It should be awkward but everything about Christina exudes a warmth that puts me at ease, as if we’ve known each other forever. I guess this shouldn’t be a surprise, Ellis had to get it from somewhere. “I’m flattered,” I say. “I have nothing but good things to say about your son as well.” And then I do catch his eye—he’s across thecourtyard where we’re gathered, in conversation with some coworkers. He freezes when he sees us talking. “He’s helped me a lot.”
Christina seems to catch something between us, her bright eyes taking on a curiosity, so I quickly say, “You should be so proud of the work he’s done on this park. It’s beautiful.”
“Oh, I am. This entire firm—they do such great work,” she says. “We were over the moon when he got the job. Speaking of ‘we’ ”—she motions to the man who was with her earlier—“this is Ellis’s dad, Greg.”
Greg gives me a firm handshake and a warm smile as well. “Hi, there. You must be Cassia?”
I can’t even pretend that I’m surprised by him knowing who I am. “Hi, yes, nice to meet you, Greg. We were just talking about how proud you must be of Ellis.”
“Oh yeah, but we can’t show it or he’ll turn into a pile of mortified dust,” says Greg. “That hasn’t changed since he was a teenager.”
“Never could handle a compliment,” Christina says with an eye roll.
I feel a greediness rise in me to hear more about Ellis from his parents. To know what he was like when he was younger, how he is with the people who know him best. It bothers me, this greed, because I’ve never felt it with Daniel.
“Uh-oh, here he comes,” Greg says under his breath.
And he is coming over—big steps, a little bit of panic in his eyes while his expression stays relaxed.
“Hey,” I say, trying to reassure him with my smile, my so,sorelaxed posture.
“Hey,” he says back, his eyes bouncing between me and his parents. “Why have my parents cornered you?”
We laugh. “They’re just showing me naked toddler photos of you, calm down.”
“What?” His head whips to his mom but when he realizes I’m fucking with him, he relaxes. “Honestly, wouldn’t be surprised.”
“No, we were talking about what a great job you guys did here.” My voice is wrapped in cautious warmth, putting a barrier between us. “It’s so perfect.”
A blush creeps up his neck and he ducks his head. “Thanks, it’s a great team.”
Christina and Greg shoot me looks as if to say,See?
“What did you work on, specifically?” I ask, genuinely curious.
“Ah.” He looks around. “Well, the planting, but the trees are my favorite. So, the newly planted seedlings, but also working with the arborist to preserve the established mature trees that are native to this area.”
“You always loved trees,” his mom says warmly. “Since you were a baby.”
“Oh my god,” Ellis says under his breath. “I did not show a tree aptitude as aninfant, Mom.”
“You did!” she exclaims. “You were colicky and ruined my life but the only thing that calmed you down was stepping outside under the trees. You would look up at the leaves and instantly calm down.”
He’s beet-red now, and this entire interaction is so adorable that I have to look away. “Well, A-plus on the trees. Would hire you for sure.”
“You should prune that sycamore in your front yard,” he blurts out suddenly.
“What?”
“Ah. If you want, I mean. But the upper limbs are getting heavy and might pose a danger if we get heavy winds this year.” It’s said in a rush, as if he’s been holding this opinion for weeks. Which, he probably has.
“Oh, okay. Good to know,” I say. And suddenly itisawkward.The acknowledgment that he’s been to my house, the familiarity of it in front of his parents.
A small moving object runs into my legs at that moment and I shoot a thankful prayer to whoever just sent Ozzie to me.
“Auntie Cassie! I skipped a stone!”
“Oh wow, did you?” I rub her hair affectionately. “That’s a really difficult skill, my bud.”
