“Would you like to come work for me as an intern after your birthday?”
“Are youkidding?” Ryan cried, jumping to his feet.
“I think your music would be a good fit for what we do. Talk to your parents though. If they think it’s a good thing, I can have our attorney send over an agreement to review.”
They worked through the song several more times until the sound of a car pulling up to the house came from outside.
“Wow, we must have lost track of time. That’s my mom.” Ryan started backing toward the door but then came running up and gave Ezreal’s hand a shake. “Thank you so much.” He grabbed his music and dashed out the door.
* * *
Ezreal smiledas he watched the boy climb into the vehicle, talking away.
“His mom’s going to have a hard time bringing him down to earth,” Sara said.
“Maybe, but his parents have to agree it’s a good thing.” Ezreal glanced at where the two children were singing as they ran their fingers along the painted keyboard. Sara looked better but she still seemed preoccupied. He sensed that she wanted to talk to him about something. Was she finally going to open up to him? Ezreal said, “I’d like us to have some time alone. Can I take you to dinner?”
Sara hesitated, and he knew she meant to turn him down.
“Do you trust me?” he asked.
Her hesitation twisted his heart. What had she been through to make her so afraid? And what had happened to worry her?
“Yes,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
He pulled her into his arms, wishing he could voice how much those words meant to him. She wrapped her arms around his waist, and they held each other without speaking.
“No. That’s my part.” Janna’s shout was followed by a smack, and Brand started to cry.
“Corner,” Sara said, her voice stern.
“But, mama—”
“Now, young lady. And Brand, you go to the other corner.” When he started to argue, Sara moved fast, sweeping him into her arms and depositing him in one of the corners. He collapsed to the floor with a shriek, and she said, “I won’t start the timer until you stop crying.”
Janna watched, wearing a smirk. Then she looked at Ezreal. He tilted his head, raising his brows and pointing to another corner. The little girl heaved out a breath but turned around. He glanced at his phone to check the time, though he had no idea how long Sara would have them in time out.
Brand finally stopped his temper tantrum. His mother checked her phone and said, “Three minutes.”
“Janna’s been in the corner almost two,” Ezreal said, coming to stand by Sara. “How long for her?”
“I do one minute per year. They don’t have the attention span for longer than that.”
“Makes sense.”
Sara shifted, like she was nervous. He sensed that she wanted to say something. Was it because she didn’t trust him yet? He knew that he wasn’t always very good at saying the right thing. Maybe he was a rotten boyfriend.
“Please trust me with this burden.” Ezreal cupped her cheek. “I’d like to help you carry it, but I can’t unless you share it with me.” He slid his hand down and took her hand.
“It’s a part of my life I’d rather not remember.”
“But it seems to keep coming back.”
She heaved out a breath very reminiscent of her daughter’s only a few minutes before.
“It’s like a monster in the closet,” Sara said. “When it’s light outside, I can almost forget he’s there.”
He. It was definitely the ex-husband.
