“I was born like this. Amniotic band syndrome.”
Charlie’s eyes are huge, like saucers now. “Woah. Same as me! That’s so freaking cool. Not that you’re missing your leg, but that it’s the same reason.”
“That is pretty cool.” Luca tilts his head to the side, letting his pants fall back down to cover his prosthesis. “You know, any time you want to talk about it, I’m here. I wish I had known someone else with ABS when I was younger.”
My heart cracks wide open. Not only did Luca just share his story voluntarily, but he respected Charlie’s space by letting him share his own. And then that offer. For a man who likes to keep things private, who doesn’t seek attention or accolades, despite doing incredible things, to offer that kind of support to my son?
It just makes me fall for him even more.
We wake up the next morning to a winter wonderland.
Sort of.
The thing with this part of Canada is, we’re never fully prepared for the first snowstorm. Bad ones,the kind that close schools and make driving dangerous, don’t happen that often on Vancouver Island, so when they do? It shuts down everything.
There’s an email waiting in my inbox when I check it at 7 am, informing all staff that the stadium offices are closed, and everyone can work from home. A second email confirms that Charlie has no school, so I mentally shift gears to a snow day for the two of us.
I let the preteen sleep, and with a fresh cup of tea in hand, settle into the armchair by the front window where I can look out at the snowy landscape while sorting out my day. Gus comes into the room and lets out a small meow of discontent. Of course, this is the chair he likes to sit in all day as if it’s his personal throne.
“Sorry, it’s my chair today,” I whisper, and he turns his back to me and stalks off, I assume returning to Charlie’s room.
I manage to get an entire hour of work done before Charlie comes stumbling in, bleary eyed.
“Hey Mom. It snowed last night.”
I laugh quietly. “Sure did. School’s canceled and I’m not going into the office.”
His face lights up. “Sweet. I’m gonna go get some breakfast.”
He shuffles off to the kitchen, running his hand through his hair, making it stand straight up. Gus trots behind him, weaving in between his legs, and Charlie leans down and scoops him up, draping the damn cat over one shoulder.
“Feed Gus,” I call out, earning a “’kay” in reply.
Turning back to my computer, I reply to a couplemore emails from my team to make sure everyone knows what to try and tackle today.
I’ve just hit send when my phone vibrates with a new text message on the table next to me. Scooping it up, my heart skips a beat to see Luca’s name.
LUCA: Morning wonder woman. Are you and Charlie okay with the snow? Need me to come bring supplies, or shovel the driveway?
ISLA: You’re sweet to offer, but we’re fine I promise.
Charlie walks back into the living room and I drop my phone face down on my lap.
“Can I play some video games for a bit? Then maybe go outside with Miles? He says there’s a good hill for sledding close by.”
“Sure, brush your teeth and make your bed before you start, okay?”
He flashes me a thumbs-up before moving much quicker now to his bedroom. Once he’s gone, I pick up my phone again and see another message from Luca.
LUCA: So there’s not an innocent reason for me to stop by and see you. Damnit.
ISLA: LOL. Only if you’re doing the same for all your other employees…
LUCA: Definitely not. Special treatment is for beautiful marketing consultants only.
LUCA: Still wish I could see you. We haven’t had any time together. I miss you.
LUCA: And now that I sound like a needy idiot, I’ll see myself out.
