He raises a brow and grins like a fool. I can’t see his eyes behind his sunglasses, but I’m sure they’re dancing with humor, too. “Joker, eh? Yeah, it kind of fits. I still like Tiger better.”
When we reach the carousel, I pull Emily out of her stroller and carry her to her favorite animal, the lion. I put her on, hold her there, and hop on behind her. To my surprise, Calvin rides on a horse next to me. I honestly thought he’d sit this out. The other three boys are in front of us, all riding on their own horses, three rows up.
“You look adorable on a lion,” Calvin says. When he shoves his sunglasses over his head, he winks at me. He’salwaysdoing that, but I hate it less now.
“If Emily doesn’t ride her lion, there will be h-e-l-l to pay.”
The ride slowly starts spinning, and the animals move up and down. Calvin already looks bored. Not surprising. Honestly, I look forward to the days when the kids are older and can go on wilder rides like roller coasters. Maybe then Calvin will have more fun.
“How are things going?” I ask him.
His eyes instantly glance over at Braeden. “It’s going okay, I think. He’s still having nightmares. His moods are circular. One minute, I can get him to smile, and the next, he’s crying again. I feel like I’m not helping at all.”
“Can I be frank?”
“Fire away, Frank.”
“God, you and your jokes. They’re terrible, Cal.”
He smiles crookedly at me. “Yeah, I concede. That one was pretty bad. Seriously, I prefer frankness.”
“I just want to say that you being there for Braeden does help. You’re an avowed bachelor who’s never wanted children… I can see someone like that turning their back on a child like him. It wouldn’t be the first time. Heck, look at my ex. You’re going to be a steady rock in his life, and he’s going to need that.”
Calvin grows serious and nods, gripping the pole tighter. “I know. His father came from the foster care system. He told me stories. Besides, I couldn’t do that to my friends. I owe them that much.”
Honestly, before I got to know my neighbor, I never even imagined he had any real empathy at all, but perhaps that’s my fault for assuming. I didn’t know him well. I still don’t, but we now seem to be on some middle ground, and we’re slowly becoming friends.
“Anyway, the hearing is coming up soon.”
“You ready?”
“I think so. God, I hope so. I’ve been busy getting him settled and going through the legal loopholes. It’s put me a bit behind in work with a massive project I need to stay on top of. Juggling a career and Braeden hasn’t been easy.”
Another thing I never expected from Calvin is his ease in answering anything I ask. Malcolm used to drive me insane every time I asked him a serious question. It was either met with another question or an indirect response. Getting straight answers was like pulling teeth. Calvin has no such compunction.
I’m kind of liking these little surprises from my neighbor.
After the ride, we all climb off our animals and head toward the little roller coaster.
The line isn’t long, and as we wait, I try to put Emily back into her stroller, but she cries and fights me, pushing me and arching her back. I’m terrified I’m going to drop her. “No, Daddy! Wide! Wide!”
“I’m sorry, Peanut, but no roller coaster. You’re too small.”
Then the wailing begins.Here we go. It’s not only about the ride, but riding with her brothers.
Before I can bribe her with a treat, Calvin, to my shock, takes her from my arms, tosses her into the air, and catches her. He does it several more times, and while she’s suddenly in a fit of giggles. Meanwhile, I’m having a heart attack, imagining him not catching her and plummeting to her death.
“Again!” she yells as he puts her on his hip, much to my relief.
Calvin boops her nose. “Maybe later, raptor. Your dad’s looking a little green.”
I chuckle. “Am I that obvious?”
“You wear everything on your face, Tiger.”
The boys climb onto the ride while I’m debating whether to stay behind for Emily. As if reading my mind, Calvin says, “I’ve got her. Go with the kids.”
“You sure?”
