Tears burned his eyes. “I am normal, Mom. This was a mistake.”
He ended the call and wiped at his eyes, furious that he’d allowed her to get to him. What he needed was to walk it off, then bury himself in something mindless. He put his earbuds in, and head down, walked until he reached the children’s park. Remembering his sweet conversation with Luis and David, Colson scanned the crowd, his gaze alighting on the two men sitting and watching the children on the swings.
He settled next to Luis on the bench and removed the earbuds. “Hi. Remember me?”
Luis laughed. “I sure do. And look.” He showed Colson the e-reader with his first book:The Killer Behind the Stairs. “I’m rereading because I can’t find anything else to hold my interest.”
“Wow, that’s great. Thanks for showing me. It’s always nice to see.”
“How is your day so far?” Luis gave David some juice.
“I was writing all morning, and then I had to go to the police station to identify some items they found from the break-in at my house.”
“They caught the guys? It’s definitely a ring going around the neighborhood.”
He frowned. “Not yet, but the detective assured me they have leads and they’re close.” He sighed and propped his chin in his hand. “It’s not going to bring back the picture of my grandparents. They found the frame, but it was empty. I’m afraid that’s gone forever. Everything else is replaceable but that.”
Luis’s smile faded. “I’m sorry. That’s rough. But I’m sure the detectives working on the case are trying their best.”
“I hope so.” He thought for a moment. He used to have Hogan preread his books, but with the two kids and a full-time job, his friend was stretched pretty thin. “Anyway, I’ve been working on this new book and was wondering…would you like to read the rough copy? I’d love to hear your thoughts on how it’s going and any problems you come across. No pressure, of course.”
Luis’s jaw dropped. “Are you serious? Man, that would be so cool. I’d love to do it.”
“Are you sure? I know you have a full plate taking care of David.”
Luis brushed him off. “No worries about that. My boss is cool, and I have plenty of free time once he gets home from work. He’s super devoted to David.”
“Must be a nice guy,” Colson mused.
“He’s great, except I wish he’d make more of an effort to have a social life.”
“I guess if he wants to, he will. Anyway, give me your email, and I’ll send you the file later.”
“Can you tell me a little about the book?”
Colson explained the plot, and then, curious to see Luis’s reaction, revealed the romantic angle.
“First book where you’d have a detective with a girlfriend.”
“Or a boyfriend,” Colson said. “I haven’t decided yet.”
“Huh. Interesting. I’ll let you know what I think.”
David made a noise and turned his head. Colson spotted the ice cream truck pulling up. “How about if I seal the deal with a chocolate cone for you and a vanilla cup for David?”
“You don’t have to,” Luis protested.
“I know, but trust me, you’ve made a lousy day much better.” He joined the line at the truck, and when he returned, handed Luis the cone. “Would you…if you want to eat your ice cream, I could help with David, if it’s okay with you.”
David gave him that sweet smile, and Luis stared at him. “You want to help with David?”
Colson worried he’d overstepped, but he felt such a pull toward these people he barely knew.
“Yes. Before my grandparents passed away, they were in an assisted-living facility, and I would visit them and help feed my grandfather after his second stroke and then my grandmother when her Alzheimer’s became too advanced. They had full-time help, but I was determined to be there for them, just as they were always there for me when I was young—and in fact, without them, I wouldn’t have been able to live here right out of college.”
“That’s very kind of you.”
“Believe me, it takes my mind off…stuff.” Colson put the spoon to David’s lips, and he licked at the ice cream. It was impossible to be with David and not fall for his gentle sweetness.
