Page 33 of Jack

His brow pleated. "Why not?"

"Because I am guessing your dad didnot sanction the invitation." She licked ice cream off herfingers. "And I get indigestion when I am having a meal in ahostile environment." She grinned at him.

"He's not there most of the time,"he muttered with a shrug.

She eyed him for a second, loving the waythe breeze teased his hair, sending the thick strands falling overhis forehead. Zach accused her of pretending to be his mother and hewas not far off. She wondered with a pang, what woman in her rightmind could leave her child behind.

"Does he know where you are now? Forthat matter, is your grandmother aware that you're not home?"

"I told her I was coming to see you."

"And she allowed that?" She gavehim a suspicious look.

He moved one shoulder restlessly andavoided her eyes as he feigned a sudden interest in the ducks bobbingaway in the water. "She's visiting a sick friend."

"Jason--"

"I wanted to see you!" he burstout. "My dad is never there, and I feel like I'm in a prison. Ireally like you. You don't treat me like a kid. You listen when Italk, and you care." He dumped the half-eaten ice cream into atrash can nearby and wiped his fingers with the napkin, beforegetting rid of it.

He looked at her, his eyes bright withunshed tears. "I don't know what to do. I feel so alone all thetime."

She softened, seeing the vulnerability inhis young face. "Hey, it's okay. I get it, I really do. But youhave to understand, it's not safe for you to be out here alone,especially if your dad doesn't know."

He nodded, biting his lip. "Yeah, Iknow. It's just... sometimes I can't stand being at home. It's soempty."

She reached out and gently touched his arm."Why don't we make a deal? When you feel like this, you come tomy place, and we'll hang out. But you have to promise me you'll letsomeone know where you are."

His face lit up with a tentative smile."You mean it?"

"Of course. But only if you promise."

"I promise," he said eagerly.

"Good, let's take a walk. I'm afraid Iwill have to walk off those extra pounds I just put on." Sherose and waited for him to do the same.

"You're beautiful," he blurtedout, a flush staining his cheeks as she glanced at him.

Her eyes danced merrily. Taking his hand,she tucked it through her arm as they strolled along the beaten pathwhere several avid joggers were rushing by. It was a clear, crispafternoon with the sky a brilliant blue and a few puffy cloudsdotting the surface. The scent of flowers blooming and the hint ofrain made her steps light.

"Thank you." She squeezed hishand lightly. "I lost my mother when I was born. She died givingbirth to my brother and me." Veering off the path, she led theminto the vegetated area where the trickle of water could be heard.

"That sucks," he murmured. "Youand your brother are twins. That's so cool. I wished I had a brotheror a sister." His wistful tone had her staring at him. "Itmust be so nice to have someone to talk to."

"It is," she mused. "Wefight a lot, but we're very close. We get on each other's nerves, butit does not last long." Letting go of his hand, she perched onthe edge of the stone wall and watched the trickle of water flowingfrom the fountain.

"We used to come here every Saturday,"she recalled, a whimsical smile touching her lips. His eyes touchedon her face, and he watched spellbound as the play of expressiontransformed it even more. She was the most beautiful woman he hadever seen, and he felt his heart doing a slow dive. He did not careif he got into trouble every day of the week as long as he could comeand see her.

Unaware of the tumult she was causing theteenager, Zuri trailed her fingers in the clear water, her minddrifting to the past.

"Our dad would give us money to buyice cream and hot dogs." She laughed breathlessly, eyestwinkling. "I used to play on Zach's emotions and had him buyingthe biggest wiener for me." She shook her head. "He wasalways trying to make up for the fact that we did not have a mother."

His touch on her arm had her looking athim.

"Did the kids at school tease you?"

"Is that what's happening? Are theybeing mean because it's only your dad and grandmother?"

He shrugged and looked away. "They askabout my mom, and I don't know what to say. It's not like she and mydad were married and are now divorced. A lot of them come from homeswith only one parent. With the other parent living somewhere else ormarried to other people. There's even a girl with two moms and a boywith two dads." He shrugged again. "I'm different. My momdid not want me and my dad--" his glance slid to her face,before gazing into the water. "He's never there. Grandmothersays he had a hard time when he was growing up. That my granddad wasmean. I guess I cannot blame him for treating me that way."

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