When we reach the edge of the park, a familiar frame catches my eye from the other side of the church parking lot. I must be imagining it, or manifestation actually works.
I focus in on the tall form and instantly recognize Henry walking into the cemetery tucked behind the gothic-style building.
Without thinking, my legs start pushing me in his direction. I reach the entrance of the cemetery and decide to hide behind some of the taller shrubs that tower beside the old church. I peek over to check on Mi and he seems content playing with one of the branches that poke out from the bushes beside us.
I take the opportunity to peek around the wall of greenery and spot Henry carefully navigating through the field of headstones. I keep watching him until he finally pulls out what looks to be his phone.
My mind starts reeling when I see him taking photos of some plots he stops in front of. I begin to realize how little I actually know about him other than the light cyber stalkingI’ve been doing this week. The online persona he built seemednormalenough.
Wren and I were able to easily find him on social media once we figured out what his last name was. His feed didn’t raise eyebrows, and most of his photos consisted of random places he had visited in the past few years. He’s traveled a lot, and I’ve barely left the county since I was in high school. It was just another glaring item on the list of ways we were different.
I watch Henry for a few more seconds and wait for my brain to be repulsed by the fact he’s taking random pictures in a cemetery in the middle of the day. Sadly, it never comes. I’m still completely enthralled by this man.
Soon, I decide that my spying is bordering on stalking and try to sneak away quietly. When I begin to push Milo’s stroller, I notice that it’s lighter, and then I realize my son has been uncharacteristically quiet for the past few minutes.
Before I look down, my heart starts thumping against my chest, and my belly feels rock hard. My head darts side to side, and Milo’s little body is nowhere to be seen. Just when I’m about to break down and cry, a flash of blond hair catches my eyes.
Sure enough, he has broken loose from his stroller and is heading straight toward the man I’ve been spying on.
“Shit,” I mumble before running after him. I pray that no one is watching the absurdity of what’s going down right now.
“Milo!” I yell, but it doesn’t deter him. I’m starting to rethink the leash that’s been sitting in my Amazon cart ever since he learned to walk. How can something so little be so fast?
Just as I’m about to catch up to my giggling son, who thinks this is a fun game of tag, two long legs appear out of nowhere and cut him off. Milo is about to wipe out when Henry reaches down and steadies him.
“Woah there, little guy.”
“Thank God,” I breathe heavily. I bend over and put my hands on my knees while taking in way too much oxygen at one time.
Once I catch my breath, I scoop Mi’s squirming body into my arms. “Thank you for stopping him. I had no clue he could unbuckle himself and escape like that.”
To be fair, the stroller was a hand-me-down from one of Colt’s cousins, and the strap that is supposed to keep the kid locked in has seen better days.
“Happy to help.” Henry smiles. “Are you two visiting someone?”
It dawns upon me that he’s asking if we’re visiting someone in the cemetery, and I thank God that I’ve been handed a great excuse to cover up my nosiness.
“Yeah, we’re visiting Milo’s great grandma,” I lie. Colt’s grandma is buried here somewhere, but I have no clue where.
“I’m sorry for your loss. Were you two close?” Henry asks like any polite person would.
I think for a moment, but then I decide Henry isn’t the type of guy I want to lie to. “No, I have to be honest. We’re actually not visiting anyone. I just didn’t want to seem weird. We were walking by, and I saw you, so I stopped, but then this little devil took off.”
“Okay, good.” He laughs. “I saw you two behind the bushes. They’re not as thick as they look.”
Henry ends his quip with a wink, and I have to remind my heart that this man isn’t someone I should be swooning over. “Oh God. That’s embarrassing.”
“Not as embarrassing as why I’m here.”
I raise my eyebrows in interest and adjust Milo on my hip. My little devil seems to be as entranced by our neighbor as I am because he finally quit squirming when Henry started talking. “Oh really? Care to explain.”
“Sure, but let’s get this little guy back in his stroller.”
I nod and follow him back to my abandoned stroller, casually sitting behind the not-so-auspicious bushes we were hiding behind. When I sit Milo back in his stroller, he pushes his lip forward and attempts to pout until I let him loose again.
“Nice try, buddy. Not happening,” I scold, reaching into my bag and taking out one of his toys to keep him entertained for the next few minutes.
“He’s pretty quick,” Henry points out, taking a seat on a nearby park bench. I push the angry toddler over to the bench and take a seat next to him.
