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“Or telling poop jokes!” Ash adds.
I stare at them like I’m trying to perform a Vulcan mind meld fromStar Trek. “Stop. Shouting. Now.”
Before they can reply, I feel someone standing over my shoulder. It’s Isaac. He scoots into the booth next to Wyatt and declares, “I love a good poop joke. What have you got?”
Ash glances up at me like he’s bursting at the seams. I shake my head, so Ash replies, “Mom won’t let us tell any.”
Isaac leans in like he’s going to share his deepest, darkest secret. “Why does Piglet stink?”
The boys look up at me nervously before turning their attention back to him. He answers, “Because he plays with Pooh.” Riotous laughter ensues.
I turn toward Ethan’s table so they won’t see me laugh. I will lose all credibility with my kids if I don’t appear annoyed by such potty humor. Worse yet, I’ll be opening myself up for a lot more of it and thatcannothappen.
Smiling at Ethan and his mom, I tell them, “Our special today is curried chicken salad sandwiches with fried pickles with a frisée salad. Do you need a minute, or do you know what you’d like?”
Rose asks, “Are there raisins in the chicken salad?”
“No,” I tell her, wondering who puts raisins in chicken salad.
“I’ll have that,” she says. “I’d like it on a croissant.”
“Um …” We don’t serve croissants, but in the back of my head I’m wondering if I have time to run to the market and get some.
“You should have it on the sourdough, Mom.” Ethan to the rescue. “They make a fresh batch every day.”
“Sure, fine.” Rose stares at me with her penetrating gaze and asks, “How old are you?”
“Excuse me?”
“How old are you, dear. You look very young.”
“Most days, I feel like I’m ninety,” I tell her, only half-joking. “But I’m thirty-two.”
She nudges Ethan, “What do you want to eat?”
“I’ll have the same thing as the boys.” His smile causes my stomach to flutter. I’ve missed him so much.
“Isaac!” Rose calls out. “What do you want to eat?”
“Same as you, hon!” he answers before starting another poop joke.
Abigail walks by, so I hand her their orders. “Can you give these to Lloyd? I need a minute.” Without another word to Ethan and his mom, I head in the direction of the supply closet.
Once I’m inside, I pace around like a caged tiger. Ethan’s parents are nice. Isaac is even telling my sons stupid kid jokes. That’s good, right? No, it’s not good! My kids shouldn’t be getting to know Ethan’s parents. We shouldn’t be getting closer to people who aren’t going to be in our lives. But they’re friends of Harper’s andshe’sgoing to be in our lives, so maybe…
Before I can come to a conclusion about what we should do, the door opens and Ethan sneaks in.
“What are you doing here? Did anyone see you?”
He steps closer and pulls me into his arms. “I’ve missed you.”
He’s so big and solid and warm. I let myself soak in the feel of him before answering, “I’ve missed you, too.”
Tilting my head up to meet his, I’m thrilled when Ethan lowers his soft, full lips to mine. The touch is tentative at first, but soon deepens into something so raw and carnal, it robs the breath from my lungs. I want to kiss him forever.
After several moments, he lifts his head and asks, “What are you doing tonight?”
I should make up something so that I don’t fall farther down the rabbit hole, but I can’t seem to make my mouth say anything.
