11
REBECCA
“So, did you enjoy meeting Mr. Steven?” I ask Damian as I put my car in park in the driveway.
Watching the two of them together today melted my heart.
It’s only been my dream since he was born to see Steven bond with him. I love watching him be a father, even though he doesn’t know he’s doing it.
“Yeah, he knows magic, like me.” Smiling, I unbuckle Damian and help him jump out of the car before we head inside the warm house.
Knowing that he likes Steven eases my stress about the situation a little. “He said tomorrow, he’s gonna teach me a few new tricks. Just don’t tell Grandma so she thinks I learned them myself.”
Laughing, I nod, telling him my lips are sealed as I walk into the kitchen to start dinner for us. Having the house empty and quiet is something I could get used to. It’s a reminder of what I’m working so hard for.
A life for Damian and me. One that we can be proud of.
“Dinner’s done,” I holler back to him as he plays in his room. Tonight, I decide to keep things light with grilled ham and cheese sandwiches paired with warm tomato soup.
I smirk as I hear his little footsteps thudding against the thin carpet as he runs to the table. “Did you grab my crackers?”
“Of course. It’s not soup without them.” I take the seat next to him and laugh as he crushes the crackers, making a small mess around his bowl.
After taking a bite of my sandwich, I reach over and push a piece of hair from his face. “So you really enjoy coming to work with me?”
“Mm-hmm.” He nods with his mouth full of food. This week will be the test to see how they are around each other. Now that Steven knows about Damian, maybe it wouldn’t be such a bad thing for him to know the whole truth.
Maybe one day …
Once we finish dinner, I get him into the bath and into his warm pajamas with Christmas trees printed on them. Damian runs to his bookshelf, grabbing one of his many books for me to read to him before he falls asleep.
“Oh, this one again?” I ask, reading the cover. I’m not surprised, as it’s one of his favorites. A story about a moose that befriends an owl to help him find his lost family.
He snuggles next to me under his comfortable blanket, resting his head on my chest as he follows along with me. About halfway through the story, I can hear him snoring lightly and have to slide out of his bed undetected.
With a sigh of relief that the overwhelming day is finally coming to an end, I wander through the empty house. Excitement hits me as I reach for the open bottle of wine in the fridge. Certainly, I’ve earned at least half a glass for what I went through today.
The cork pops, sending an echo through the kitchen, but before I can pour, my phone chimes from the kitchen counter.
I gently set the bottle of open wine back down next to my glass and open my messages, smiling as I see Steven’s name.
Steven:Was wondering if you can get a sitter. We should talk.
My body reacts with excitement, but then the worry sets in deep down. He wants totalk?
What if he found out I was lying about Damian’s father? I thought I was being nonchalant, but Steven has always been able to see right through my bullshit. I pray this isn’t one of those times…
I can always say no. But I don’t think this would be the type of conversation to have at work, especially if I have to bring Damian along with me the rest of this week.
Sighing, I call my grandmother, hoping she isn’t already asleep. Luckily, she answers and happily agrees to come sit with him while I deal with a work emergency.
With her living only two houses down from us, she arrives only five minutes later.
After thanking her a million times, I rush to my car and speed over to Steven’s house. The entire drive, I run different scenarios through my mind. What else would he want to speak to me about? I’ve already answered his questions.
He must know that I’m lying, and that thought terrifies me as my car pulls into his driveway.
My knuckles tap lightly against his front door, and once he opens it, he smiles widely, inviting me in.
