I swallow around the lump in my throat."Yeah, it is."
She looks into my eyes, then glances at Ira before focusing on me again.I sigh.I know she wants to ask, and it's not like we never talk about what happened, but..."Ira's mother, my sister, passed away.It's been almost seven years, but it's still hard."
Her eyes widen."Your sister?I believed you were..."Her voice dies away, then she waves a hand."Never mind.You're obviously his father now."
I squeeze Ira's knee under the table.I think this conversation is harder on me than it is on him, but it's a reminder he'll never be a normal kid with a normal family.
Boris saves me from trying to continue the conversation."Look at this masterpiece."
I think he's gonna point at the painting, but no, he gestures at the slice of apple pie with a ball of melting vanilla ice cream on the side."Now you're sorry you didn't listen to me, Ira, aren't you?"
Ira grins."No."
"Argh!Children, they know nothing."He dramatically throws himself into the chair next to Zahrah.Then he winks at Ira and straightens only to hand out the cups.Hot chocolate for Ira, coffee with the perfect amount of milk for me, a cup with milk and a teaspoon, which makes me believe there is sugar in it, for Zahrah, and one with black coffee for himself.I'm a little touched he remembered how I like my coffee.
"Are you admiring Atlas' painting?"He aims the question at Ira while nodding toward the painting of his mother's garden.
"It's pretty."
He nods."When we go to look at the chickens, you can compare it to reality.Though there aren't many flowers this time of year.We'll have to visit again come summer."
My heart speeds up at the casual way he talks about taking Ira places in the summer.It's many months away, and no one knows what life will look like then.I want to tell Ira not to get his hopes up, but I don't want to crush the joy I see on his face.
We dig in.The pie is divine, and I tell Zahrah as much.She cackles and taunts Boris for his boring apple pie.Ira is watching them with wide eyes, and I realize with a pang he's most likely never seen grown-ups act this way other than maybe on TV.It makes me miss Irene something terrible.We used to tease each other.My eyes burn as small snippets of memories play out in my mind.
When I look up, Boris is watching me with a strange expression on his face.I force a smile and scrape up the last of my pie.Fuck, I can't have a breakdown in the middle of a cafe.
This is a good day.Irene would've loved coming here.
"Boris."A tall, broad-shouldered man in his sixties is coming toward the table.He claps Boris on the shoulder.
"Oswald.I didn't see you here."
"Just came in."He looks around the table."So this is your kid?"He smiles at Ira, and I'm about to object.
"Sure is."Boris beams, and Oswald nods a greeting at Ira.
"When are those cookies coming?"
I try to remember the names on the order form, but I'd been too shocked to memorize more than Zahrah and Maia.Since he mentioned the cookies, he must be on there, though.I clear my throat."It'll be about three weeks, I believe."
Oswald nods and holds his hand out to me.I shake it."Simon."
"Oswald.I'm Boris' uncle."
"Nice to meet you."Shit, Boris knows everyone around here.I cast a glance around and notice almost every person in the cafe is watching us.
"We'll come by your place when we have them."Boris' words make me realize I have no idea how to get the cookies to all the people on the order form.Did they fill out their addresses?I don't think so.I can only recall a list of names, nothing else.Fuck.
"Sounds like a plan."He looks around the table."It was nice meeting you."
I nod and smile.Before I can think about the interaction any more, Zahrah jumps to her feet and goes to grab five framed photos from across the room.She steals a chair from the neighboring table and sits by the corner next to Ira.
"You want to see wolves?"
He nods, and she holds up a photo that makes me suck in a breath.It's of two wolves standing next to each other with snow up to their knees, or whatever you call it on wolves."I took this last year."
Ira's eyes are so wide I fear they'll dry out."Were you close?"
