Page 28 of The Doctor's Surprise Family

I raised a brow. “In what way?”

“Well, look at his shoes.” Blake gestured at my shoes, and then at Oli’s. “He retied his laces until they were perfect, the loops the same size, just like on yours. And they’re cleaner than any kid’s shoes ought to be. And his outfit all matches, and his clothes are so neat, and he notices everything, like the DO NOT TOUCH sign. He’s like mini-you.”

I chuckled. “Well, I did pick his outfit.”

“But he tied his shoes, and he zipped up his jacket. And he had to do up his shirt by himself. He’s, I don’t know. He’s independent.He knows what he wants, and he goes for it. That’s something I always admired about you.”

I knew I should shut this down right here, right now. Change the subject, move on. Keep the focus on Oli. But it had been a while since I’d felt independent, since I’d felt like I had any life of my own. It felt good to hear Blake still saw me that way.

“He’s a lot like you too,” I said.

“He has my nose.”

“Yeah, he does, but I didn’t mean that. I meant he loves books like you, and he’s athletic. He’s friendly with everyone, hardly ever gets mad. And he’s fearless, adventurous — he scares me sometimes.”

Blake watched Oli pretending to be a beluga, waving his arms as they waved their fins. He was still smiling, but his gaze had gone distant, like he was seeing Oli, but also not.

“I’m not fearless,” he said. “A lot of things scare me.”

“Like what?”

Blake cleared his throat. “Uh, grizzly bears?”

I laughed, but I felt like something had shifted, like a door had cracked open and then slammed shut. Blake’s smile had been thoughtful, but now it was impish, the smile I remembered from when he would tease.

“There’s a touch tank,” he said, and pointed past the whales. “You still scared of slimy things?”

I shuddered. “I’m notscared.”

“So you’ll touch a sea cucumber, and those tentacle things?”

Oli bounced up to us. “I want to touch!”

I groaned. “Didn’t you want to go see the penguins?”

“Yeah, but I want to touch the fish first.”

“Okay, go ahead. We’ll be right behind you.” I waited till Oli got out of earshot, then I nudged Blake hard in his ribs.

“I’ll get you for that.”

“Ow!You just did.” He jostled me back, and that door cracked again. I giggled in a way I’d forgotten I could, and we bumped elbows, and the years fell away. We wereusfor that instant, like no time had passed, then Oli yelled out for me, and I remembered it had.

“Coming,” I called, and I chided myself. Oli was my world now. The past was the past. Blake was my past, and I couldn’t forget that.

CHAPTER 12

BLAKE

We weren’t going to have time for it all.

I’d tried to relax and take things on toddler time, but we’d fallen two entire hours behind schedule, and if we didn’t move soon, it would all fall apart. If we left now, we’d roll up at Playland at four. Oli’s bedtime was seven, which left one hour to play, then thirty minutes to drive to my place. By the time I’d cooked dinner, that’d take us to six — or, accounting for toddler time, more like six thirty. Then I’d be half an hour driving them home, barely in time to get Oli to bed.

I checked my watch. “Uh, Claire? We should?—”

“Mommy!” Oli ran up to us, bouncing out of his shoes. “Mommy, the penguins! They’re feeding the penguins! The man says it’s starting! Come on, hurry up!” He tugged on Claire’s hand, then grabbed mine as well.

“Comeon,we’ll be late! It’s starting right now!”

---