"That's the plan."
"Good." Ethan rolls onto his stomach and props his chin on his fists. "I like having you next door. You're better at fixing stuff than Mom and you push way higher on the swings."
"Those are my two best qualities," Caleb says, nodding very seriously. "Plus, I'm great at cooking on the grill. Don't forget that."
"And you're funny even though you don't try to be funny." Ethan chuckles. "And you make Mom smile different."
"Differently," I correct, but it makes my heart swell. I feel tears pricking my eyes that my own son recognizes how Caleb makes me feel happy. I look at Ethan and feel my throat tighten. "Smile differently how?"
"I don't know. Just different. Bigger, maybe." He shrugs and goes back to his fries. "I want you to be around more, Caleb. Not just next door. Like… come over every day."
I see Caleb's eyes are a bit misty too. For a man who spent years being shipped here and there, never having the ability to put down roots, something like that probably makes his heart feel so full.
"I want to be around more too, kid," he says quietly. "A lot more."
Ethan nods, satisfied with that answer, and jumps up and runs toward the trashcan with his empty paper bag. I watch him go and then turn to Caleb, who sits looking at his hands.
"You really mean that?" I ask, scooting closer to him.
"I mean it, Olivia. I don't want you to date another person ever again. I want to be it for you, because you're it for me." He laces his fingers through mine and pauses, staring at where we're joined.
"What are you saying?" I say cautiously. I'm not sure I'm quite ready for a huge step, but when he opens his mouth to speak, my heart instantly agrees with him.
"Oh, I think maybe we just commit to being exclusive for a while, see where it takes us." His eyes sweep up and meet mine, and I melt.
"So, we're going steady?" I chuckle, mocking how old he sounds by sayingexclusive.
"Something like that…" He grins and leans forward, pecking me on the lips before leaning back.
"Under one condition," I tell him, cocking my head.
"What's that?" he asks.
"Keep smiling like that at me every day."
If smiles could light up the world, Caleb's just lit up mine. I'm in love, and I never want to feel as alone and broken as I have for the past several years. This man makes my heart sing, and I want to keep it that way forever.
EPILOGUE
CALEB
Ethan tugs on my arm and points at the cotton candy cart near the entrance. "Caleb, can I get the blue one?" I promised Olivia I'd bring him to this festival, though it's not really my thing. But he's excited, and with her running Helen's boutique booth, I want to do my part. Besides, today is the day I picked to surprise her.
"After your mom's booth slows down."
"But it's right there." He's a little whiney today, but I’m learning to understand his moods.
"And it'll still be right there in an hour." I steer him through the crowd toward the vendor tents lining the main drag of downtown Troy. The festival packs the streets with families and food carts and kids darting between booths. And somewhere in the middle of it, Olivia runs the show. Helen pulled strings to get the boutique a prime spot near the stage, and Olivia's been set up since nine this morning.
We find her tent about halfway down the row. She stands behind the register talking to a customer gesturing with her hands. Herface is lit up, and three other women browse the racks behind her. Helen promoted her to manager last month, and watching her work today makes it obvious why. She handles the crowd and the inventory and three conversations at once without dropping a beat. God, she's incredible.
Ethan ducks under the tent flap and wraps himself around her waist while she's still talking, and she continues for a second before the customer pauses. "Mom, they have blue cotton candy."
"I heard." She kisses the top of his head and rings up a candle for the woman in front of her. "Give me an hour and we'll go get some together."
"Caleb said after the booth slows down."
"Caleb's right." She looks up at me over Ethan's head and smiles. At times, I feel like a real parent, but only because Olivia acknowledges that I'm really trying to be a good influence. I hope that one day, Ethan sees it too.
