Page 72 of Crying Shame
We slipped inside, and I walked Sam to the bedroom. “Both Sam and Aurora fell asleep in the limo. Running too much in the park, I guess.”
She’d laid out his pajamas on the bed, and we got to work taking off his shoes and changing him. “I… I’m happy he’s made friends with Aurora," she said. "I just wish I knew how to find the right therapist.”
“Me too. Hopefully, his friendship with Aurora will mean he’ll open up to others at school.”
We finished getting him into his nightclothes and tucked him in the bed.
I ruffled his hair, stood, and waited till she kissed him. “The school therapist sent her recommendations. Did you look them over?”
We headed out of Sam's bedroom. I was determined to keep my hands to myself unless she initiated things. I would never admit to feelings that would hurt her. She closed the door behind us. “I started to, but guilt overtook me. You can pick someone for us to try.”
I rocked on my feet. Deciding by myself felt like the wrong thing to do, though the recommended therapists were also on the list I sometimes gave my patients. She waved me to the dining room, so we went there.
“Are you sure?" I asked. "You’ve been parenting alone for a long time, and I hate to step on your toes.”
She picked up the glasses of wine we’d hardly touched, gave one to me, and then we clinked glasses. “You’re the best there is, lover boy.”
My heart lifted. “I’ll make the appointment in the morning, and then we’ll work on getting him there—together.”
She pointed to the balcony. I followed her outside, wishing that one day she would love me. Then everything would be perfect, but for now, I needed to stay the course—or I’d blow everything.
36
Elon
After my shower in the morning, I grabbed a pair of shorts and a muscle shirt and headed to breakfast. Clarissa had slept beside me but snuck out of my bedroom at dawn. I’d meant to follow, but I fell back asleep.
The first thing I did was email a colleague to get Sam in to see a therapist. Once that was done, I was ready to go. As I walked to the bright dining nook of the apartment, Clarissa and Sam were sitting together. She hung up her phone and said to Sam, “I told Maddie it would be great.”
I slid into a seat beside Sam and poured myself a cup of tea. “What did I miss?”
Clarissa folded her hands in front of her. “Arman and Maddie want to take Sam to the children’s art museum with Aurora.”
I gulped the hot liquid and grabbed a fresh croissant from the table to have something in my belly. I’d work out later. “Sounds fun. I made the appointment we discussed for next week.”
“What appointment?” Sam asked.
Clarissa said, “For all of us just to talk about what’s happening.”
He shook his head. “I don’t need a therapist. I’ll start talking at school.”
The three of us finished a small but simple breakfast that had been made by my parents' personal chef and delivered to us.
I finished a second cup of tea to get my fill of caffeine, and then Clarissa pushed back her chair. “Are you ready to go?”
I stood and dropped the napkin onto the empty plate. “Absolutely.”
The three of us grabbed our shoes, put them on, and headed out. As we made it to the elevator, Sam said, “Elon, I’m happy you’re my dad.”
My heart thumped, and I patted Sam on the back. “Me too. You’re the best son I could ever ask for.”
Sam kept his lips closed as we passed building security, but once we got to the park, he lifted his chin and said, “And you’re who I dreamed would show up at the door and sweep us away.”
Clarissa choked back a sob.
I went down to one knee and hugged him. He hugged me back and then asked, “Take care of Mom? I promise I’ll figure myself out.”
This time I cried and didn’t care who saw. Having Sam and Clarissa as my family was everything I'd ever wanted. I met his gaze. “I want us all to be one family.”
