Page 33 of Fall With Me
I don’t like Finn playing electronics for more than an hour each day, but today is his lucky day. “Yeah.” Ruffling his hair, I set the controller on the coffee table then stand. “Think about what you want for dinner while I’m sleeping. But it can’t be pizza. I’ve had too much of that this week.”
“’Kay.”
My bed is calling my name. Crossing the family room to the hallway leading to my bedroom, I say, “Remember, don’t answer the door while I’m asleep and stay inside the house. We can go to the park or something after dinner and throw a football around.”
“Can we invite Jackson?” Finn’s gaze doesn’t stray once to my face. His attention is on winning the Toad Harbor race.
His question reminds me that I texted my sisters, Emma and Lucy, about letting us hang out with them tonight. Pulling my cell out of my pocket, I check for an update. Two text notifications show up.
Lucy: Bummer [sad face emoji] We can’t tonight. We’re going to Alpine to pick peaches and apples with Dave’s family. But we’d love to have you guys over tomorrow for dinner and cobbler. Come at 5?
Emma: We’re going swimming at the rec center again. [swimming emoji] Can we take Finn with us? [praying hands emoji] Jackson always has more fun with Finn. We can feed him dinner before we go as well.
I type out a response to Lucy.
Me:Dinner sounds great. What can I bring?
“Finn?”
His gaze barely flickers to me. “Jackson wants you to go swimming with him and Aunt Emma and Uncle Steve tonight. Do you want to go?”
I want him to say yes. But after I get a nap, I’m sure I’ll be ready for the park and dinner. But does Finn want to hang out with his dad? Shouldn’t I be letting him hang out with his cousins when he asks? That’s the reason we moved here.
But I still feel like I should be the one who spends the most time with Finn. Ugh. Why is parenting so hard? Why can’t there be a manual with explicit instructions on what to do in every scenario so I don’t mess up my kid for life?
“Yeah, I’ll go swimming.”
“I’ll let Aunt Emma know.” I hope I’m doing the right thing.
And now I have an entire evening to myself. I don’t recall the last time I had one of those. What should I do? Go to the gym? Work? Nap?
I need to order the earbuds before I forget. I don’t want to let Chloe down.
Chapter 16
Chloe
Sitting in my pj’s on my couch Sunday morning, I text Dawson, hoping he responds soon.
Me:Are you still good to see venue options this week?
I stare at my phone, waiting for those three dancing dots to appear. But nothing happens. Turning back to the spreadsheet, I fill in the three food trucks that agreed to come. We’ll have pizza, Mexican, and barbeque—the three options I thought of in the beginning. I called a local bakery yesterday as well and got all the desserts ordered. I’ll have to send Kate to pick them up the morning of the festival while I’m setting up.
I check my phone, but Dawson still hasn’t responded.Come on man. Respond!I text him again.
Me: Dawson??
Me: Dawson?? I know where you live. You can’t stay silent forever.
Me: [gif of Adele singing “Hello from the other side”]
Me: Dawson???
Me: I won’t show up if you respond, okay?
My phone stays silent. Can’t say I blame the guy. I texted him a gazillion times. What is wrong with me?
Needing a distraction, I head to the kitchen for my grocery list. Might as well get my shopping done, even though I’d rather be working on the fall event.
