Logan had a hard time believing kids liked classical music, but if Erin only had the radio, with no way to filter the type of music that came on the station, it made sense that she would pick something safe without lyrics. He turned the knob for the volume and classical music came through the speakers. That was easy.
He looked at Parker through the rearview mirror. He bobbed his head to the music as he looked out the window. Even Samantha looked happy as they drove down the street toward the pizza place.
Logan sat up straight in his seat. He had successfully buckled Parker and put appropriate music on. Everything was going great. They picked up the pizza without issue, Logan re-buckled Parker—faster this time—and drove home with all the confidence of a man who felt like he had a handle on things.
Until a small object came flying at him while he was at a red light. He picked it up in one hand. “What is this?”
“It’s a ball,” Samantha said.
Logan shook his head. He guessed that’s what hegot for not phrasing the question better. “Obviously it’s a ball.” He chuckled. “I’m wondering why you threw it up here.”
“Parker threw it up there,” Samantha said, once again reminding Logan that he needed to choose his words carefully when talking to such young children.
He caught Parker’s guilty gaze in the rearview mirror. “I’m not mad,” Logan said, hoping not to upset him anymore after what had just happened with the cake. “But throwing balls in the car or in the house isn’t usually a great idea. You could break a window.”
“Have you ever broke a window?” Parker asked.
The light changed to green, and Logan started driving. He’d broken his share of things, but he wasn’t sure how much he should admit to Parker and Samantha. “Uh, yeah. Actually, I broke your mama’s car window once.”
“No, he didn’t,” Samantha said to Parker. “The windows don’t even have a crack.”
“No, not now,” Logan said, as he pulled into Aunt Betty’s driveway. “When we were in high school.”
“You knew her in high school?” Samantha asked.
Logan turned onto Main. “Yep. I’ve known her since before you were born.”
Parker tilted his head. “Then how come we haven’t seen you before now?”
Logan sighed.Because I was a terrible friend.“Because I lived in a city called Chicago.”
“Is that far away?” Parker asked.
Logan nodded. “Yes, it’s very far away.” The city had felt too close and too far at the same time.
“That’s okay, because now you’re back,” Parker said.
Logan felt a pang of guilt. While he’d never lied to Erin and the kids about how long he planned to be in town, he hadn’t been open about it either. Logan had been selfish in letting himself get close to the children. There was no denying that they’d grown attached to one another in his time here, and Logan was going to hurt them when he left. The thought of hurting Parker and Samantha was crushing, but there was nothing he could do. He couldn’t not go to Florida because he’d made the mistake of getting close to Erin’s children. He just hoped when the time came for him to leave, that they would know it wasn’t their fault.
Soon, Logan and the children were sitting on Aunt Betty’s front porch eating pizza off paper plates. Erin had opted to stay inside to clean up the cake that was still all over the kitchen. Logan had debated helping, or tagging out, but one look at her face told him that she still needed some time alone to process everything that had happened. So Logan stayed outside with Samantha and Parker. He was reaching for a second slice of pepperoni when the headlights of Aunt Betty’s Eldorado shone in his eyes.
“Well, well,” she said, walking up the steps to where he and the children sat around the grease-stained cardboard boxes. “I must say this is a surprise.” Her eyes narrowed. “Where’s Erin?”
Logan opened his mouth to answer, but Samantha beat him to it. “The cake fell,” she said, looking down at her plate.
Aunt Betty looked at them to the door, and back again, her gaze landed on Logan. “And by fell?”
Logan stood up and wiped the dirt from his jeans. He let out a long sigh. “The cake is currently on the floor of the kitchen. It’s unsalvageable.”
Aunt Betty’s hand flew to her chest. “But, the wedding.”
“I know.” Logan nodded. He waved his hand at their make-shift picnic on the porch. “I didn’t know what to do, so ... ” His voice cracked. He was surprised by how helpless he felt in all of this. How much he wanted to help.
“Oh, Logan.” Aunt Betty pulled him for a hug. “You did good. Taking care of the kids was the right thing to do.”
He wasn’t so sure. He still felt horrible leaving Erin alone inside to clean up the mess while he ate dinner with her kids. He ran his hand over his face.
“I’ll stay out here with them if you want to go check on her?” Aunt Betty tipped her head toward the house.
