“Daddy, do you think we should get a puppy to keep Hamish, Maud, and Dolly company?”
The aforementioned dogs are all sitting by the front door, not giving off the slightest impression they want more company.
“They look fine to me, Maxy. C’mon,car?—”
“They told me this morning they would like another puppy.”
“Did they now?” I reply, scooping Max up because otherwise we’ll be here all day.
Tossing his bags in the boot, I strap him in and slip into the driver’s seat. I nearly weep when I see Birgitta’s left me coffee in the cup holder.
“Okay, ready?”
“Ready, Daddy.”
“Music?” I peer at him through the rearview mirror, expecting a thumbs-up, but he shakes his head instead.
“Actually, not right now.”
We slip out of the driveway and along the winding road heading out of Burlington, past the fields withThunder and Sunday. Max is uncharacteristically quiet, and I’m about to ask him if everything’s okay.
“Daddy?”
“Yes, bud?”
“How do you pick a valentine?”
I’d forgotten about our middle-of-the-night conversation. I’d ask him where it’s coming from, but I know they started rehearsals for the Valentine concert, so they’re obviously talking about it in school. From the sounds of it, they’re talking a lot.
“Um, well, you think about someone you really like and go from there.”
“What if I really like two people? Or three?”
“Three?” My eyes flick up to the rearview mirror again. Perhaps Max is taking after Miles more than I realized.
“I don’t want anyone to be left out.” He shrugs, breaking my heart in the process.
“That’s very kind of you. If that’s the case, you can have as many valentines as you like.”
“Should I keep it a secret like you did?”
Reaching the Burlington gates, a large tractor approaches, and I wait to let it pass before pulling out. I also use it as an opportunity to distract Max because I don’t want to get into a conversation about secret valentines. I don’t even want to think about them.
“Look, Maxy. Say hi to Frank.”
Max lowers the back window and waves frantically at the tractor driver. “HI, FRANK.” He acknowledges Max with a salute.
There’s another thirty seconds ofsilence.
“Daddy, why did you keep your valentine a secret?”
I should have stayed in bed. “Because . . . I wasn’t sure I wanted anyone to know.”
“Did Uncle Miles know?”
“I think Uncle Miles guessed.”
“Can I guess?”
