Page 51 of Almost True
How would I ever leave them?
CHAPTERTWENTY-SEVEN
Aidan
Rich frowned. I hated that I’d hardly seen anything but that expression on his face lately.
“I think you and Luca should eat with us more. We’re here to support you.”
I exhaled through a wave of impatience, more than ready to get out of the office. Night in Bloom was tomorrow. I’d promised Luca I’d be home by seven so we could spend some time together tonight, and that was already two hours later than I should’ve been, but thankfully, John had stepped in to bridge the gap after Luca’s day camp ended at five.
“We appreciate it. You support us so well. But Luca and I haven’t had much time together lately, so we’re having a guys’ night. Maybe we could join you Sunday?” I’d have to make excuses with my aunt and uncle, but they’d understand. They knew taking care of Rich and Martha was important.
He nodded. “All right. And we’ll have Luca tomorrow, won’t we?”
I gathered my notebook, computer, and a few loose papers I might need Sunday. Ideally, I’d avoid coming back here until Monday. I could dream it, anyway. “Yes. I think he’s at a friend’s until three, and they’re dropping him over with you and Martha after that. I’ll be late, so he’ll probably sleep at your place and I’ll get him first thing.”
Rich waved that away. “You know he’ll want Mar’s pancakes so no rush. I’m sure you’ll be exhausted.” He eyed me a beat. “You taking a date?”
I managed not to flinch, but discomfort still twisted through me. “I am.”
He nodded. No frown this time, just something slightly north of neutral. Damn, that was the closest thing to a smile I ever got lately. “Good. Have fun. Good luck. See ya Sunday.”
And with that, he was out. He’d be back at his house and slipping into his chair next to Martha’s in T-minus four minutes if I timed it.
I scraped a hand over my face, relieved to have acknowledged I had a date. I’d had a bunch of them in the past, all terrible or mediocre at best, and he’d never once asked me. I figured he knew I was out there, dating, but I’d been unwilling to mention it because it hadn’t meant anything. I knew I didn’t need his and Martha’s permission, but I also hadn’t felt there was any need for them to know. No one I’d seen had any potential for being in our lives.
Until Maddie.
And maybe that was why satisfaction slipped in as I locked the office door and made my way to my truck. He’d done the work for me of broaching the subject, and he’d approved. I mean, we couldn’t go anywhere, and this was just one date, but it’d been so… easy. I’d have to tell John about that almost-smile.
After running to pick up our food, I fumbled my way out of the car, praying none of the containers had busted open in the process of rushing so I wouldn’t be late. Inadvertently, I slammed the door against the interior wall as I burst through from the garage. “I’m here! I’m here. I made it.”
In a moment of a flashback and déjà vu colliding, John ran toward me yelling, his face covered with some kind of mask and holding a sword. Luca was close on his heels, also masked and weapon ready, also trailing anahhhhhhdown the hallway. They both skidded to a stop, sword tips at my chest.
“What’s the password?” Luca demanded.
My eyes flicked to John, who was grinning back at me behind his silvery disguise. I didn’t know how long it’d been since Luca had played dress up, but this had to be the first time in at least a year. It sent a pang of nostalgia through me for those days when all he wanted to do was dress up like Daniel Tiger, then an Ewok, then Luke Skywalker, and finally, Kylo Ren. We’d had a definite Star Wars theme for a while.
“Movie night?” I said, hoping that might do. I actually really needed to set my bag down and change out of my work clothes before I could relax, but I wouldn’t spoil the moment by insisting they drop this.
“Wrong. One more chance or you’re doomed,” he said, a little grit in his voice to provide menace.
I widened my eyes and dropped my bag—well, my work bag. I held up the other one. “What about the password,I have Guac and if you want any, you’ll have to let me through. Could that be it?”
Luca’s eyes narrowed and he squinted through his mask. He growled but nodded.
“That’s it!” He whipped off his mask, tossed his sword and shield, and held out his arms wide. “Welcome home, Dad!”
I laughed, love, satisfaction, and that purely parental kind of joy filtering through me at his large smile and silly gesture. Foolishly, I thought he might give me a hug, but instead, he spun on his heel and slid away without touching his discarded toys. I’d deal with that later because we’d all need food before we addressed the messy house.
John removed his costume and took the food bag from me. “He’s had a good day today, as you may have gathered.”
“Dress up?” I asked, keeping my voice low. I wouldn’t want to scare away the return of his imagination.
We’d had a bit of a crisis when he’d turned ten. Something about the day had struck him as horribly sad. He’d termed it the end of his childhood and even sobbed that he didn’t know how to use his imagination anymore.
At the time, I’d been at a total loss. It’d been John who’d come to the rescue and pulled him aside. He’d explained that sometimes it was make-believe and dress-up and setting up Lego guy battles in your room, and sometimes it was letting your mind escape to other worlds through a book. No surprise, that idea had clicked in a big way, and the crisis had been averted.
