“Thank you, baby.” I laugh softly, ruffling his hair and then drawing him in and placing a kiss to the top of his head. “Eat up.”
“Care to show me your talents?” Elijah’s smirk turns playful.
“I would, but these two need to be dressed, and then we have tickets to the cinema, don’t we, kiddos?”
“Yay!” Nick and Sam yell in unison. “Movies!”
“Do you want to come?” Putting Elijah on the spot isn’t my plan but the thought of his coming with us is rather nice. I keep the question light so he can easily refuse, but to my delight, his smile softens as he turns back to the counter and the messy bowls.
“If you don’t mind having me.”
“Honestly, it would be a help since I have to wrangle these two.”
“I don’t need wrangling, Mommy,” Nick declares as he finishes his pancake. “I’m good!”
“Sure you are.” I chuckle softly. “Sure you are.”
After a sweet breakfast, it turns into a circus trying to get both boys washed and dressed against the cold. Wrestling Nick into his rain boots to protect against all the slushy snow outside takes more energy than I have. Thankfully, Elijah swiftly helps Sam who is much more willing to get into his boots. I drag a brush through my hair and then spend two minutes in the upstairs hallway texting Stacey. She asks how yesterday went and I reply with a string of fire and heart emojis. She demands all thedetails. After telling her I’ll call her later, we pile into the car and head to the cinema.
Outings with two boys usually go a lot less smoother than today. I can’t tell if they’re both just on their best behavior or if Elijah’s presence is keeping them that way, but the trip to the cinema is delightful. We arrive in time for the trailers, and after ordering more popcorn than I can carry, we settle into the cinema for an animated double feature. Even the trips to the bathroom are relatively issue-free, with each boy being desperate to return to the movie.
In the darkness of the theater, I sneak glances at Elijah over the top of Nick and Sam’s heads as they sit between us, and each time, I find Elijah sneaking a glance at me too. It leads to many soft smiles, lingering looks, and warm aches down in my core.
After the movie, we have a late lunch of pasta and chicken strips at a local restaurant and then we all pile into the car and head home.
“There’s something I should tell you,” Elijah says as I drive around the corridor and pull into my street.
“Sounds serious,” I say with a light smile and a questioning look, given how Sam and Nick are strapped in at the back.
“It’s nothing too serious and you’re allowed to say no.”
My heart starts to pound and countless thoughts explode through my mind about all the possible things he could say to me. They vary from declarations of love to heartbreaking revelations, but before I can filter through them enough to reply, I’m distracted.
A white van is parked in front of the house with several men and women milling about on the sidewalk and the path leading up to the front door.
“Oh my God, what is happening?” My stomach tightens as my thoughts turn to my mother and some other disaster she’s concocted.
“That’s what I want to talk to you about,” says Elijah as I park the car.
“This?” I point to all the people who have now turned to face us.
“Yes.”
“What is this?”
“Should we get the kids inside first?”
His suggestion is a touch irritating, as if he’s trying to avoid something, but Nick and Sam and immediately growing cranky and tired after a long day and a longer drive. Knowing they’re home seemingly permits them to start twisting in their seats and whining.
“Okay.”
Unbuckling Nick and Sam, I help them out of the car and usher the two tired boys up the path and into the house. I take them straight to Nick’s room after removing their boots and coats, get them water from the kitchen, and then return to Elijah in the hallway.
“Explain,” I demand, slightly harsher than I intend.
“This, or rather all of these, are for you.” He nods out the front door to the milling people.
“I don’t understand.”
