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Taeli
When I pick Caleb up from Graham’s workplace, he is like a completely different kid. He is glowing, and I don’t get two steps from my vehicle before he starts chattering away about his day.
“Wait, you did what?” I ask.
“I drove the Trans Am! It was so cool, Mom!” he cries.
I look at Graham, confused.
“I took him to the festival grounds and let him drive it around for a while. It was all safe,” he assures me.
I’m not completely convinced letting my twelve-year-old behind the wheel of an expensive classic car was a good idea, but the excitement in Caleb’s voice is so beautiful to hear that I bite back my concern.
“I’m a great backer-upper,” he proudly declares.
“Backer-upper, huh?”
“Yeah, Graham says I’m a natural. I could do it in a straight line after only three tries. He said it took him a long time to master a straight line,” he babbles.
Pride fills me as my little man brags on himself.
This. This is the kind of thing he should be doing instead of staying on a tablet all day.
I look up to Graham and mouth the words, Thank you, and he winks at me.
“Are you ready to go back to Granna’s? I’m sure Graham would like to get home himself.”
He looks over to Graham and grins, and then he brings his eyes back to me.
“We want to make you dinner,” he says.
“We who?” I ask.
“Graham and me. We want to make you dinner at Graham’s house.”
I bend down and look him in the eyes. “Since when do you cook?” I ask.
“I don’t. Yet. But I learned how to drive today, so I figure cooking can’t be that hard.”
“Well, you’re just full of surprises, aren’t you?” I say as I tug a piece of his hair from his eyes.
He nods.
I stand and look at Graham. “Are you sure about this? Or did the kid here talk you into it?” I ask.
“It was all my idea. I agreed to keep Langford’s boy tonight. He and Caleb are close to the same age. The three of us will cook you the best meal you’ve ever had,” he swears.
“Okay. Let’s see what kind of culinary skills you guys have.”
I call Mom to let her know of our dinner plans. Instead of sounding put out, she sounds thrilled with the idea.
We follow Graham to his house, and Langford is there, dropping his son, Tucker, off. Graham introduces us, and Tucker looks back and forth between us.
“Is she your girlfriend, Uncle Graham?” Tucker asks.
Caleb’s eyes go round, and he looks between us with curious eyes.
Graham clears his throat.
“We’re friends,” he says at the same time Caleb says, “No, she’s married to my dad.”
Tucker shrugs and looks at Caleb. “Race you to the backyard?”
He takes off running, and Caleb immediately sprints off after him.
“He thinks we’ll get back together, like before,” I utter.
“Even with the new baby on the way?” Graham asks.
“We haven’t told him yet,” I admit.
Graham looks confused. “Isn’t he or she due in a couple of months?”
“Yeah, next month.”
“Don’t you think you should tell him before he comes home to a sibling one day?” he asks.
“I just didn’t want to ruin his summer any worse than I already have,” I admit.
“He’s more mature than you realize, Taeli. I think he can handle it. I’m not saying he’ll like it, but I think he deserves the truth.”
“I know. I was hoping Damon would have the conversation with him, but I’m going to tell him soon.”
He wraps an arm around my shoulders and guides me toward the house.
“How do you feel about bacon?” he asks, changing the subject.
“Bacon?”
“Yes.”
