Page 20 of The Disputed Legacy
This kid wasn’t that old, but I was surprised nonetheless because she looked so young.
“Oh. I suppose you would know her name, then, huh?”
He smiled, nodding. “Her name is Willow.”
“Oh, kiddo, I bet she doesn’t want you telling me that if you’re not supposed to talk to strangers.”
Willow.It was different. Unique. Just like she was, because she was unique in ensnaring me enough to want to know everything about her.
It was a graceful name, too, like the woman who resumed her duties now, never stopping, never staying still, as if idleness would ruin her.
“But you’re not that much of a stranger now. I know your name too.” He nodded once, giving me a slow look, like he was sizing me up from his child’s eyes. “Saul.”
I smiled, taking a chance to move over to his booth. Holding out my hand, I said, “I am Saul,” I introduced, watching as he scooted out from his side of the low table. Once he stood, he held out his hand. “I’m Oscar. Mama told me to never shake anyone’s hand while I’m sitting down.”
A slow grin lifted my lips. Fuck, I was going to fall in love with this woman from the start. If I could lighten up and analyze this obsession with her any further, I’d be admitting it was some ridiculous case of love at first sight. It felt like it. But now knowing she’d teach her kid a vital life lesson like that? She was badass in a way I’d never considered a woman to be.
“And here I thought sitting down to introduce myself would make you feel bigger,” I admitted, scooting out and standing to shake his hand, like we were just two gentlemen.
“You are really tall,” he admitted as we sat again, clearly well on the path to being fast friends. “Mama guessed you were six foot, five.”
Now I raised my brows. “Your mom has talked about me?” Pride lit me up from the inside out. My heart beat faster at the mere idea that I could be on her mind.
“Uh-huh. You’ve been coming here a lot and making Irene and Rosie bicker.”
I chuckled, assuming he was referencing the other two waitresses I’d dismissed.
“And Margo thinks you’re a scoundrel, hiding from your wife by never going home for dinner.”
I laughed harder. “And which one is Margo?” I asked, looking back at the diner staff.
“The lady who’s giving you the evil eye,” he replied, waving at her.
I waved back, hoping my charming smile would thaw her out.
“And who’s the older man with the huge moustache but no hair?” I asked.
It was his turn to laugh. “He’s got hair,” he insisted.
I held my fingers apart to show a tiny gap. “I thought he was bald,” I teased in a conspiratorial whisper.
He laughed some more, making my heart lighter from the innocent sound. “That’s Raul. He helps me with homework.”
“Like that?” I asked, pointing at the paper. I didn’t intend to manipulate her kid to get closer to her and learn more about her. But I couldn’t help but be curious. Oscar was one of those kinds of people that when you met them, you couldn’t walk away without wanting to be near them. He was open with me,yet cautious. If his mom wasn’t nearby to oversee us from a distance, I bet he wouldn’t have said a single word to me.
“Yeah.” He gave a little groan. “I don’t like math homework.”
“I hated it,” I admitted.
“You did?”
I nodded.
“Mama tries to tell me that she enjoys it.” He rolled his eyes and smiled. “I think she’s fibbing just to get me to not complain about it when I’m stuck.”
“What are you stuck on now?” I asked.
“These.” He turned the paper around and showed me bars and lines. A quick glance proved it had to be a subtraction problem, but it seemed overly complicated for no reason.
