Page 21 of Seeing You

Stop being a baby, she told herself. Your eleven-year-old nephew just did it.

Plus, once she was done, she could go into the resort and relax for a bit while he played video games.

“You ready, ma’am?”

Nodding, she stepped to the edge and took off. It was exhilarating and she let out her own little squeal of delight, and when she caught sight of Silas at the other end waving at her, she was glad she didn’t let her fear stop her.

Once she was out of her harness, she playfully grabbed his hand. “Next stop is my choice, and that’s inside the resort!”

“Are you sure? The path for the ATVs is right there…”

“Nice try. You’ll be a great lawyer when you’re older, but for right now, I need a short break. Besides, didn’t you want to play some video games?”

He sighed loudly. “I do, but…just for a little while, okay? Last time I was here, I was almost tall enough to drive the ATV by myself. I’ll bet I’m tall enough now!”

“Again, nice try! You need to be twelve to operate one in the state of Virginia. The height requirement is just an extra precaution.”

“Oh, man. I didn’t know you knew that…”

They were on the path that led up to the resort—so much uphill walking!—and she was definitely feeling a little out of shape.

“C’mon, Aunt Bill! You’re going so slow!” He was showing off by walking backwards, giving her a goofy grin. “By the time we get to the arcade, it will be closed!”

Her only response was a groan.

“I’ll race you! If I get there first, I get to pick everything we do for the rest of the day. And if you get there first, you pick. What do you say?”

“I say we both know you’ll win, so…no.” But she picked up her pace a bit and was thankful when the incline lessened. They were about to turn the corner to take the path to the side entrance of the resort when she finally felt a little less breathless.

And more confident.

“How about this,” she began. “We’ll race from here to the door. If I win, we get a full hour of rest, and if you win…hmm…”

“Okay, no prizes, let’s just go!”

Nodding, she quickly blurted out, “Ready, set, go!” Silas immediately took off, but she wasn’t so far behind. The path was straight and then there were some high shrubs where you had to veer off for the entrance. He got there first—obviously—and assoon as she did, she heard him cry out, someone curse, and what sounded like someone falling. “Silas!” she cried.

“Watch where the hell you’re going!” someone was yelling, followed by, “Are you okay?”

Billie turned the corner and immediately dropped to her knees beside Silas. “Silas? Sweetie, are you okay?”

“Billie?”

Looking up, she spotted Marcus staring down at her in total shock.

His first thought was to freak out because he thought he hurt the kid.

The next was…Billie had a kid?

He studied the boy for a moment and realized he looked to be ten or twelve years old, which would mean…

He had a son?

Instantly, he was on the ground too. “Hey,” he began softly, calmly. “How are you doing, buddy? You okay? Let me help you up?”

“I…I’m fine,” the boy said before looking up at Billie. “I wasn’t watching where I was going. Dad always tells me I need to be careful, but sometimes I forget.”

Dad? There was adad? Was she married?

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