Page 16 of The Doctor's Surprise Family

I chuckled. “And what’s that word, when it’s at home?”

“Though,” Oli said. “Why isn’t it thuff? If enow-guh-huh says enough, though should say thuff.”

“You should ask Grandma that. She was a teacher.”

We stopped to get Mom from her yoga class, though we had to wait for a while as we’d left the park early. Thankfully, Oli didn’t notice the wait, too busy trying to teach Buster his letters.

“Sorry,” said Mom, when she came bustling out. “You two waiting long? How’s your book, sweetheart?” She mussed Oli’s hair and tightened his seat straps. “Why don’t we stop off someplace for dinner? Grab something, maybe, to take home to Gramps? I’m in the mood for that place with the chicken.”

I let Mom rattle on, planning our dinner, asking Oli about his book and if he had fun at the park. I’d thought she’d see right away something was wrong, but she was still blissed out from yoga. I stewed unnoticed as she fussed over Oli. How long was Blake here for? Was he out of the Army? His service wasn’t up yet, unless he’d been wounded. But he didn’t look wounded. Kicked out, maybe? Well, I’d kick him back to them. We didn’t need him here either.

“French toast,” yelled Oli. “Breakfast for dinner!”

“You’d be up till midnight on that kind of sugar.”

“But, I read my whole book.”

“And you did great.” I smiled. “How about chicken and waffles instead?”

“Waffles! With cinnamon!” He pronounced it like ‘cimmanon.’ Blake would never know that. I couldn’t let Blake within ten miles of Oli. He’d just break his heart, and I couldn’t allow that. Oli was too sweet for that kind of pain.

“You missed the restaurant,” said Mom.

I cursed and looped back to pick up our chicken. Oli laughed in the back.

“Grandma, Mom said ‘sugar.’”

“Yeah, hon, she did.”

“But she almost said that other word. The one for the swear jar.”

I gasped. “I didnot!” But Oli was right. If I didn’t watch myself, I’d snap at somebody, take out my anger where it didn’t belong. I’d have to stop by the gym first thing before work, punish the speed bag until I felt calm.

Somehow, I kept cool through the noise of the restaurant, shouting our order over some kid’s birthday party. I smiled all the way home and all through dinner, through Oli’s bath and his bedtime story. I even did the voices for Mole and Mr. Toad, and the deep Badger growl that made my throat itch. He was drooping already when I tucked him in.

“Mom?” he said, sleepy, as I sneaked out the door. I paused.

“Yeah, hon?”

“I don’t need my night light. I’m too big for Glow Dog.”

I knelt and pressed Glow Dog’s nose, and he blinked out. “I’ll leave the door cracked, and the light in the hall.”

I waited for Oli to protest the hall light as well, but he just grunted, halfway asleep. Hewasgrowing up so fast, too fast by far. Hadn’t it been yesterday he’d been just a baby, so small he could fit in a blueberry basket? How were his first steps already behind him? How was he reading and kicking a ball, and telling me he was too big for Glow Dog? I’d be planning his fourth birthday a few months from now, and in no time at all, he’d be starting school.

Mom’s voice drifted up, her and Dad in the kitchen. They laughed as I passed the top of the stairs, and I felt sad, both for me and for Oli. If I’d chosen better, we’d have what they had — each other. A family. Two parents, a kid, and grandkids someday. Oli hadmydad, but he’d never have his. Did he feel the lack yet? How could I ask him?

I headed to my room before my parents could hear me and stretched out on the bed I’d had since high school. Not much had changed since then, at least in this room. Mom wanted to redecorate when I moved back in, but doing that felt, I don’tknow. Like moving home for real. Like it wasn’t just temporary, and I guessed it wasn’t. I’d been here three years now, all Oli’s life. This was home to him as it had been to me. I stared at my posters as I reached for my phone, bands that’d been popular back in high school. They looked like kids to me now, kids playing dress-up.

“Oh my God,” said Joelle, when she picked up her phone. “I was just going to call you. I guess you heard?”

“About Blake being back? He came to our park.”

Joelle shrieked. “What?”

“Jesus. My ear.”

“Sorry,” she said. “But he, what, he stalked you? Oh my God, I’d have warned you if I thought for a second?—”

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