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“Can I say something to you?” he whispered when she’d paused in her story.
“Of course.”
“I think I love you. I mean, I know I’m young and don’t know a lot about women and all that crap, but I’m pretty sure I want to be with you for the rest of my life.”
Hesitating for a second, she took the baby’s bottle and placed it on the nightstand.
“Wow, Leon. I’m so flattered I don’t know what to say. I’m so lucky to have someone like you to love me.”
She reached around his neck and pulled his face close to hers. “We’re already a little family.”
“What do we do next?”
“Let’s just take it slow like we said at the beach. I promise to be faithful to you,” she said, smiling.
“And I won’t mess around, either. I have no desire to go out at all now. But tomorrow is my birthday…”
“It is?”
“It is, and the guys are taking me out. But they aren’t the stripper types, so you don’t have to worry about that. We’ll probably go to the pool hall.”
“Yeah, right.”
“No, I promise. We do that for everyone’s birthdays. We usually go to Barnacle Ben’s to play pool, and then one of the women brings cake and ice cream to have with our beer.”
“Oh god, that sounds horrible,” she said, laughing.
“It’s pretty bad, but we’ve been doing it since we reached drinking age.”
“I’ll watch Violet so you can go to your birthday party. But next time you’re off, I’ll have a special meal for you.”
“Today was special enough. Thank you again.”
“You’re welcome. I guess I’d better put Miss Violet in her crib so we can get some sleep.”
“Who said anything about sleep?” he replied, reaching for her.
***
The following day, Leon left with baby Violet as soon as they were dressed and she’d eaten. He steeled himself for recriminations from his mother, but she was in a rush to get out the door for yet another beauty appointment somewhere.
“I’m sorry I can’t stay to chat, but Madame Borushka awaits. Your pop and I were sad last night because no one came home. But I think it will be okay. I might have to talk him into retiring so we can get a life again.”
“Ma, you should do that. Go. By the way, happy birthday to me.”
“Oh my God, Lenny, I’m so sorry!” she cried, reaching out to hug him. “Are you going out with the boys tonight?”
“I am.”
“We’ll go to Wild Pancake after church Sunday.”
“Ma, we go there every Sunday. How will that be special?”
But he was just teasing her and she knew it. “I’ll make it up to you, but I have to go now.”
They kissed cheeks and she ran out, leaving Leon juggling Violet and her paraphernalia.
“She didn’t even greet you, did she? I think the family will be just fine when I move out.”
