Something Amber’s son will surely go through, I suddenly realize, my heart hurting for the little boy. Although she said he has a solid support system, uncles, grandparents. That ought to help. And if he meets and likes me, I could be there for him, too. A more local, present male influence. Once again, I am shocked that I, who never thought I had the time for anything more than my work and my future goals, am thinking about Amber and her son as more than just a summer fling.
“Shane. Are you listening? I said I know, and I’m sorry,” Zachary says.
“But you still have your opinions. And those don’t jibe with the way I live my life. What you said about Amber is just one example. You don’t even know her, and you found her lacking and assumed she’d be using me.”
My father nods. “You’re right. But you don’t expect a zebra to change its stripes overnight, do you?” He tries to make a joke of it, but I’m not laughing.
Frowning, I shake my head. “No. But I can’t say it’s going to be easy to have a relationship after all these years.”
“I’m just asking if we can try.”
I’m not about to argue or upset the man who just had a heart attack. As much as I resent my father, a small part of me, the little boy who missed a father at his ball games and graduations, wants more than one birthday phone call a year with him.
“We can try,” I agree.
Just then, a knock sounds on the door, and Margo walks into the room. “Okay if I stay?”
“Sure, honey. Come in,” Zachary says.
Margo walks over to the bed and sits on the edge. “Did you two have a good talk?”
I nod. “We did.”
“I spent some time with Amber. She’s a sweetheart,” Margo says.
With a grin, I can’t help but agree. One thing my father is right about: I can’t help my reaction at the mention of Amber. She has me wanting things I hadn’t imagined in my future before I bumped into her on campus.
Now all I have to do is get through the end of the summer semester, and we are free to explore what can really be between us.
***
Amber
I sense Shane’sneed to think on the ride home from the hospital, and I allow him the silence he needs. If he wants to talk, I amhere to listen. He surprises me when he pulls off at an unfamiliar exit.
“Where are we going?” I ask him.
“I think we need a nice late lunch, don’t you?”
My stomach rumbles at his suggestion. “Yes, as you can hear.” I pat my belly and laugh.
“I know of a place off this exit. A colleague mentioned it at a faculty meeting. We’re here. We might as well give it a try.”
I nod in agreement. “Sounds good to me. What kind of food?”
“American. Burgers, chicken, that sort of thing. I think they also have an outdoor terrace where we can eat if you don’t think it’s too hot.”
“I’d love to sit outside.”
“Good.” He doesn’t speak again as he drives to the restaurant.
I glance at his still-serious profile. He is clearly uptight about whatever happened with his dad. I have to admit the man wasn’t friendly to me, but I chalked it up to illness. Margo was sweet, and I enjoyed the few minutes I spent with her, although I understand why Shane has his issues with his father’s wife. My parents have a happy marriage, and I can’t imagine what he lived through as a child.
After a short drive off the exit, he pulls into the lot. A large framed building with a wraparound porch sits behind it. Shane helps me out of the car and leads the way up three steps to the hostess stand.
On our request, we are seated outside in a private corner where no one is around us. We each order a glass of iced tea and study the menu and place our orders, a Niçoise salad for me, a grilled chicken sandwich for Shane.
Finally, I can’t take the silence any longer. “Are you okay?”
