“Hmm?” Dad glanced up from his paper.
I took a bite of my bagel. I was having breakfast over at my parents’ house on Saturday morning. Usually I resisted those sorts of family gatherings, but I knew my mom wanted information, and she’d get it whether I told her or not.
“I’m sorry we missed Emily at the game on Friday. I’d have loved to have seen her. I meant to send her a note to say thank you. She really helped make a terrible situation bearable.” Mom started to tear up. I hated knowing it was my fault.
“Yeah. It’s too bad you didn’t see her.” I decided to put her out of her misery. I could tell she was still full of questions. “Come on. Just ask me what you want to ask. Get it over with.”
“Is there anything else about her you think I should know?”
“I’m guessing you’re asking about Noah?”
“Noah? That’s her son’s name?”
I got up and poured myself more coffee from the pot. “Yes.”
“Who’s the dad?” She looked right at me. All evidence of the tears were gone—the interrogation had started. That’s what I got for not telling her earlier. She must have heard about Noah from people in town who saw us after the game.
“He’s dead, but I think he was from her hometown.”
“Oh. That’s horrible. That poor girl.”
“Yeah, I don’t think it’s been an easy road.”
“Does her family live nearby?”
“Nope. They’re all in Ridgeview.”
“Up there? I’m surprised she didn’t move home.” Mom took another sip of her coffee.
“Me too. I’m sure she has her reasons.” I had so many questions for Emily, but I was going to wait until the right time to ask them.
“I’m guessing by the far off look on your face that you plan to see her again.”
“Yeah, I definitely do. She’s gotten under my skin in a way no one has before.”
“I can tell; which is why I want to see her again too. Even though we spent so much time in the hospital together, I hardly know anything about her. You should really bring her and Noah by next time she’s in town.”
“She’ll be here tonight. She’s having trouble finding a sitter so I told her to bring Noah with her.”
“I’ll watch him.” Mom got that excited look on her face.
“You don’t even know him.”
“So? Have them come over early so he can get to know me. I did raise two boys of my own, you know.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yes! You know how much I love kids, and this way you two can have a proper date.”
“I’ll talk to Emily about it.”
“Good.”
***
“Are you sure your mom doesn’t mind?” Emily asked for the third time. We were sitting around my place. I’d never cleaned so well in my life, but Mom warned me Noah would get into everything.
“Not at all. It was her idea. We should probably go over there now. That way Noah can get used to her with you there.”
“That’s really nice of her.”
I shrugged. “It’s just my mom.” She might have been far too involved in my business, but my mom was always willing to help.
“All right. Do you want to go?”
“Sure.”
Emily bent down. “Noah, it’s time to go.”
Noah looked up from playing with a toy car on the floor. He really was cute. He had longish, dark brown hair and really big, blue eyes.
“You know that we have the same haircut, bud.”
Emily laughed. “Only because I haven’t had time to cut it.”
“Why would you cut it? The shaggy look is always in for little boys.”
“So is looking neat and presentable.”
“Are you trying to tell me I don’t look presentable?” I pretended to be offended.
“No. I like your hair.” She reached over and ran a hand through my hair.
“But your son needs his short?”
She smiled down at Noah. “At least trimmed.”
I bent down to Noah’s height. “Don’t listen to her, Noah. She’s going to cramp your style.”
He laughed but I doubt he had any idea what I was saying.
“Can you watch him for a second? I want to run to the bathroom.”
“Uh, sure.” I figured I should be able to watch a kid for a minute.
“Be right back.” I couldn’t tell if she was talking to me or Noah.
“What kind of car do you have there?” I slid down onto the floor next to him. He handed me the blue car.
“Car.”
“Yes, it doesn’t really matter what kind it is as long as it works, right?”
He took the car back from me and rolled it around on the worn wood floor again. The car he was playing with didn’t look too far off from what I had as a kid. I guess some things never change.
“All right, I’m ready,” Emily called.
I turned around and my breath hitched. It always did when I saw her—especially with her hair all wavy like it was. She looked gorgeous.
“You ready, bud?” I wasn’t sure why I started calling him that, but it kind of stuck.
Noah held his arms up to me.
Emily shook her head. “No, Noah. Jake doesn’t have to hold you.”
“I’ll hold you.” I bent down and scooped him up. He grinned.
“You don’t have to do that.” Emily reached for him.
“I want to.” I carried Noah outside and waited while Emily unlocked her car.
I put him in his car seat. It only took me two tries to figure out the seatbelts. I hoped I’d get it on the first try the next time.
Emily just smiled and got into the driver’s side. I hated that she was always the one who had to drive us everywhere. It’s hard to make a girl think you can take care of her when you can’t even pick her up. There was nothing I could do about it, so I’d have to find other ways to make up for it—even if I had to get creative.
“Where am I going?” She pulled out of the driveway.
“Turn here.” I led her through the directions to my parents’ house. It wasn’t too far away, and Noah seemed perfectly content playing with his toys in the backseat.
Emily parked in their driveway and looked up at the house. “Wow, pretty.”
I’d never really thought about it, but their house was nice. With a huge, wraparound porch on both levels, it kind of stood out. It was bigger than most of my friends’ houses, and when you add in the pool house I’d spent a few years living in, it was pretty cool. “Thanks.”