I squinted. That was my old high school PE teacher. He was an asshole. I think he called the unathletic kids names that ended up getting fired. He didn’t recognize me, clearly. I strode over so Henry was screaming directly over him, which was also handy in getting me close enough that Tommy could hear me.
“Tommy, your mom’s going to get worried. She has this special thing planned for you tonight after dinner. I was going to order that chicken you like from the Purple Wok. It’ll be a good night.”
Tommy’s jaw pulsed. I knew I was probably fucking things up badly. He might never forgive me for humiliating him like this. But I needed to get him off the bus. I needed him safe.
Henry took a breath, then screamed again. I gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Sorry buddy. It’s okay.” In as gentle a voice as I could, I said to Tommy, “I’m not leaving you, Tommy.”
Tommy’s jaw pulsed.
But I didn’t drop my gaze. Because I meant what I said, and I wasn’t just talking about now. I didn’t ever want to leave him. Or Henry.
Or Ellie.
I tried to convey that through the way I was looking at him. And for a moment, I think I did. I saw that tight jaw wobble the tiniest bit.
Then the guy next to him said, “Kid, for the love of God, get in the car. For all of our sakes.”
Tommy’s redness intensified, and he abruptly shot to his feet, whatever moment had passed between us dead and buried. He squeezed past the guy.
The bus cheered as he stormed to the front. Normally Iwas a fan of a good stranger cheer. But this wouldn’t help. And it wasn’t kind to my kids.
“Hey!” I yelled. “We’re having a hard time here, okay? Be decent!”
The crowd’s celebration petered out. I ran after Tommy, but of course, he was storming down the street in the opposite direction on the riverfront walkway from home. Making a quick decision, I strapped Henry into the van and took off, doing a tight u-turn. “Sorry!” I called out the window to the bewildered bus driver.
I made it back to Ellie’s in record time, while still maintaining the speed limit for Henry. I rushed up the door, praying she was home. She should be by now, but if she wasn’t, I was handing Henry to Mrs. Oxford. Or Conrad, in a pinch.
But Ellie opened the door just as we were sprinting up the path, her expression bright.
Until she took in the situation.
Her face was immediately panicked, her voice high when she said,“What is it? Where’s Tommy?”
Henry had calmed down now, but he started crying again when he saw his mom.
“He’s okay,” I promised. I handed Henry to her, noticing vaguely that she smelled really good. Her hair was a little damp and she was wearing this pretty pink dress.
This current situation was quite literally the only thing that kept me from stopping and staring.
I looked Ellie in the eye and said, “He’s here. Somewhere. I’m going to find him.”
“Sam!”
I was good in dangerous situations. If you discounted that one time I wasn’t.
But I was confident when I said, “I promise, I’m going to bring him back to you, okay?” I would. No matter what.Tommy may not be my son, but in this moment, it felt like he was. I saw that hurt flash through his pain on the bus. I felt it like it was my own. I’d stop at nothing to protect him. Not now, not ever.
Ellie’s chin wobbled. It broke me to have to leave her. Because I think I knew I was more than just crazy about her. I was?—
I cut myself off, grasping her by the back of her head and kissing her forehead. I did the same to Henry. “I’ll be back, Ellie. I promise.”
Then I sprinted down the path.
CHAPTER 26
James
SAM
