“I don’t know. I’m sorry.” Angela retied her ponytail. “I hate to ask when he’s in this kind of mood, but can you take him for the day? I’ve got some things to take care of.”
“You do?” Noah had figured, now that Jake was on his feet again, it was back to the Death March of Fun.
“Nonno recommended an immigration lawyer for me to talk to, andshe had an opening today, and I just thought… well. Better to take the chance while I have it.”
An immigration lawyer.
Noah’s mouth went dry. Suddenly Angela’s move felt a million times more real.
“Oh. Okay.” Noah swallowed. This was happening way too fast. “I’ll find something for us to do.”
Assuming Jake would actually go with him.
He stepped back into his room to find Jake still sitting on the bed, looking all glum, his hand under his chin likeThe Thinker.
“You want some medicine, buddy?”
Jake shook his head.
“You sure?”
“I’m sure.”
“Okay.”
Noah sat next to Jake, chanced a hand on Jake’s shoulder. At least he didn’t pull away.
“What’s going on, buddy? What did I do?”
“Nothing.” But Jake sniffed. Wiped at the corner of his eye.
Noah’s heart threatened to snap in two. He never wanted Jake to hide his tears. He’d told Jake time and time again it was okay for boys to cry, for them to cry in front ofeach other. So why was Jake hiding them now?
He couldn’t hold them for long, though. Noah pulled Jake in closer as he cried.
“I don’t want Mom to move.”
Noah winced.
“Me neither, buddy.” He wished he knew what to say. Wished he could make everything better. Wished he knew how to keep their lives from changing. But he couldn’t.
All he could do was hold his son and let him cry.
Once Jake had cried himself out, Noah convinced him to take some of the medicine for diarrhea.
“Want to go out somewhere? We can do whatever you want,” he said.
Jake gave him a sly look. “Can we go to the Lego Store?”
“We can go, but we’re not buying anything. All right?”
“Yes, yes, yes!” Jake ran for the door to grab his shoes. Noah sighed.
What was he going to do with his son?
At least it sounded like he wasn’t sold on this whole Italy thing. A spark of hope flared in Noah’s chest. Maybe Jake would want to stay with him. Maybe…
Noah’s phone buzzed.
