“They already ate and took their baths. As you can see, they’re in their pjs.”
“See, you did all the hard stuff.”
She sighs. “There’s a snack in the fridge. Just applesauce. And then they have to brush their teeth. And we read a story. I sing them a song. You know what? I can just go for an hour.”
“Go as long as you want. I can read and sing.” I smile at her. “You might not have known that about me.”
She laughs lightly. “A man of many talents.”
Angie crouches down. “Boys?”
“Yeah?” They say in unison, practically screeching to a stop in front of Angie. “Mr. EJ wants to share his new LEGO set with you and then you can eat applesauce with him and show him how you brush teeth. Then he’s going to read you stories and sing you a song.” She looks from one boy to the other. “Sound good?”
“What kind are the LEGOs?” Levi asks.
“Did you bring other toys?” Jack asks.
“I’ll be back right after you fall asleep, okay?” Angie asks.
“Okay, Mommy,” Levi says.
“I want to sing the spider song,” Jack says. “Do you know the spider song?” He looks up at me with wide, expectant eyes.
“Is it the one with the hand motions?” I ask, singing a bar and moving my fingers so they touch like a spider climbing a wall. “The itsy bitsy spider went up …”
I haven’t even finished the line before both boys join in, making the movements with their hands and singing along.
“I know it,” I confirm.
“That’s the one I sing in bed,” Jack tells me.
“Okay. Got it.” I look down at Angie, she’s still squatting at eye level with the boys.
“Okay,” she says, standing. “You three have fun.”
“Boys’ night!” Levi says out of the blue.
“Yeah! Boys’ night!” Jack says.
I wish I had a camera to capture the look on Angie’s face. But I don’t need a photo. I’ll never forget the way apprehension melts away and the sweetness of her trust in me takes its place.
“Call if you start to worry,” I tell her.
“And you call if things get … over your head.”
“We’ve got this,” I say. “Right boys?”
“Yeah! Boys’ night!” Levi says.
“Yeah! We got this!” Jack adds.
They give Angie hugs and then she shuts the door. As soon as the sound of the lock snicking shut carries through the room, the two of them turn toward me, talking excitedly over one another about LEGOs and stories and toys.
I sit on the floor, unzip my duffel and let them tear into the contents.
I brought a LEGO city fire and rescue set. The boys grow still and focused when we get busy building. Levi opens the directions and the three of us confer on which pieces to assemble. A half-hour later, we’ve finished building and the boys are rolling the fire truck and police car around the room, making vrroooming and beeping noises with a few siren wails in the mix.
“Okay,” I say. “Let’s get our snack and then you can show me what your toothbrushes look like.”
