Page 45 of A Summer Mismatch
He wanted to laugh, but couldn’t muster up the energy this morning. All the things that had been hilarious to him and Willow the night before were now sad, almost tragic, in the light of day. Something in his expression must have signaled his morose thoughts to Nonna because she gently gripped his forearm.
“We’ll figure this out.” She looked upstairs toward Willow’s room. “We’ll figure it all out.”
The kids ate, and then Willow came out of her bedroom with red, swollen eyes and a stuffed nose. She wore holey jeans, flip-flops, and a race T-shirt at least three sizes too big. Her hair was pulled into a high bun, with spikes and strands poking out every which way. “I have to go to class,” she said without inflection.
The kids were quiet, unsure of what to do with this unfamiliar version of their mom.
“Can you take one day off?” Logan asked carefully. “I’m sure your teachers will understand.”
She collapsed against the wall as if she couldn’t take one more step that day. “I have to go in,” she said. “I just do.”
Nonna nodded as though she understood. “Logan, can you take the kids to Diamond Cove for a few days? Grandpa can help you watch them. Me and Willow will stay here and take care of things. Is that okay, Willow?”
“I don’t want to put either of you out.” Willow blinked, seeming like her head was only half there.
“It’s not putting me out.” Logan reassured her. “We’ll have fun. Right, kids?”
Amelia and Logan both poked at their food instead of answering. Logan looked at Nonna who tipped her head toward the kids’ bedroom.
“Let’s get you guys packed,” he said, rounding them up and leaving Nonna alone with Willow. Logan opened their closet, startled to find that their bags from the last time they’d visited him had never been unpacked, the clothes never washed.
He located an empty duffel bag and stuffed it full of the dirty clothes he found on the floor of their room. He had a washer and dryer in his condo and could have bags of clean clothes for the kids when they got home.
He’d noticed while cooking that the fridge and cupboards were getting empty. He’d have the kids help him pick out groceries on his phone, and they’d have them delivered before he brought them home.
Willow hugged and kissed each of the kids before they hopped into his truck. Gatsby didn’t hesitate before hopping into the back with them.
Logan embraced Willow tightly.
“Am I doing the right thing?” she said, her words muffled into his shoulder. “Am I a bad mom for sending the kids away?”
“Hey.” He pulled back and took her by the arms. “You’re not sending them away. You’re letting them spend the week with their favorite uncle. Me and Grandpa’ve got this. You need to take care of yourself, okay?”
She didn’t look convinced but kissed him lightly on the cheek and went to say one more goodbye to the kids.
Logan hugged Nonna next. “She’ll be okay,” Nonna assured him confidently. If anyone could make it happen, it was Nonna.
Logan got into the truck and backed away while Willow blew kisses to her kids.
They were only a few miles from their home when Leo started to cry, and then Amelia.
“I want my mooooommmm,” Leo wailed. It broke Logan’s heart to keep driving away from Willow, but he knew that once Amelia and Leo got distracted, they’d be okay. Willow needed some time alone to grieve and figure things out.
But Logan didn’t know what to do with two sobbing, emotional kids.
Luckily, he knew someone who might.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Julia
Juliaansweredherringingphone just as she stepped into the break room at the school for her lunch. Principal Meyers was with the kids while she grabbed a quick bite, and then they’d head down to The Palms for reading buddies.
“Hi, Logan,” she said, but then heard the sound of crying children in the background. “What’s going on?”
“Leo and Amelia,” he replied loudly. “My sister’s kids. They’re struggling, and I’m not quite sure what to do.”
“Why are they struggling?” She took her chicken alfredo leftovers from her lunchbox and stuck it in the microwave.
