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“Then I guess we need to get you to the store to get you some Tums,” I say as I finish my drink. I have to fight to stay in my chair and not rush her out of here. Actually, we have two more days here, and now that we’ve talked about this, about Truman, I want to rush her out of Florida and go home to my guys.
24
Truman
Ryle rattles about the plane long enough that I start to think it’s less about the excitement than about trying to stay up past his bedtime again. It’s great, though, flopped out on the bed beside him while he FaceTimes Julie and tells her about his day. He watched me fly it for a bit, like he was afraid to try it. It reminded me of the way he used to be so timid and quiet. I’m not sure what brought him out of that; I’d like to think I had some hand in it. That maybe being around him more brought something vital to his confidence. Probably wishful Dad thinking, but whatever.
Julie laughs as she talks to him, and while I listen, I can’t help but wish we were a year into the future. Julie and me married. Maybe another baby on the way. Maybe we’re talking on FaceTime because she’s traveling for work, and I’m being a stay-at-home dad.
“Hey!” she says. “Let me talk to your dad for a minute, Ryle.”
That comment feeds right into my fantasies, but I give myself a mental shake as Ryle hands me the iPad and hops off the foot of the bed.
“Where ya going?” I ask him.
“I’m hungry.”
I cringe as he hurries out of the room, and I look back at the screen. But Julie’s smiling when I look at her.
“You’re spoiling him, aren’t you?”
“Maybe.”
“Sounds like the plane was a hit.”
“He loved it. Asked if we could take it to Harper’s tomorrow night.”
“Is he staying there?”
“Yeah. Ethan wants him to sleepover. Harper’s doing a cookout. Well. Harper says Keith is doing a cookout.”
“How is she?”
“She got her cast off,” I answer. “But she’s in a boot for couple of weeks.”
Julie nods. She’s sitting on her bed again, but she’s still dressed in a cute red top. Still has makeup on. Pretty, but I’d rather see her without makeup and curled up against her pillow ready to sleep.
“Did you go out tonight?”
“Yeah, Dani and I went to a bar. She got nachos with a side of heartburn.”
“Did you?”
“No. I feel fine.”
“I mean when you were pregnant. Did you have heartburn? Or morning sickness?”
Julie stares at me silently for a moment, and I hold my breath. Too soon to ask? Or maybe I don’t have the right to ask at all?
“Yes and yes.”
I nod. “Finding any hot guys on the beach?”
“None to write home about,” she answers with a tiny smirk.
“Can I tell you I miss you?”
“I miss you, too, Truman.”
