“Who’s that?” Isabella asked.
“That’s Cody, my boyfriend, Zach’s, nephew. We’re walking on the boardwalk to let him run off some energy and maybe get some ice cream.” Zach smiled and his cheeks went pink at the word boyfriend.
“Yay, ice cream!” Cody shouted.
“Oh,” she said sadly. “I didn’t know you had a boyfriend. I was heading to your apartment. I was going to bring Diego and Sofia over to visit you.”
“You still can,” I insisted. “Come join us on the boardwalk in Ocean Grove. We just left the apartment about five minutes ago.”
“Are you sure that’s all right?” she asked hesitantly.
“Of course,” I replied. “The kids will have fun. Cody is almost four, so he and Diego should get along just fine. We’ll meet you at the pavilion.”
“Okay. I just turned onto Main Avenue. I’ll find a place to park near the boardwalk and meet you there.”
After I ended the call, I looked at Zach. “I hope that’s okay.”
“Of course,” he said. “It would be pretty hypocritical of me to complain, don’t you think?”
“Yeah, you’re right.”
We made it to the large pavilion on the boardwalk just as Isabella was crossing the street with Diego and Sofia in tow. My heart squeezed. I was so happy to see my niece and nephew. I’d really missed them. As soon as Diego saw me, he screeched, “Uncle Miguel!”
I knelt and held my arms open wide. He ran up, threw himself at me, and immediately burst into tears. I wrapped my arms around him and held him tight. “I’ve got you, baby boy.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Zach put Cody down. The little boy looked distressed as he closely watched Diego and me. When Diego finally calmed down, Isabella handed me some tissues, and I helped him wipe his eyes and blow his nose.
Cody came over to him and gently patted his back. “It’s okay to cry if you’re sad.”
Now I was going to cry.
Sofia held her arms out to me for her hug, and I stood, took her from her mother’s arms, and held her tight. “How’s my girl?” She didn’t answer. She just laid her head on my chest and put her thumb in her mouth.
I looked at Isabella in confusion because Sofia was usually a chatty, happy little girl. My sister shook her head. “She’s been like that since Carlos hit me and Diego. She was so scared that she ran away and hid in Mama’s closet. Now, she hardly talks at all.”
My eyes stung with tears. My poor babies. I wanted to choke the life out of Carlos. I cleared my throat. “How about we wander into Asbury Park and get everyone some ice cream.”
“Sounds good to me,” Zach said.
I rolled my eyes at myself. “I’m so sorry. Isabella, this is Zach. My boyfriend.” Zach’s pleased smile made me giddy.
She smiled at him and held out her hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Zach.”
“It’s good to finally meet you,” Zach replied. “Miguel talks about you and the kids all the time.”
“I’m sure,” she muttered.
I sighed. “Come on, Bella. Let’s get some ice cream.”
Isabella took me up on my offer to carry Sofia. Zach offered Cody a ride on his shoulders again, but he shook his head and pointed at Diego. “I want to walk with him so he’s not sad.”
Oh, my heart. Little kids were the best. “That’s very nice of you, Cody,” I said. “His name is Diego.”
“Diego,” Cody said, carefully sounding out the name. “Hi, I’m Cody. Wanna hold hands so we don’t get lost?”
“Okay,” Diego replied.
The three adults stared at each other and dutifully followed the two little boys. The walk was slow because of tiny legs and little boys who wanted to pet every dog they saw on the boardwalk. Sofia snuggled comfortably in my arms and watched her brother and his new friend. Every once in a while, she’d look over at Zach, who would smile and give her a little wave.
