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Colette said, “I’ll have the same. Medium rare for him and rare for me. Lettuce and tomato on both, please.”
Max made a face. Colette gave him a sideways look. “You know the drill.”
“Always have greens at dinner.” Max heaved a huge sigh of resignation.
The waitress chuckled. “Wish my kid were that smart.”
Max sat up straight, realizing that this nice lady thought he was smart.
“They come with fries. Is that OK?” She looked at Colette.
Max was mimicking a plea. Colette couldn’t resist how cute her kid was, and said, “Yes! Fries for both of us.”
Max clapped his hands gleefully. “Thanks, Mom.”
Colette noticed that he had stopped calling her “Mommy” lately; she was now “Mom.” Occasionally, he’d call her “Mama,” but only if he wanted something really badly. It made her feel old, but she understood the need for a kid not to be thought of as a mommy’s boy, especially around new friends.
“Anything to drink?” the waitress asked. Water for both of them. As she was about to turn away, she pointed to the container of washable crayons on the table. “Feel free to use them on the place mats. If you turn it over, there are drawings on the other side and you can color or draw however you like.”
“Thank you!” Max whooped with delight.
“So what kinda present are you giving Mr. Millstone’s friend?” Max went back to their original conversation.
Colette wondered how she should answer. Be honest. He doesn’t need details. “It’s a book.”
“What kinda book?” Max started to draw on the place mat.
“It’s a surprise.” Colette didn’t know what else to say, but it wasn’t far from the truth.
“What kind of surprise?” Max kept making circles on the paper.
“Well, now, if we knew, then it wouldn’t be a surprise, would it?” Colette was relieved that Max accepted that answer.
Max nodded in agreement. “So what else are we going to do?”
“I’m not sure yet. Maybe that will be a surprise, too!”
“Goody!” Max was content with the plans for surprises.
Several minutes later, the waitress brought their food. Colette was so hungry that she thought she would inhale all of it at once. Max dived straight into the fries. “Easy now.” Colette was speaking to him, and to herself.
Max proceeded to tell his mother about some kids at his new school who play in the Pee Wee League. “We can talk about it after your next birthday. Then you’ll be old enough.”
“When is my next birthday?” Max still wasn’t old enough to grasp lengths of time very well. Something months away might as well be a decade for a kid his age.
“You have four more months to go.”
“How long is that?” he asked innocently.
“It’s a little while. Not too long. Now finish your dinner before it gets cold.”
They ate in a comfortable silence, listening to the music playing in the background. It was Ed Sheeran followed by Sam Smith.Men in love. She hoped one day someone would feel that way about her.
“Mom?” Max broke the spell.
“Yes, love?”
“Can we watch some TV when we get back to the hotel?”
