Page 192 of How to Kiss a Hawthorne Brother
“Good,” he says simply.
Good?That’s all I get?
“Did you have fun with Perry?”
“He didn’t know I don’t like butter on my pancakes.”
“Well, that’s okay. He wouldn’t know since he’s never had pancakes with you before.”
“Yeah, another kid's dad had to help him. But then we sang our songs, and my class went to the playground. And Perry gave me five dollars to give to Grant so Grant would get off the swing. But then Ms. Kennedy made Grant give it back, and she gave it back to Perry.”
“Perry gave you money?” Oh, the poor man. Solving playground fights on his first day of solo parenting? He was probably so overwhelmed.
“And it worked, too. It was stupid Ms. Kennedy’s fault that Grant didn’t get to keep the money. And then he was mad at me because he had to give it back.”
“Don’t call your teacher stupid, Jack.”
“Sorry. But I still think it’s dumb she wouldn’t let Grant keep the money.”
“I can see how you might feel that way. But what would it teach Grant to get money when someone wants him to do something? When we’re sharing, taking turns, we do it because it’s the right thing to do, not because we’re getting paid to do it.” I reach down and pat his little chest. “We do what feels right in here. In our hearts.”
He nods as he drags his backpack up the front steps. “Do you think Perry is going to move in with us soon? Chloe says I can’t start calling him Daddy until he moves in.”
I pause at the bottom of the steps, a hand pressed to my heart, and do my best to fend off the worry his question ushers in. “I don’t know, sweetie. We’re still getting to know Perry. And these things take—”
“Time,” he says with a huff, cutting me off. “But how much?” He drops his backpack on the floor inside the entryway and starts to tug at his tie.
I pull him closer, loosening the knot so we can slip it over his head.
“Like a week? Or twenty days?”
“I’m not sure there’s a specific number, kiddo. We just have to see how things go. What if we invite Perry over to watch a movie with us tomorrow night? Would you like that?”
He nods. “Can we watchCoco?”
“We sure can.”
This seems to appease Jack, at least temporarily. But it does nothing to makemefeel better.
What if Perry won’t come? What if he doesn’t respond? I definitely need a few of the holes in Jack’s story about the breakfast filled in, but it doesn’t sound like it went all that terribly.
I fix Jack a snack, then turn on some cartoons for him while I try to reach Perry one more time. I text this time, though his meeting should long be over by now.
Lila:Hey. Jack is home and says he had a great time. Thanks again for taking him. Was thinking you might want to come watch a movie with us tomorrow night. Double feature? One with Jack, then one without?
I’m making dinner when Perry finally responds.
Perry:Glad he had fun. Thanks for the invite, but I don’t think I can make it. I’m doing a thing with my brothers.
A thing? That feels vague. Is he blowing me off?
I know I’ve only known Perry Hawthorne for a few months, but he is not the sort of man to blow someone off.
Except, hedidblow off his ex-wife when she was trying to get him to RSVP to the reunion.
Fear grips my gut, but I will it away. That was different. Jocelyn was hounding him. Pestering him. Making him feel horrible about himself.
I haven’t done any of those things.
