Page 16 of Nightclub Surprise
“I became a nurse after having my son. And I wanted to specialize in pediatrics. You see, Calum was born with a small hernia. It had to be operated on right away, it was that bad. The nurses helped me when I started crying and freaking out that my newborn had to go straight intosurgery.”
My heart sped up. “God, Tawny. Were your parents there?” I felt terrible forher.
“No, they’d gone out of town. Calum came two weeks early. It wasn’t anyone’s fault that I had to go through that alone. It’s just the way it happened. Anyway, the nurses stepped up and helped me through everything. I had to stay a week in the hospital, and they taught me how to take care of Calum. So, it was a godsend that my parents weren’t around, because Calum and I bonded right away, thanks to the nurses who helped me.” Though the story was a sad and scary one, Tawny told it with an upbeatattitude.
The girl wasamazing.
Despite her perseverance and easy reflection, I felt like a complete dick while listening to her story. Because I knew one person whose fault it was that she’d had to go through all that alone—thefather’s.
Whoever that mightbe.
Chapter Ten
Tawny
The sun warmed the cool early December air as we strolled through the zoo. Well, August and I strolled while Calum mostly ran, beating us to eachexhibit.
Calum was about to careen around a corner out of our line of sight. August quickly called out, “Hey, buddy, stay where we can seeya’.”
To my surprise, Calum slammed on the brakes. “Yes, sir.” He was all smiles as he waited for us to catch up before turning thecorner.
“Wow. If I’d said that, he’d have ignored me, and I’d be running after him.” I looped my arm through his, leaning my head on his shoulder. “And I’ve never heard him say ‘yes, sir,’ to anyonebefore.”
“He asked me a question earlier, and I said ‘yes, sir’ to him. I guess he picked it up.” August kissed the top of my head. “I can be a good influence when I try hardenough.”
“I like it when you’re a bad influence, too. Only on me, though.” August had been a perfect gentleman with me since the moment he’d picked us up. He drove himself in a new Mercedes, saying we might just stay the night in San Diego if it got toolate.
I’d been about to run back inside to pack us an overnight bag just in case when he told me not to bother. He’d casually said that if we did end up staying, he’d buy us whatever we’d need—as if that wasnormal.
I hadn’t mustered up the courage to ask him just how much he was worth. I knew it had to be a lot. I didn’t know how he made his money either. There shouldn’t be anything wrong with wanting to know what he did to make a living. “Would it be rude of me to ask you what it is you do to earn this vast amount of money you seem to have,August?”
He stopped walking, looking into my eyes. “Can I tell you about that another time, Tawny? I will tell you, but now’s not a good time to dothat.”
Clueless as to why he couldn’t talk about it at that moment, I wondered what the hell he did for a living that made him say such a thing. Was he a spy? Did he work for the CIA or the FBI? Did those people make as much money as it seemed he had? “’Kay.” My eyes turned away from his as my mind went crazy with all thequestions.
August pointed out ahead of us, directing Calum’s attention to something he was sure to love. “Is that an arcade,Calum?”
My son shot toward the open area, which was covered by a red and white circus-like tent. “Oh,yeah!”
“He’s going to beggar us in there, August,” I warned him. “And getting him out of there won’t be easyeither.”
“I can take it,” he said with achuckle.
But as we entered the area, with games making loud sounds everywhere—including the sounds of gunfire and explosions—I grew worried. “August, are you sure you’re okay withthis?”
He knew I referred to his PTSD and nodded. “It’s okay. I’ve conquered the loud noises triggering anepisode.”
So, if those no longer set him off, whatdid?
Standing back, I watched as August and Calum climbed onto a couple of motorcycles to have a virtual race, August obviously letting Calum win. “Aw, man. You beat me,” August whined to Calum. Then he pointed to some fishing game across the room. “Hey, wanna see who can catch the biggest fish,Calum?”
“Yes, sir!” Calum was off the bike, running top speed, or as fast as one little boy can go through a crowd of kids. And August was hot on his heels, having just as much fun as my littleboy.
As I watched them go from one game to another, my heart pounded in my chest. August and his sister were great with Calum. Maybe it was time I was more honest with all three ofthem.
Maybe I would be, but not at this moment. This wasn’t the time or the place, but soon. Maybe even later, after we left thezoo.
My mind grew more and more determined as the day went on. When August grabbed Calum up, putting him on his shoulders so he could see an elusive bear who’d hidden itself in its cave, I nearlycried.
