Page 70 of Hold on Tight

“How would you feel—?”

Jake had startled her, coming up behind her while she was doing the dishes and whispering in her ear. Not sweet nothings, though. A real question. “How would you feel if I took Sam to Oregon to meet his grandmother and aunt and uncle and cousins?”

“Now? Today?”

“You can come, too, if you want.”

“It feels—too soon.”

“Too soon for what?” he asked.

Too soon for another family to get involved in her son’s life, and maybe have opinions about how he should be raised. Her own family was bad enough, and she had years of experience dealing with them.

“They don’t know, right? About Sam? About me?”

“No. I didn’t want to tell them before Sam knew, in case …”

He didn’t have to finish. They both knew all the reasons for caution.

“What if they don’t react well?”

“They probably won’t,” he said. “Because of the weird musty smell that follows you everywhere.”

She couldn’t help it; she giggled.

“They’re going to love Sam, and they’re going to be thrilled to have new family. Take my word for it.”

He made it seem so simple.

She packed her things, and Sam’s. The plan was to pick Jake’s stuff up on the way. “I can pack in five minutes,” he said.

“I’m envious.”

“It didn’t take you so long.”

“Longer than five minutes.”

“Did you pack—?”

She reached down and pulled out the box of condoms, and he grinned.

Her phone vibrated in her pocket.

“My dad,” she said. “I usually call him early Saturday mornings, so he’s probably just calling to make sure I’m still alive. He worries.” She swiped to answer it. “Hey.”

“Hi, sweetheart. Just calling to check in on my two favorite people.”

“Can Sam and I maybe give you a call tomorrow? We’re about to head out.”

“Out where?”

That was not a question she could answer.

“Mom!” said Sam, bounding into the bedroom. “Who’s that—is that Grampy?”

She nodded.

“Can I just talk to him for a second?” her father asked. “I want to tell him what I did yesterday.”

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