Page 24 of Thanking Her Brother's Best Friends

I collected the cards to shuffle them. "Seriously, Ollie, when Uncle Caruso came here, I thought he'd get you interested in anything else, just not cards!"

He replied by trying to wink, only, he blinked his eyes instead and followed that up with a feral little smile. "I'm a card shark!"

I wanted to smile and pull him into my arms immediately, but I settled with a leveled "At this rate, you may well be one in the future" look instead. The boy had an impossible level of dexterity for an eight-year-old.

"Alright, Mommy, pay close attention. This is the ultimate winning tactic. It's calledOliver's Super Sneaky Shuffle."

Oh, my heart. For the next few minutes, he launched into a description on the science of shuffling until I gave up, and he ended up winning the next round as well.

"Here's me, totally destroyed by your super sneaky shuffle," I responded, now pulling him close. I inhaled the bubblegum scent of his hair. He was at this phase now where he hadn't quite begun rejecting the obsessive mom hugs.

I wished it would last forever.

"Can I have a cookie, Mommy? Please?"

I didn't want to resist the sweetness of his plea or how he pulled at the strings of my heart with nothing except his little grin. But it was almost time for his dinner.

"Just one cookie, okay?" I replied, trying and utterly failing to keep my voice stern. "Only on the condition that you eat all your veggies at dinner."

He bobbed his head up and down enthusiastically. "Done deal, Mommy. I'll eat them all, I promise!"

I took him down to the kitchen and handed him a chocolate cookie from the batch I'd baked last night. A twinge of guilt came over me because I knew full well that I spoiled him a bit. But that joy on his face meant the world to me.

He munched on the crumbly confection, bits adorning his chubby cheeks like edible confetti. I picked him up and put him on top of the table, from where he could see me get dinner ready.

Soon, I prepared a plate of colorful veggies with a healthy side of protein. Ollie got down and sat on his chair, and I put the plate in front of him. I knew what was coming, so I crossed my arms over my chest and gave him my best stern voice.

"Alright, young man! Time for your veggies. Let's see if you can keep your promise."

He eyed the colors skeptically, and his lips wrinkled at the sight of the poor Brussels sprouts. Although, the way I'd roasted and tossed them in a secret blend of homemade spices wouldn't make them taste as wet or bland as they usually did. Ollie's face contorted into a mock frown.

"Aw, Mommy, do I have to eat ‘em all?"

I tilted my head, feigning an injured expression.

"Remember, Ollie, a gentleman never goes back on his promises. Besides, eating your veggies will make you big and strong, and then you can become just like one of your favorite superheroes!"

"Could I become a marine?"

A cold chill ran up my spine, and I wondered how it would feel if my son really grew up and decided to serve. How would I live, knowing he was in the line of fire every day? I gulped. That was a thought for a future time.

"Like the best marine in the whole of the USA!"

His resistance melted away. "Okay, Mommy, I'll eat ‘em only if you promise to eat with me!"

I reached for a fork, my heart melting into a puddle, and sat next to Oliver.

"Deal! We'll conquer these veggies together and totally save the day!"

After dinner, I sat with Ollie for a long time until his nanny took over and got him ready for bed.

I went to read to him, kissed his sleepy face goodnight, and as I sat by him, my housekeeper, Alec, told me my guest was downstairs.

"Thank you." I got up from my seat and planted another kiss on my boy's forehead before descending the spiraling staircase down to where a man waited for me, his face akin to a rock that had stood still through many, many storms.

His face was entirely passive.

"Have you found anything for me?"

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