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I walked to the bedroom, where Ben’s things lay scattered across the room.
“Oh, dear,” I said and looked around. “We’ll have to put this stuff away, too.”
“We can all do it together, then we can leave sooner,” Alex said.
I smiled as he and Ben worked on putting things away while I packed a suitcase for Ben for a few days.
While I worked, I listened to the boys’ happy chatter. It was sweet to hear the two friends talk about school and games.
What would happen now if Aaron didn’t need me for Ben anymore? He’d asked me to come along to take care of Ben while he worked, but Ben would be taken care of now, and having me here would be redundant. He would probably send me home.
The idea made my heart sink. I’d liked the idea of spending time together, but if I went back home, it wouldn’t be so hard to keep up with my other work, and I could stop stressing about the week away with Hannah, not knowing I’d been flown all the way to Aspen.
Maybe it was better this way.
It has to be better this way, I decided, although the idea of leaving didn’t make me feel any happier.
10
AARON
Benwassoexcitedto go with Carol and Jack. It made me feel a little better that I had to work this week. Ben didn’t even know that I would have to do that. He just saw it as a big treat that he got to go with Alex and spend a few days there. I never usually let him stay over at their place for so long.
“Are you sure you’re going to be okay?” I asked when I hugged him goodbye.
“Of course, Dad.”
“You know I’m just a phone call away.”
“I know, I know,” Ben said in a sing-song voice. “You’re always there, Dad. I can come home anytime and call you anytime.”
I smiled. “Good. I’m glad you know that.”
“Can we go now?” Ben asked.
I laughed and stood. “Yeah, sure.”
“We’ll take good care of him,” Carol said.
“I know. I’m just worried.”
“It’s a parenting thing,” Carol said knowingly. “We’ll make sure to call daily so you can ease your troubled mind, okay? Really, it’s a huge help for us to have company for Alex.”
I nodded and shook Jack’s hand when my friend came to me.
“Thanks again,” I said.
“You just do what you need to do,” Jack said, and I watched them get into their SUV and drive away. Ben waved at me through the back window before he sat down.
When I turned back into the house, Jade waited for me.
Her hair looked good pulled back into a ponytail, and she wore a cream turtleneck top that made her glow.
I cleared my throat and looked away. I couldn’t stop staring at her. If I didn’t cut it out, she would think I was a creep.
“I can go pack my bags,” she said.
I frowned. “What?”
