“For lunch?” I raise an eyebrow and take his little hand as he leads me to the kitchen. “When did he say that?”
“Before he left. You probably didn’t hear him since you were talking to Mommy.”
“Really?” I squint at him as I let go of his hand and open thefridge. “That’s funny since there are two containers here labeled for lunch.”
“That was Martha. She didn’t know ‘bout the ice cream either.”
I have to bite my lip to keep from laughing. Theo is very serious about his ice cream. And his lies, apparently. He sets up the step stool by the sink, and I rush to set the containers down and stand beside him, without making it obvious that I’m trying to help since he’s “a big boy who knows how to wash his own hands.” I wash mine at the same time and try to dry them before he hops off.
“Theo, what did we say about jumping off the stool?”
“That I shouldn’t do it,” he says with finality in his voice. “But Dad lets me.”
I turn my back to hide my eye-roll. I highly doubt his helicopter father lets him do anything of the sort. I’ve been babysitting Theo since he was one, and family or not, if there weren’t former Marines outside guarding the place, I wouldn’t be left alone with him. I can’t blame his parents for having security. They even stuck security on me for some time after what happened last year.
“Mommy says we might be here for Christmas,” Theo says. “Do you think Santa will know we’re here?”
“Of course.” I smile.
“But how will he know?”
“Because Santa knows everything.” I ruffle his hair. “And your parents will tell him.”
“But how will they tell him?” He stops twirling and glances up at me with a frown on his face. “Do you talk to Santa?”
“Nope. Only grown-ups can speak to Santa.”
He waits until he finishes chewing and asks, “Do you love basketball?”
“I do.”
“Why?”
“Because I do.”
“But why?”
I take a moment to think about it. What am I supposed to say?It’s what my dad and I bonded over, and as long as I’m dribbling abasketball, I can trick myself into believing he’ll show up to one of my games?Instead of saying all of that, I go with another truth.
“Love is inexplicable.”
“Inex … what?” His brows furrow.
“Inexplicable. It can’t be explained.” I point my fork at his Toy Story plate. “Keep eating. I don’t want to tell your mom you weren’t listening to me.”
“Iamlistening.” He shoves some spaghetti in his mouth, chews, swallows, takes a sip of his water, and looks at me again. “Were you sad when you couldn’t play last year because of your boo-boo?”
“Yes,” I say, offering him a small smile.
Theo had many questions about my boo-boo, and was very confused when I explained he couldn’t see it. He’s too young to understand the worst injuries are internal.
“Can we go watchCarsnow?” He pushes away his plate.
“Only because you did such a good job and finished your food.”
I take our plates and stand up, while he wipes his face and hands like his parents taught him. The movie has barely started when Theo snuggles into me and I realize he’s sleeping. I lay my head on his and keep my eyes on Radiator Springs.
10
