Floyd tugs at us and yelps. I reluctantly let go. “I’m sorry… I just had to do that.”
He smiles, his beautiful eyes wet. “I’m glad you did. I needed that.”
We set out walking again. Floyd shoots us both a look, as if to say, “We’re walking here people, get with the program.”
“I’ll tell you about my mom one day,” I promise. As I utter the words, my heart sinks. ‘One day’ will have to be soon since we don’t have many days left.
“I’d like that,” he says.
After a beat, he turns to me, and in the light of mid-afternoon, he’s so perfect. I thought he was stunning when I first saw him, but every day spent with him makes him more beautiful to me. What’s inside is just as amazing as what’s outside. So great in fact, I can hardly stand it. “Tell me about your kids,” he says.
I think about Emma and Theo. I check my watch, and know they are still in school this very minute. Soon, John will pick them up from school. That’s usually my job, and I miss it. It’s my favorite part of the day. “They’re amazing. Sweet as pie.”
He smiles. “Well, no wonder,” he says. “Just look at who they take after.”
I laugh. “Oh, you flatter me too much.”
“They’re great because they have a great mom,” he says. “I mean that.”
“Well, it’s true,” I agree. “I mean, just look at you. You obviously had a great mom, and I think you’re the sweetest human being I’ve ever met.”
He blushes.
“But I can’t take full credit,” I tell him. “John might not be faithful, and a bit of a workaholic, but he’s a great dad. I can’t fault him on that.”
Eli’s face falls, and I know I shouldn’t have mentioned John. “I just...” I stammer. “I just… when I met John, I knew he’d be a good dad, and a good provider, and it was what I was looking for. I didn’t want my kids to have a deadbeat dad, and didn’t want them to want for anything. I wanted them to have decent lunches; fruit, cheese, real milk, and not have to suffer through the winters with worn boots, like I did. My mother was wonderful, but we struggled so much.”
Eli seems shocked by my words. It’s hard to believe, looking at me, with my designer clothing, giant rock on my finger, and a watch that costs more than a small car. It’s hard to believe I was ever hungry. I probably had it worse than he did. A school scholarship and a man saved me. A man I’ll be going back to in four or five days.
“I’m so sorry,” he says. “I had no idea.”
We’re silent for a beat, but before long, Eli says, “Tell me about them… your kids.”
I tell him all about them. I tell him about Theo’s piano lessons, and current obsession with Legos, and how he absolutely refuses to eat anything green. I tell him about Emma’s dancing, and her new fascination with nail polish. “We have about a hundred bottles. Sparkles, metallic, glossy, in every color of the rainbow.”
“I used to love wearing nail polish,” he confesses.
I crack up. “Really?!”
“Well, you know, I grew up with just a mom and an older sister. I didn’t know any better. I always cleaned it off before stepping out of the house.”
I find this ridiculously funny. “I’m picturing you as a kid, with red toenails. You’re adorable.”
“Oh, I was.”
“It all makes sense now,” I say. “You’re not a typical man; not into sports and cars. You love cooking and you have remarkable good taste for a man… the way you dress, and your bedroom is gorgeous.”
“Totally not gay, though,” he jokes. “Just so you know.”
“Oh, I know.”
When we get back to his place, Eli makes me a delicious charcuterie platter with cheese and meats and fancy olives, and something he calls Moscow Mules, served in cool copper mugs. They’re freaking delicious, spicy ginger beer and lime.
“I think this might be my new favorite drink,” I tell him.
“I can’t wait to show you my studio,” he says. “I’ve got a few things to do,” he adds. “I wanted to take the whole week off to be with you, but I just need to finish this order. Do you want to come and bring a book?”
“Sure, I’ll bring my iPad,” I tell him. “I’m reading a book right now.”
