The question has been on my mind too. "And?"
"I need to find work. Childcare for Max. A more permanent living situation." She takes a deep breath. "I appreciate everything you've done, but I don't want to intrude on your life more than necessary."
"You're not intruding," I say quickly. "Stay as long as you need. Both of you."
"That's generous, but—"
"He's my son," I interrupt. "And whatever our... situation is, I want to be part of his life. That's easier if you're here, at least until you get established."
"Okay," she says finally. "But I still need to find work. I can't just live off your charity forever."
"We'll figure it out," I promise. "One day at a time."
Chapter 6 - Sidney
"One day at a time," Dean says, and I find myself nodding in agreement.
One day at a time has been my mantra since Max was born. Since my parents died and I was left alone to navigate the world. Don't think too far ahead. Don't panic about next month's rent when you need to focus on today's meals.
But I'm tired of living that way. Tired of the constant uncertainty, the perpetual crisis management. I want stability for Max, predictability. A life where dentist visits happen before teeth become infected.
"Tea like yesterday?" I offer, not ready to end our conversation. "Or something stronger?"
Dean hesitates, then nods. "Tea is good."
I move to the kitchen, filling the kettle and searching for mugs while Dean settles on the couch. When the tea is ready, I join him in the living room, careful to leave space between us as I sit. There's so much we don't know about each other. So much history crammed into the years since our single night together.
"Tell me about your family," Dean says suddenly, breaking the silence. "You mentioned your parents passed away?"
I nod, cupping my hands around the warm mug. "Four years ago. Car accident. They were coming back from a weekend trip when a drunk driver crossed the center line."
"I'm sorry," he says, and I can tell he means it.
"It was... hard," I admit. "I was nineteen, in my second year of nursing school. Had to drop out to deal with the funeral, the house, the insurance, all of it. By the time everything was settled, I couldn't afford to go back."
"No other family to help?"
I shake my head. "Only child. My mom's parents died when I was little. My dad's mom has dementia. She's in a care facility in Florida. His father left when he was young." I take a sip of tea. "What about you? You've never mentioned your family."
Something dark flashes across his face. "Not much to mention."
I wait, giving him space to continue or not. After a moment, he sighs.
"My parents were—are—lawyers in Pine Valley. Big house, country club membership, all that shit. They had expectations. Law school, joining the family practice, carrying on the Ford legacy."
This surprises me. I'd assumed he came from a rougher background based on his current lifestyle. "But you joined the military instead?"
"Yeah." He runs a hand through his hair. "Left the day after high school graduation. My father said if I didn't go to college, I wasn't welcome back." A bitter smile twists his mouth. "So, I didn't go back."
"Not ever?"
"Once. After my first deployment. Thought maybe time and distance had changed things." He shakes his head. "It hadn't. My father called me a disgrace to the family name. My mother cried and asked why I was determined to break her heart."
"That's terrible," I say, genuinely shocked. "You were serving your country."
"Didn't matter to them. The only acceptable path was following in their footsteps." He takes a drink of tea. "I stayed away after that. Then when I came back for good after... after my discharge,I was drinking a lot. Making trouble. They asked me to leave town because I was 'damaging their reputation.'"
"That's when I met you," I realize. "In that bar in Cedar Falls."
