“Come on Aiden,” Becky said, grabbing his hand and tugging him away from the smallcrowd.
“I’ll just be a minute,” I called out, feeling helpless. I shouldn’t have told Rob to take the nightoff.
“Take your time,” she frowned, making her way over to ourgroup.
I pasted a smile on for the photos, all the while thinking about the situation with Becky. Her words and mine rang around in my head like a bell in a cathedral all afternoonlong.
“Thanks so much,Travis!”
“Here’s my number, call me if you wanna hook up,” one of the girls said, handing me a slip of paper with a sultryflourish.
“Thanks,” I said, breaking free finally and heading toward my friends. I threw the piece of paper into a nearby garbagecan.
My friends had set up and spread out on blankets, sitting in clusters. Brock, Tessa, Braden and Elle sat on one blanket, while Tommy, Gordon, and their dates sat on another. Braden’s friends, Ezra and Peter, sat with Krista, Grady andPaige.
I dropped down beside Aiden and Becky. I felt her eyes on me, could practically hear the wheels turning in her head. There was plenty of space for me to insert myself wherever, and I knew she was worrying about what her brothers would think, but I didn’t see anissue.
Nobody seemed to be paying us any mind, coupled off as they were. Elle and Braden were busy with their own tug-of-war. If anyone asked, I’d tell them the truth; I was hanging out with a friend and herson.
While I desperately wanted to finish the conversation we’d started earlier, I knew it wasn’t a good time. Instead, I focused my attention onAiden.
He was a pretty fantastic kid—quick wit, great sense of humour, smarter than me for sure. I’d had a lot of fun hanging out with him and getting to know him. It was really the first time I’d had the opportunity to do so. He loved soccer and Pokemon, two things I’d been nuts about as akid.
“You have over a thousand cards?” Aiden repeated, his eyes wide with wonder. “I only have twohundred!”
“Yeah man, I collected them for years,” Ianswered.
“We should have a battle some time, I’m really good at it. Undefeated, right Mom?” he boasted, looking toward his mom forreassurance.
She smiled lightly at him. “Number one,” shesaid.
Aiden fell silent when the fireworks started. He watched the colours exploding in the sky, completely enchanted, and I was struck withpossibility.
For the last four years we’d been sneaking around, fulfilling our arrangement, Becky had never allowed me to hang around her son likethis.
This felt real, being here with the two of them. Now that I knew she wanted me, I just had to find out exactly what was holding her back and help her throughit.
No big deal, I was up for thechallenge.
Aiden fell asleep with his head resting in Becky’s lap and his legs curled beside mine twenty-minutes before the grand finale of the firework show. Her expression was full of unmeasurable love as she gazed down at her son, gently brushing the dark hair from hiseyes.
“He’s a great kid, Becs,” I told her, my voice thick. “And you’re a greatmom.”
“Thanks,” she said, her cheeks flushing slightly. “I should probably get himhome.”
“Let him sleep, I’ll carry him for you,” I offered, standing up. I squatted, picking up the sleeping boy like he weighed less than a sack of potatoes. His head lulled against my chest, but he didn’t wakeup.
“Are you sure?” she asked, hesitating. I knew she was thinking about how I’d gotten swarmedearlier.
“It’ll be alright. I usually don’t get bugged like that when I’m home. I think they were out-of-towners. Besides, I doubt people would ask me for an autograph if I’m holding a kid,” I replied,winking.
Becky nodded reluctantly and stood up, grabbing the blanket we’d been sitting on and folding it. She carried it under her arm as we weaved our way through thecrowds.
Thankfully, people saw the sleeping child in my arms and kept the squealing to a minimal, although I could hear tongues waggingalready.
Becky frowned, catching her name among the whispers. She tugged the sweater she was wearing closer to her body and moved quicker. Unlocking the rear passenger door, she held it open. I set Aiden down, looking to Becky for help. I had no younger siblings, no cousins, no nieces or nephews to speakof.
My experience with kids was limited to being one, and that was a long timeago.
