel, my eyes snagging on two guys. The guys in sweatpants. They’re watching the carousel, but they don’t have any kids with them. Weird. The one with brown skin makes eye contact with me, and he’s still watching when Liam and I pass back around. Unease slithers through me, made worse by the spinning-induced nausea. Wrenching my eyes away, I focus on the horse in front of us and breathe deeply.It’s almost over. Almost over.

The carousel finally slows to a stop, much to Liam’s chagrin. “Can we ride one more time, pleeeease Bria?”

“Not today.” Pushing his sweaty hair from his face, I lift him off his horse and set him down. “I feel a little icky.”

But he’s already moved on, tugging at my hand and straining toward the Frog Pond. Once there, he kicks off his shoes and makes a mad dash for the shimmering, shallow water. Shoving our shoes into my backpack, I wade in after him. The water only comes to the middle of my shins, but it’s cool and refreshing. Kids shout, the sun blazes, and somebody somewhere plays a popular song on a radio. The nostalgic smellsof sunblock and chlorine coalesce, reminding me of childhood summers with Taya at the public pool. We always got ice cream on the way home, soft serve. Chocolate with sprinkles for me, vanilla for T.

Liam splashes me with a devious grin that reminds me of his father. I splash him back as we make our way to the fountains. Slipping my phone from my pocket, I take a few pictures of Liam and send them to Maeve. I’d send them to Conlan too, but we don’t really have that type of relationship anymore. I could show them to him later, I guess.

I chase Liam around the fountain, letting him get away before doubling back and catching him. He laughs uncontrollably as he tries to get away, slippery from sunscreen. “This fish is no good,” I say in my best pirate voice. “I’m gonna have to throw him back!” On our second lap around, I notice those guys again, just beyond the edge of the pool. They avert their eyes as I glance over, but theywerelooking, and my heart lurches into my throat.

Liam pulls on my arm. “I need to pee.”

We dry off and go into the women’s bathroom together, where I help him do his business and wash his hands. But when I step out, those same two guys are lounging nearby, peering at their phones. The one with the ponytail glances briefly at me, and my heart gives a violent kick. Should I call someone? Conlan, or even Nola? What if it’s nothing and they think I’m unstable? I check my watch. We’ve been here for hours. Long enough.

I tap Liam’s back before he takes off for the Frog Pond again. “Let’s get ice cream and go home! We can watchJurassic Friends.”

“I want ice cream and I want to swim!”

“I know buddy, but we’ve been here for a long time. I don’t want you to get a sunburn.”

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