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“Okay,” he says sweetly, contrasting with how he swats the leaning tower in front of him, sending plastic bricks falling to the floor. He giggles as the giant building is dismantled and begins shoveling all the pieces into a fabric bin. Once every colored brick is picked up from the floor, I offer Tanner my hand.
“I was thinking we could play a game.”
“A game?” His eyes widen with his excitement. “What kind of game?”
Leading him to the overstuffed bookshelf along the far wall, I gesture to the boxes containing various board games. Tanner bounces on his toes, releasing my hand to clap and make grabby hands at the white box with candy pieces all over it.
“Good choice.” Sliding the box out from the stack, I move to the small table and set it down. As I set up the game, Tanner climbs into one of the chairs and taps his fingers on the table. I would comment on his impatience, but I think he’s singing. His fingers tap a vaguely familiar rhythm.
“Do I know that song?” I ask, placing the markers on the board game.
“It’s theScooby-Dootheme song,” he says before singing some of the lyrics aloud.
“A favorite show of yours?” I ask through a laugh.
“Yes. I love the Mystery Gang and all their funny antics.” Makes sense. My vampire-loving boy likely can’t watch some of his adult favorites while in little space.Scooby-Dooprobably gives him a bit of suspense in a more appropriate format.
“I can’t remember the last time I watched an episode,” I tell him as I finish placing the colored cards in a stack. “Which color character would you like to be?”
Holding up the four character pieces in my hand, I bite the inside of my cheek while Tanner deliberates. He doesn’t seem to be in any hurry, the decision important to him as he looks over each one with a scrutinous eye.
“Luna,” he says, placing the fluffy bat on the table, “Which one do you like?” He pauses, then looks at me with a giant smile. “Luna says blue like the night sky.”
Glancing at the pieces in my hand, I’m not entirely sure the bright primary color is anything like the night sky, but who am I to argue with the vampire bat? Clearly, he knows best.
Placing the blue piece on the starting marker, I add the red one for myself. “Okay, sweetheart. You go first.”
“Whoo-hoo!” Tanner cheers, eagerly selecting the first card from the stack. “It’s blue, Daddy!” He picks up his character and counts out each brick he passes. “One, two, three, four! Your turn.”
“Green.” I turn the card for him to see and move my character over a single space.
“I’m winning! I’m winning!” Tanner shouts, already reaching for his next card.
“We’ll see about that.”
SEVEN
Three devastating losses later,I place a small plastic crown with fake gems embedded in the points on Tanner’s head. After the second game, Tanner insisted he was King of Candyland and needed a symbol of his authority if he won again.
It didn’t take long to locate the gold tiara in the dress-up bin. Even if it had, if I’d been forced to hunt for the bejeweled item for hours, it would have been worth it for his smile alone. All teeth and thin lips, and so wide it causes the edges of his eyes to crinkle, Tanner has never looked more beautiful than he does now.
“There we go, it’s official. I bow to your prowess, King of Candyland.”
Tanner squeals, then quickly corrects himself into a regal stance, giving me a royal wave of his hand. “Thank you, my loyal subject, Daddy.”
The fairy lights begin to blink in time to the soft chime of tinkling bells, warning the Doms that the club will be closing soon. This is The Garden’s way of giving those in a scene time to wind down if needed.
“Tanner, why don’t we start cleaning up?”
Tanner pauses his kingly display, his smile slipping. “Is it time?”
“Afraid so, sweetheart.” Standing, I box up our game and place it back on the shelf while Tanner takes off his crown, slowly returning it to the dress-up bin. As if his slower steps will somehow delay the inevitable.
When he returns to my side, Tanner reaches for my hand, face pointed at the floor as he whispers, “I don’t want this to be over yet.”
I run my thumb over his fingers. What is the right response here? The club is closing. Whether we like it or not, the evening is coming to an end. Tanner’s already said he doesn’t have time for more than just tonight, so where does that leave me?
Grappling for stability in this rocky terrain I never expected to encounter.
