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I winced. “I said that wrong. My family is fucking awesome. They’ll be wrapping me in cotton wool for the rest of my life. But, this will mess with them. It’s my job to make sure it doesn’t.”
“Hmmm.”
“What about you? It must be tough as hell to be a single parent,” I fished. “Or are you?”
“Going on three years,” he whispered. “It never even crossed my mind that this could be my life.”
“I’m really sorry for your loss, Adam. I know that’s trite. But it’s sincere.”
This time he squeezed my hand. “I appreciate it, Zoe.”
"For what it's worth, you're very good at this."
"At what?"
"At the single parent thing.”
“The night’s not over. James is going to have a lot more questions, and the movie is going to be over a lot sooner than I want.”
“Do you have more downloaded?”
He raised an eyebrow. “I have apple juice, orange wedges, apple slices and many movies downloaded on a fully charged iPad. I’m worried about you and his need for potty breaks.”
“Aw hell, I never thought of that.”
“Dad?” This time James didn’t pop up, he just called over. “Can I have my apple juice?”
“Just a little, Buddy. It’s going to be awhile before we can do a potty break.”
“Was he listening?” I whispered.
“No. He and I are on this weird common wavelength that I’ve just come to expect.”
“I thought you were going to teach me to write my name in the snow.”
I barked out a laugh.
“Not while it’s snowing, James. And not when there’s a lady around.”
James head popped up. “Is the baby here?”
“Not yet,” Adam and I said simultaneously.
“Okay. Zoe, do you want some apple juice?”
“No thank you.”
“Go back to watching your movie, James.”
“Okey-doke.”
He slid back down to the front seat and went silent. I was right, Adam was good at the whole father gig.
“Aw shit, here comes another one.” My jaw clenched. It was going to be a doozy. I was really getting sick of this shit.
Adam hadn’t stopped holding my hand, and I squeezed. I stared at his face. The man didn’t even wince.
When it was done, I put my free hand on my belly. The baby pushed back, firm and insistent, the way she'd been doing all evening.
