Page 22 of Everlasting Promises

She chuckles and tucks her honey hair behind her ear as her eyes rise to mine, then dart back to her son.

10

HOPE

He’s so happy.How can I say no?

Especially if it means keeping that smile on his face.

It’s such a rare occurrence. I’d do anything.

I should feel uncomfortable accepting Ben’s invitation. He’s a virtual stranger, and he’s inviting us to his home. Under normal circumstances, I would say no, but accepting his invitation doesn’t feel like the wrong thing to do. He seems safe, and I feel at ease in his company.

I also can’t ignore the fact that I’ve shared more with him in fifteen minutes than I have with anyone else in a long time. He’s familiar somehow, and he seems to understand my grief. Ben’s given Evan an amazing opportunity, and while he spends time with Rex, his smile is permanently etched on his cute little face.

What could it hurt?

Maybe if Evan plays with Rex, his desire for a pet will be satisfied and he won’t ask me to get a dog of our own …again. It’s getting harder and harder to say no, especially when I know how desperately he wants one. With both of us gone most of theday, I can’t, in good conscience, agree; it wouldn’t be fair to a puppy. But I still feel bad. I want to give Evan everything.

I grin at my son as he patiently peers up at me, waiting for my answer, a hopeful expression painting his face. “Okay,” I tell him as I look up at Ben. “Only if you’re sure we’re not imposing.” His shoulders seem to drop, and he releases a breath like he was as desperate for my answer as Evan was.

“No imposition.” Ben claps his hands together as his cheeks rise, making deep crinkles at the corners of his eyes appear, telling me this man smiles a lot. “Great. You can follow me.”

Suddenly unsure, I glance down at Evan. His grin is so broad, his eyes so hopeful. I’m many things, but I’m not a monster. With resignation, I gesture toward my car. “Uhm, is there anything we can bring? If you give me your address, I can stop at the store and we can meet at your place.” I fidget with my keys. “It’s bad manners to turn up empty-handed.”

He shoves his hands into his pockets and rocks back on his heels. The muscles beneath his tattooed forearms tense with the action and the denim of his jeans pulls tighter around his firm thighs. He’s in great shape, but I guess that’s to be expected since he has to be in top condition for his job.

With muddled thoughts, I snatch my eyes away.

Why am I noticing his arms and thighs?

My cheeks burn with shame, and I shuffle on my feet. I fix my gaze just beyond his shoulder while I wait for his response—with a racing heart and suddenly clammy hands. I let the high of playing with the puppies and Evan’s desire to play with Rex cloud my judgment, and I could kick myself for agreeing to spend the afternoon with Ben and Rex. From the corner of my eye, I watch him studying me, his smile diminishing the slightest touch.

“I need to pick up a couple of things at the store. You can follow me.” He pats his thigh, and Rex sits beside him obediently. He’s such a good dog.

I force a nod. “All right. Come on, Ev.”

We make our way to my car and climb inside. “Thanks, Mom,” Evan says from the back seat. “You’re the best.”

My eyebrows shoot up as I start the car to follow Ben out of the parking lot. “I don’t know about that,” I mumble underneath my breath.Who goes to a stranger’s home for a meal after knowing him for what … a couple of hours tops?

And just because he’s an officer of the law, that doesn’t make him completely safe.

My breaths grow choppy as we pull into the store’s parking lot. I tighten my hands on the steering wheel until my knuckles turn white as I park the car. After I turn off the engine, I twist in my seat to face Evan. “I don’t know if this is such a good idea, Ev. We don’t really know Ben, and we’re going to his home.”

He scoots forward and rests his hand on my shoulder. “We don’t have to go, Mom. It’s just … I-I-I really like him. He’s never once spoken to me like I’m a problem. Not like some of the teachers do. He didn’t give me that sad look when he found out about Dad. You know the one … like I’m broken because he’s gone. Not like Shane and everyone else does,” he murmurs the last part, and fissures spread across my already shattered heart. “I feel like a normal kid with him.”

Hefeels like a normal kid.

I can’t take that away from him. He’s had so many years of grief in his young life, and I promised things would be different. That I’d try harder. He needs this … and maybe I do too, because Ben doesn’t look at me like I’m broken either.

He makesmefeel normal, too.

He didn’t give me platitudes when I told him how I felt. He looked at me as though I’m strong—not like I’ll shatter at any moment.

I glance out the windshield and spot Ben waiting patiently with Rex on a leash by his car. Drawing in a deep breath, I decide to do this—for Evan … and maybe for me, too. “C’mon, then. Ben’s waiting.” We climb out of the car, and Ben leads us inside. “Are you allowed to bring Rex into the store?” I know some stores allow pets, and I guess Rex isn’t technically apetsince he’s a working dog, but he’s not working now.

“Oh, yeah. They love Rex here. They get upset when I come without him. He’s a local celebrity.” Ben chuckles and leans down to rub the scruff of Rex’s neck. “Hey, Rex. They love you, don’t they?”

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