Page 51 of Dotted Lines (Runaway 5)

“Londyn,” she said.

“Londyn.” I nodded, rounding the trunk. “Before Lou died, he told me that she’d called and bought the car. But I didn’t expect to see it again. How do you have it?”

“Kind of a long story.” She looked down at the boy and smiled. “We surprised you today. Want to meet for dinner or something? If you’re free?”

“I’m free now.” There was no way I was letting her out of my sight. Not yet. I glanced down at the boy who watched my every step as I approached. I crouched down in front of him and held out a hand for a shake. “But how about some introductions first? I’m Karson. What’s your name?”

“August.” He looked at my hand, then slapped his to mine, grabbing it tighter than I would have expected for a young kid. One hard shake and he looked up at Clara and smiled.

She winked down at him.

“Quite a grip.” I shook out my hand, pretending it hurt. “You’re pretty strong for a—what, four-year-old?”

“I’m five. Almost six.”

“Ah. Still, you’re pretty strong.” I grinned at him as he puffed up his chest, then stood and motioned toward my home. “Did you ever learn to like coffee?”

“I can’t believe you remember that.” Clara’s pretty brown eyes softened, and I was whisked away to the past. To a junkyard where I’d once fallen for a girl with pretty brown eyes. This girl.

“Coffee became a necessity because of this guy.” Clara ruffled August’s hair. “He loves to torment his mother in the middle of the night.”

“Nu-uh,” he argued.

“Yes-huh.”

His mother. Clara was a mother. I’d already known. One look at them and it was no secret. The resemblance, along with the onslaught of surprises in the past five minutes, was enough to keep my head spinning.

The boy looked just like her. They had the same mouth and nose. They had the same sparkling eyes with flecks of gold. His hair was the color of honey, like hers was in my memory.

A twist pinched in my gut. Clara was a mother. Where was the father? Why hadn’t he come along? I had no right to be jealous, but as sure as a Cadillac from over a decade ago was parked in my driveway, envy took up the free space in my chest.

My eyes flew to her left hand. Other than the stack of bracelets on her wrist, there was no other jewelry. Was she divorced then?

Maybe if I stopped gawking at her and invited her inside, she’d answer those questions.

“Coffee.” I cleared my throat and extended a hand toward the house.

“Want to grab your Nintendo?” Clara asked August.

He answered by sprinting to the car and vaulting over the side wall for the seat in the back, rifling through a bag. He emerged with a handheld game and a smile.

They had the same smile too. Bright. Cheerful. Honest.

“God, it’s good to see you.” The words spilled out.

A flush crept into her cheeks. “I wasn’t sure you’d remember me.”

“What?”

“It was a long time ago.”

“It could have been fifty years. A hundred. I will always know you.”

Clara swallowed hard and pressed a hand to her heart. “It’s good to see you too.”

Bubbly music chimed between us. August was already playing his game, concentration scrunching his face.

“Come on in.” I jerked my chin for the house.