Page 40 of Think Outside the Boss

“Hi,” he murmurs.

“This is your dad’s place?”

He doesn’t say anything. Tristan cuts in, extending a hand to the parents. “Tristan Conway, Joshua’s father. Thank you for coming.”

“Thanks for inviting us,” the lady says, and she’s definitely French. “We haven’t met any parents from Danielle’s school yet.”

“No, people like to keep to themselves. But I’m sure there’ll be a chance to meet others soon,” he says. “There’ll be a bake sale or walk-a-thon soon enough.”

Okay, this is my cue to leave. Not only have I met his son, but now I’m trespassing on his socializing with other parents.

I take a careful step back. “I’ll see you—”

“Do you want to go on the Ferris Wheel?” Joshua asks Danielle. His voice is high. “It’s really tall.”

“Oh, can I, Mama?”

“I’ll go with them,” Tristan says. “I’ll be in the carriage behind theirs.”

“Why not? We’ll be by the hot dog stand, Danielle.”

Joshua turns to me. “You and Dad can go in one carriage and Danielle and I in another.”

“I’m not—”

“Sounds good,” Tristan interjects.

“Will you take care of this?” Joshua hands me the stuffed elephant and I grip on to the plushy. The long trunk drapes down my arm. I open my mouth to protest, but the kids are already heading for the Ferris wheel. A light hand on my back and Tristan is directing me after them.

“Sorry about this,” he murmurs.

“No, that’s okay,” I murmur back. The Ferris wheel isn’t that high, is it? It’s in Central Park. We’re not talking Six Flags here.

I should be able to do it.

I can do it.

“These were your special guests?”

“Yes,” he says. “Danielle’s a friend of Joshua’s from school.”

“I didn’t know you had a son.”

His breath is quiet, but audible. “I know.”

“I’m sorry if I… intruded back there. I take it you don’t like mixing business with your private life.”

“No,” he says, “I don’t.”

“Anonymity. I get it.”

As he opens the latch for the Ferris wheel, he gives me a dark look that sends shivers down my spine. The guy manning the attraction motions for Danielle and Joshua to have a seat in their carriage, and the kids bundle in, chatting the whole way.

“I’ll be right behind you,” Tristan tells them. “Call out if you need anything at all and sit still in the car.”

“I know, Dad,” Joshua calls back.

Tristan extends an arm to our carriage. “After you.”

---