“You’ve never been flippant about who you let into Diego’s life. Hell, you’ve never introduced him to any man from what I know of.”
“I never have.” I hadn’t dated much thanks to Diego’s egotistical father, but even if I had, I wasn’t going to introduce random men to my son. But Carter wasn’t just any man. He wasmyman and he’d made it pretty clear that I was his. But I didn’t come alone.
“I say, if you’re thinking this hard about it, then I don’t see the issue with spending a little time together with your son. Hell, better to find out early if they don’t get along.”
I knew that wouldn’t be the case. I don’t know how I knew, I just did. From the moment I’d met Carter he seemed to fit in my life like the missing piece to a jigsaw puzzle. Instinctively, I knew that connection would extend to my son. Truth be told, it already had. On more than one occasion, Diego had asked me aboutMr. Carter.
“Thanks, Ma.” I nodded and went over to give her a kiss on the cheek. “For everything,” I added, staring down at her. Her eyes sparkled as she smiled. I noted, for probably the ten thousandth time, the difference in her eyes now and when I’d been growing up. She was a different person from the inside out.
“Let me get going. I’ve got an eight o’clock meeting.”
“That’s the meeting you started, right?”
“Yes, ma’am. Two years going strong.”
“I’m proud of you, Mama.”
Her head dipped and she squeezed me tighter before saying, “Thank you.” Her voice was thick with emotion.
I followed her to the door, locking it after she exited, and then I rushed down the hall to go read to Diego. Once Diego was asleep, I retrieved my cell phone and headed into my bedroom. Tucking myself deep beneath the covers, I waited for the call I knew was coming.
“Hello?” I answered a few moments later.
“So, we’re on for Saturday?”
I smiled, adoring the deep rumble of Carter’s voice through the phone line.
“Yeah, we’re on for Saturday.”
He didn’t say anything at first but I swear I could hear his grin through the phone.
“I’ll pick you up at o-nine hundred, sharp.”
I giggled. “You and military time. I still don’t know if you’re saying nine o’clock in the morning or nine at night.”
“I told you, when I say ‘o’ anything, that’s referring to before noon …” He continued to explain military time for the umpteenth time to me. I let him explain. Didn’t bother telling him that I wasn’t going to remember any of it. I relished admiring the sound of his voice and the comfort it always brought, ever since the first moment we met while I was trapped inside my car.
~ Chapter Fourteen ~
Carter
I checked my pockets again, making sure I had the tickets to the kids’ museum I’d planned for us to go to before the movie. The museum was usually on a first come, first serve basis, but tickets could be purchased for guaranteed entrance. I wasn’t taking any chances. Michelle said she’d told Diego she’d take him to the museum one day, so what time was more perfect?
“Coming!” Michelle’s voice called through the door after I knocked.
“Mama, I think it’s Mr. Carter!”
I chuckled at the excitement I heard in Diego’s voice. Seconds later the door opened and it was like I could breathe again. That’s how it always felt when I’d gone more than one day without seeing her. Like I was holding my breath until the next time, even though we talked daily.
“Hi,” her warm voice greeted as my eyes scanned every inch of her perfect face.
“Hey, sugar.” I went to lean in to kiss her but she took a step back. My head lowered to see her six-year-old son push his way through to stand in front of her. I knelt down to meet him.
“Hi, Diego.”
“Hi, Mr. Carter. My mama said you’re going with us to have some fun today.”
“I sure am. Is that alright with you?”
