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“We’re going to Nana’s?” His face lit up, and I realized I hadn’t even asked my mom if we could come over yet.
“Actually, I should ask her first, huh?” I laughed and Matson did too.
“I can ask her if you think it would make her say yes,” he said, and I chased him around the kitchen, stopping only once I caught him. “I just meant I think she likes me better,” he choked out through his laughter as I tickled his sides.
“Likes you better? We’ll see about that.”
I pulled out my cell phone and dialed my mom’s number. Thankfully, she and my dad didn’t have plans, so she said we could come by. I promised to bring dinner so she wouldn’t have to cook, and although she tried to argue with me, I eventually won.
“Chips and salsa?” Matson asked as soon as I hung up, and I smiled at my sweet boy.
“Most definitely.”
He kept staring at me. “So, what’d she say?”
“About?”
“Liking me better?” he asked with a sly grin, and I pretended I was going to chase and tickle him again. “Just kidding, Mama. She probably likes us both the same.”
“She’s not going to like you if you don’t take a shower.” I pinched my nose as if he smelled.
“I don’t smell!” he shouted before his smile fell. “Do I?”
“No, but you’ll smell nice and clean for Nana and Papa if you shower.”
“Fine,” he said with a groan.
As he stomped down the hall, I checked all the windows and doors, making sure that the blinds were closed and everything was locked. I’d always been concerned about my general safety since I lived alone and was a single mom, but I’d never truly felt unsafe until now.
Derek’s presence made me wish I’d gotten Matson a dog when he asked for one a few years ago.
• • •
I parked in my parents’ driveway before turning around and looking at Matson in the backseat. He wanted nothing more than to sit up front with me, but it wasn’t safe with the airbags. The manufacturer recommended that no one under twelve years old sit up front, and I followed their suggestion, much to Matson’s chagrin.
“Will you grab my purse and I’ll carry the food?”
“Sure,” he said, then unbuckled his seat belt and reached for my bag.
Mom opened the front door before we could ring the bell, and she hugged Matson like she hadn’t seen him in years, instead of only yesterday. My body warmed with a rush of gratitude. I was incredibly lucky to have my parents so involved in my life.
“We got your favorite, Nana,” Matson said.
“I can tell. It smells amazing.” Mom ushered us inside and quickly closed the door. “Go wake up Papa.”
Matson laughed. “Captain’s chair or bedroom?”
“Captain’s chair, of course,” she answered, and I rolled my eyes at the special names the two of them had created for certain things. “Hello, mija. Are you going to tell me what’s going on?”
She gave me a hug, and I nodded against her shoulder as my son ran off down the hallway.
“I need to talk to you in private, though. Not with Matson around.”
We walked through the entryway and into the living room where my dad was being woken up by his rambunctious grandson. I continued into the kitchen, placing the paper bags filled with food onto the counter.
r /> “Who let you in?” Dad teased Matson before grabbing him and pulling him onto the chair with him. “Now we both sleep.”
“It’s not time for bed, Papa. We brought chips!”
