Page 3 of Falling for Her

My finger taps the steering wheel to the beat of the country song playing softly from the radio. Pulling into my neighborhood, I spot a couple of the retired men out mowing their lawns. Both look up when I drive by, raising a hand to say hello. It’s the same neighborhood I grew up in; most of the neighbors are the same people who were around back then, though a few have sold and moved on. I hold up my hand, returning the gesture before I turn into my driveway.

My sister and I inherited this house when our parents both passed away. We had our own houses by then, so we started renting it out. But last year, I bought it from her when I needed a place to live. The overhanging trees block out most of the sunlight during the day, which makes it bearable during the summer, especially on days like today. It’s the second week of July, and it’s already a scorching hot midmorning.

Theo’s truck is parked at the curb, and I look over to the second garage I built last year. Theo is waiting for me to do the second walk-through after recent renovations. I was planning on making it a storage area, even a toolshed, but I had to pivot when my ex-wife told me she was getting remarried. I’m hoping she’ll agree to figure out a new arrangement that will let me take our son, Asa, more often. For now, I know she is going to be spending a month in Europe for her honeymoon, leaving me to solo-parent. If I were able to have full custody of Asa, it would be a dream. Except Maggie is a good mom. A shit wife, but a good mom. Or maybe I was a shit husband, but nothing could make her cheating on me okay.

My work as a police officer doesn’t give me the most flexible schedule, and I don’t know what the arrangement with Maggie will be going forward, but I want to be prepared. So I hired Theo and his team to convert the spare garage into a modest apartment for a live-in nanny.

I’m about to pull open the garage door when the phone rings. It’s Maggie.

I step to the side of the house toward the backyard. Sunlight streams through the elm tree my father planted when he first bought the house, shading the cherub statues in the garden my mother bought when I was a kid. They’ve seen better days, but I keep them there to remember her by.

“Hello.”

“Burke,” she says my name as if I’m not the one who answered the phone. “Hey, how’s it going?”

“It’s going,” I reply, keeping it polite. “What’s up?”

“I was calling you so we could discuss the next couple of weeks. As you know, I’m getting married on Saturday.”

I look up to the sky and pinch my nose, irritated in a matter of seconds. “Congratulations,” I retort sarcastically.

She sighs yet her voice is full of cheer. “Thank you so much. I’m very excited.”

“Well, hopefully it works out for you this time.”

I try not to snort when she hisses. “I think we were both to blame for that, weren’t we?”

“Is that what you think?” I laugh. “Let’s just say we have a difference of opinion, since I wasn’t the one who stepped out on you. But I’m sure that’s not what you called me for.”

“It’s not.” I hear a car door slam on her end, and I hope this conversation is almost over. “I’m calling to discuss our son.”

“Asa,” I say. I hate when she doesn’t use his name. “What is there to discuss? I thought we already covered everything we needed to.”

“I’m going away for a month,” she snaps.

“I’m aware. I believe you saw the construction work that was going on in the garage when you dropped him off last week.”

“I did. But that doesn’t answer my question about childcare. Have you gotten any leads?” I close my eyes at her question. “It feels like time is running out, and the last time we spoke, you hadn’t found anyone.”

“I have an interview today.” I tell her of the woman I got references for from a friend of Harmony, whose son, Wyatt, is Asa’s best friend.

“That’s cutting it close, don’t you think? You’ve had over two months to get it done.” I can hear her tone shift. “Typical of you to wait until the very last minute.”

“Maggie, I know this is going to come as a shock to you, but us being divorced means I don’t have to listen to your bullshit anymore.”

“Us discussing our son isn’t bullshit, Burke,” she hisses out.

“You aren’t discussing Asa, you are discussing my parenting. I think it’s safe to say I’m not going to let anything happen to him. Go on your honeymoon and enjoy the time away.” I try not to reveal how nervous I actually am that I don’t already have a nanny in place. Even I know that time is ticking at this point, and all my leads have led nowhere.

“We need to discuss me calling in and speaking with him.”

“When he’s not with me, I’ll make sure he has his tablet so you can get in touch with him.”

“Thank you,” she says softly, “that means a lot to me.”

“If that’s all, I’ll see you when I pick him up the morning after the wedding.”

“Actually, do you think you can get him at the bakery in about an hour? I thought I would be back in town sooner, but my wedding makeup trial went longer than it should have.”