Nick rubbed the back of his head as he grimaced at me. “I feel like a jerk now.”
I dropped my hand to Nick’s forearm and shook my head. “Stop that. You aren’t. If anything, you cheered me up.”
“I . . . was actually about to ask you out to dinner. I’m here until next Tuesday, but . . .”
I gave Nick a sad smile. “But . . . I’m sure your family wants to see you anyway. You wouldn’t want to waste time with me.”
Nick’s face fell as he narrowed his eyes. “I’ve only known you for an hour, but I’m pretty sure any time with you would be worth it.”
My cheeks heated as I rose from my seat. “That’s very sweet. I better go. I have a babysitter, but I’m sure they wouldn’t appreciate me staying out all night.”
Nick stood from his seat and downed the rest of his drink. “Another night, then.” We both laughed. “Do you have a ride home?”
“Yes, I’ll get my car from the valet and be home in half an hour.”
“You’re okay to drive?” His brow furrowed in concern.
“I only had the one drink. It was really nice to meet you, Nick.”
Nick gave me a wistful smile. “Jack was a lucky guy. Goodnight, Ellie.”
“Goodnight, Nick.” I smiled and turned to make my way to the exit.Lucky? Right. Lucky would have meant Jack would have been here tonight, with all the people he loved the most.
Nick grabbed my wrist. He pressed a lingering kiss on my cheek that made the tiny hairs on the back of my neck stand up. I stiffened and shut my eyes.
I made my way out of the restaurant and handed my ticket to the valet. Unable to help myself, I swiveled my head and glanced back inside. I couldn’t tell if Nick was still sitting there or not. My car pulled up, and after handing the driver a couple of dollar bills, I drove off and headed home. Did I regret not agreeing to a dinner with Nick or thinking about going? I laughed to myself. In a week, he’d be on a plane back to Florida, and I’d be back to my comfortable life of solitude with my baby boy—no harm, no foul. A faint smile slanted my lips as I climbed the outside steps to my house. Whatever it was, it was a nice hour.
The first thing that greeted me as I opened the door was Jack’s wailing. I dropped my coat and purse on one of my dining room chairs and sprinted down the hall to his room.
“Hey, Mrs. Ferguson. Is he okay?” Jack’s chubby face was red and soaked with tears. She bounced him up and down as she paced in front of his crib, but judging by the concern and exhaustion on her face; she’d been doing it for a while with no success.
“He’s only been like this for half an hour. He woke up crying from a sound sleep. No fever and his diaper was more or less dry.” She tsked as she moved Jack to her other shoulder and rubbed his back.
“I’m sorry for the trouble.” I scooped him out of her arms and laid him against my shoulder. He let out a couple of whimpers before his crying ceased.
“He’s no trouble at all. Aw, see that? He just wanted his mommy.” Mrs. Ferguson kissed Jack’s temple. “I’ll let myself out and lock up. Have a good night.”
I nodded as she made her way out the door. Settling into the rocker next to Jack’s crib, I cradled him closer to my chest. His blue eyes, the exact replicas of his father’s, dried up as he studied me. This was real life. Drinks with attractive men with gorgeous dark eyes weren’t on the docket for me—now or ever. All we had was each other, and that’s how it needed to stay.
“It’s okay, Jack. You should’ve seen how pretty Aunt Paige looked. If you were a little older, you could have carried the rings for Uncle Evan. Mommy and Daddy had a wedding like that, too.” My voice cracked despite the smile I forced across my face as I held my son’s gaze. “If Daddy was here, he’d probably make us laugh. Maybe offer you some brandy for your gums.” I chuckled as I shifted in the rocker and crossed my legs to lift Jack’s sweet little face closer to mine. “I wish he was here. We miss him so much, don’t we, baby?” A sob rolled out as I rocked my son back and forth.
“We’re a team, sweetie pie. We have to stick together, you and me.” I nuzzled his cheek and kissed his forehead.
“Without Daddy, that’s the way it has to be.”
Five years later
“READY TO BEa Scout? I know I am.” I laughed at the fake enthusiasm my friend Bianca whispered into my ear.
“Be nice,” I snapped as we strolled into the school gym. “This is the first thing I’ve seen the guys this excited for in, maybe ever.” I tried getting my son into T-Ball, then soccer. Granted he was only six years old, but it was crystal clear sports were not his thing. Poor Evan dragged him to game after game until I finally said enough. Tiger Scouts started in first grade, and Jack Jr. was over the moon since the form came home in his folder. I had two years of solid experience as a Brownie when I was a kid and pretended that made me up for the challenge of being a Scout mom.
“You were paying attention at the open house, right? We have to go camping—with bugs and animals and God knows what else.” She settled into a seat at one of the tables next to me as her son Dylan chatted with Jack. Dylan was also more of a grass-picker than ballplayer, but the boys made instant friends when they were teammates. Since most of the kids in his class were into sports, my son was often the odd man out. I breathed a heavy sigh of relief when he found a friend. Bianca was finalizing a divorce from a deadbeat and unstable husband. Both boys only knew their moms, but since they didn’t know any better, they didn’t seem to care. It was better in the long run for them both I supposed, but I hated that Jack never knew what a great father he had.
“So, are you guys excited?” I asked the boys and got two boisterous nods in response.
“I hope they have lots of worms when we go camping!” Dylan’s blue eyes lit up under his platinum blond brows.
“I bet we see ants. Tons and tons of ants.” Jack beamed at me. Raising boys meant you had to make yourself well acquainted with all things disgusting. Bianca grimaced at me as she shook her head.
