Though Lana’s displeased side-eye after her double take at Charlie’s leg hanging off a branch makes me reconsider if I should be allowing my conscience to feel guilty about multiple things.
“If they fall, you get to explain it at the hospital,” she tells me.
“We won’t fall, Mum,” Charlie calls. He’s intentionally chosen to call herMumsince some little twat mocked him for it in preschool, and he insists it adds to the charm of half of his heritage. He uses Britishisms at every opportunity for the same reason.
One might say he comes by the spite attitude naturally.
If one wanted to consider such things.
“We’re expert tree-climbers,” Eddie adds.
“Wait until you see us jumping branches like the squirrels.”
“We can’t be squirrels, numb-nuts. We weigh too much.”
“You weigh too much.”
“You’re an arsehole.”
Lana narrows her hazel eyes narrower at me. “And they’re cussing now?”
I clear my throat. “Boys, it’s fine to explore the proper use of all of your words while at home, but I expect you’ll use polite language whenever you step off this property. And at your mother’s house. And in her presence.”
They both giggle my rules.
I hear they’ll eventually outgrow giggling, so I soak in the sound, hoping it’s not the last time I hear it.
Though it would serve me right if it is.
I likely don’t deserve to enjoy the sound of children’s laughter.
Not with what I’m doing.
Lana shakes her head at the boys’ giggles and drops into the chair beside mine. She’s barely five feet tall and always brings to mind the blond pixies in that old animatedPeter Panmovie. She’s also the one and only woman I’ve formed any sort of real relationship with in my entire life outside of professional circles.
I’d say that was necessary since we share two children, but sheisa good friend.
A good friend who lost all romantic interest in me when she realized I’m a hopeless disaster in personal matters, which is just as well.
I’m a far better friend than romantic companion.
“That wasn’t thewatch your languagewarning I would’ve used,” she says to me.
“Your American prudishness aside, if you stigmatize the words, you give them more power. Far better to maintain powerover your words by understanding how to use them all.” I gesture to the teapot and cups on the tray between us. “Tea?”
“Is it caffeinated?”
“Of course.”
“Then no, thank you. I want to sleep tonight.”
“Ah. You’ve reachedthatage.”
She shoves my arm. “You will too when you get called back to London to put your parents in a home.”
“Oh, no. That will be the boys’ duty. They who inherit the kingdom must do the work.”
Her eyes go large as saucers, and when I crack another smile, she shoves my arm again. “Youare the asshole.”
