His forehead wrinkled. For once I’d flummoxed him. “Why would shoes do that?”
“They’re an unusual choice for a boy your age.”
I could practically see his mind working through why. Finally, he nodded. “Right. I see. Is it okay that I don’t care?”
Heck yeah! “Yep, it sure is. Never stop being you, Robbie.”
“As a compromise in order to fit into a society that discourages elegant shoes, I’ll only wear them to my STEM school and not around town. That should keep the bullies at bay.”
“Good plan,” I said, hiding a smile behind my hand.
“Why is that amusing to you?” Robbie asked.
“Because I love you exactly how you are.”
“But why is that funny?”
“Not really funny. More heartwarming. As in, you make my heart smile.”
Robbie shook his head. “Grady, you’re a sentimental fool in love. But I’m glad you love me. I love you too.”
This time, I had to turn away to hide my misty eyes.
At five that evening,I stopped my car in front of Esme’s shop. I was about to ask Robbie to go in to fetch her, but she looked upand waved, smiling at the sight of us. That smile that made my chest ache and my stomach flutter all at the same time. It was a heady experience, being loved by a sunflower.
I kept the car running while she grabbed her bag, turned off the lights and put Trevor on his leash. She locked the door, then she and Trevor made their way to us.
Robbie opened his door and Trevor climbed in, sitting politely between the kids as if he thought himself human.
“Hey, guys,” Esme said, sliding into the passenger seat. “Were you waiting long?”
“Not at all. Just got here,” I said.
“And what have you rascals been up to all day?” Esme asked, shifting her gaze toward the backseat.
“We got new shoes.” Madison thrust both feet between the front seats. She was wearing the purple sneakers with silver stars. The rain boots with dogs were in a bag at her feet, along with a pair of pink, sequined dress shoes. “Grady said it was okay that I got three pairs.”
“Three?” Esme raised her eyebrows, glancing my direction. “I just got you new shoes.”
“I know, but Grady promised them to me before you got the other pair, and he doesn’t break promises,” Madison said, sounding perfectly reasonable. “And there’s more room in the budget now.”
“Pat had a sale going on,” I said. “Great bargains.”
Madison bounced on the seat, clearly excited to tell her mother about our finds. “I got rain boots with dogs on them and sparkly pink shoes. I can’t wait to wear them to school.”
“What about you?” Esme asked Robbie.
“Although they’re not real Italian leather like I will have someday, I found a perfectly reasonable substitute.” Robbie lifted his leg to show her the loafers.
“Huh. Okay. Well, they’re … sophisticated,” Esme said.
“Grady was worried I’d get picked on for wearing them, but we came up with a solution.”
“Which is?” Esme asked.
“Which is I will wear them only to my STEM school and out to nice places. Other times, I’ll wear my black sneakers.”
“Good plan,” Esme said, turning back to the front. “I’m starving. Are we going to dinner now or do we have more shoes to shop for?”
