I look at him, but he’s still staring down at the app.
“I’ve been using it all week,” he continues, and I realize with a sick feeling that he’s actually excited about this. After spending so many years behind bars and living the way he did before—
Uber is exciting news to him.
“It’s only like five bucks to get across town, can you believe that?” He pockets his phone, and he’s nearly smiling. “I already have somebody on the way. I’ll meet you there.”
I stare at him, his smile, my stomach twisting. “Okay,” I say, my tongue heavy in my mouth. “See you then.”
He nods, grabbing his jacket.
I wait until the weird feeling passes before following him out.
It’s a cold, rainy evening, dark even though it’s not that late, fat raindrops making me wish I had thought to bring a thicker jacket. But the bag is still warm when they hand it over at the counter, so I tuck it against my body, walking back to the car.
“Dr. Murphy!”
I turn at the sound of Karen’s voice.
She’s jogging up the sidewalk, her hands stuffed in a long coat and her dark hair surrounding a scarf. She brightens whenour eyes meet, closing the distance between us with a smile that I return to be polite.
“Hello, Karen. How are you?”
“Oh, I’m good!” Her eyes drop to the bag. “Dinner run?”
“Kids have been asking for this place. I finally caved.”
“That’s so sweet.” She tilts her head with another smile, her cold hand reaching out to touch my arm. “You’re a really great dad.”
“I try.” I shift the bag to my other arm for a reason to move.
She giggles, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “It’s so funny running into you like this. I was just thinking I should call, and here you are.”
“Oh,” I say, no idea why she would want to callme.
She takes a small step, close enough that if she moved a certain way, our bodies would be touching. I fight the urge to step back. “I was thinking of getting drinks this Friday,” she says. “You should come.”
“I-I should?”
“Mhm. You should. It would be a great time.”
I glance down at the food in my arms. “I don’t know. I’d have to find someone to watch Ollie—”
“Think about it,” she says, and there isn’t any pressure in her tone. Karen is a good woman. She’s the sort of person I should be looking to date. But even after a year…
I don’t feel ready.
“I’ll see what I can do,” I say, mostly as an excuse to get out of here. “But I should get this home before it gets cold.”
“Of course.” She steps back, her smile turning friendly. “Tell the kids hi from me.”
By the time I get home, the rain has turned into a downpour, so I open the garage, pulling my car inside. From the kitchen, I can hear the TV, some cartoon Ollie’s been obsessed with lately, withthe songs I catch myself singing and the bright colors. The low murmur of Will and Addie talking drowned out by the show.
After taking off my jacket and shoes, I start into the living room ready to announce my arrival, but when I see them, I’m stopped in my tracks.
Ollie is on the floor in front of the television, pushing his cars, looking up at his show when something he deems interesting happens, the way he always does.
Addie’s on the couch with Will.
