Page 11 of Say You'll Stay

I’ve followed several chefs and replicated their recipes and wound up creating my own after a while. While plating bite-sized sliders and other bits for my dad and his friends that came over for the big games, I found joy in what I was creating. I’ve tried to get Jadon to eat meat and try different things like milk, but he won’t do it unless I eat it. For four years old, he’s quite stubborn, but also sensitive. I’m guessing he got the stubborn part from his father.

Ugh, Lucas.

I kept tabs on him, making sure he actually left this town and was not likely to end up back here. I didn’t want any possibility of running into him. Clearly that was a failed mission since I haven’t looked him up in a while.

My dad always takes Jadon to practices, and we never miss a game. Eventually, Lucas will take one look at Jadon and figure it out. Unless he really is as self-absorbed as he was five years ago and doesn’t notice anyone but himself.

Yeah, I’ll assume the latter, but still try to keep Jadon as far from him as possible. The last thing I need is my dad seeing them in the same room long enough and then realizing Lucas is Jadon’s father. It’s not that my dad is super observant of these things, but I don’t want to risk it.

Particularly because Lucas and Jadon share the same eyes and nose.

It takes one ring for Charity to pick up. “Hey there, mama, what’s up?” Charity lives in San Francisco and is celebrating her graduation from college.

“We have a problem.” I look in the rear-view mirror to make sure Jadon is still asleep. “You know the coach my dad just hired?”

“No, but let’s say I know what your dad is up to these days.”

“Well, it’s LucasKennedy.” I hear the phone drop on the other end and can make out the faint curses. When she finally picks it back up again, she takes a deep breath before asking me about how I feel.

“So Jadon needs to be out of the practicesyesterday. I honestly don’t know what I’m going to do, Charity. Jadon spends a lot of time with my dad on the field already, and if I pull him out too quick, my dad will want to know why.”

“Why don’t you put him in an early start daycare or something? Just say it’s so he can start learning or getting ready for pre-kinder-care or whatever it’s called.”

“Oh, that’s a great idea.” This is why we’re best friends. She has the best ideas for me, and I get her out of trouble when she uses that single phone call they give her at the police station.

“I know, that’s why you always call me,” she deadpans through the phone.

“Alright, I’m pulling up to the house. I’ve gotta look for daycare centers right now. Talk to you soon!”

“Love you!”

I hang up and get Jadon settled on the couch, knowing he will be up soon. Grabbing my laptop, I frantically start looking into some of the local daycares. Since I work for my old high school until I finish my last few courses, I get a discount for working in education. I narrow my choices to three locations all near the school, so I won’t be too far from Jadon.

The applications are a breeze to submit, and I’m able to schedule two meetings for Monday morning and a third on Tuesday afternoon so I can go check them out. I let my boss know I’ll need a few hours out of the office to tour the facilities and see if Jadon fits in somewhere.

Once I’ve extinguished that little fire, Jadon wakes up and heads out back to play while I make dinner. Not long after, Ted shows up and heads out to see Jadon after he comes in to hug me.

About a year ago, Ted graduated from a university in Boston and came home to intern at a local accounting office. When he came back, he took me out on a few dates and admitted that he always had a small crush on me in high school. It was unexpected, since he never really showed an interest in me before. Though surprised, I didn’t go into detail about how much I dreamed of his golden surfer boy hair or his long arms wrapped around me while he told me he loved me. I kept it simple with an, “Oh, I liked you, too.”

When we laughed about how we both were too nervous to admit things to one another, we ended up deciding to try this out. I was hesitant at first, with Jadon, but Ted was the first person to come to the hospital when Jadon was born and instantly loved him. He has always been “Uncle Ted” to Jadon, and Jadon adores him.

Ted asked if I wanted to move in a few months ago, but because of past insecurities caused byLucas-freaking-Kennedy, I refuse to move in with anyone unless there’s an actual commitment.

“Hey, babe.” Ted comes back inside, hugging me from behind as I stir the quinoa and cauliflower mix I’m making to go into tacos for dinner. He kisses my cheek and dips a finger into the pot to taste it while checking his phone. He’s always on it.

“Are you staying tonight?” He asked about spending the night earlier, and I’m open to the idea, just so long as he adheres to certain boundaries.

I know, I probably need therapy, but I don’t have time for that.

“Yeah.” He types away at something on his phone before pocketing it. “I’m good to stay tonight.”

Sometimes he has to work late, so we don’t see each other every day.

“Damn, that’s spicy. Man, you’re an excellent cook, Al.”

“Thanks. Where’s Jadon?”

He grins at me. “Well, he ended up rolling around in some mud, and I’m going to need your help to clean him up.”

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