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“I’m guessing he thinks you and Wes are an item?”
I look to Lawrence. “I think I cleared that up, but I got angry that he was angry. I mean, what right would he have to be jealous? I’m not even sure he’s officially parted ways with his girlfriend.” I’m so mad I could scream, but then just as quickly, I’m flooded with regret. “It just ended on a really crappy note.”
Barbara asks, “Are you seeing him next weekend?”
“That’s the plan.”
“So next weekend the two of you talk things out. And,” Lawrence adds, “don’t leave things unsaid. Put yourself out there. I have a feeling he’s just waiting on you to tell him what it is that you want.”
Barbara shoots him an appreciative look. “That’s great advice. I think Lawrence should go into the business.”
“Can we start over?”
That’s what Simon asks when I answer his video call on Monday night. I know he feels as bad as I do. And I want to erase some of last weekend too, but I also want to talk, really talk. That’s going to have to wait, though. It’s too hard to read him this way, even though I can see him on the screen. So I agree to a fresh start, and we keep our nightly chats brief and light, letting Ethan take center stage. On Thursday night we’re discussing the trial he’s been observing. As usual, Ethan runs over at the sound of his father’s voice.
“Hi, Dad.” Ethan squeezes in next to me on the couch. “You workin’?”
“I’m done for the day, little man.”
“You gonna weed me a story?”
Simon looks pained but plasters on a smile. “I’ll read to you when I see you on Saturday. Just two more days, okay?”
“Wait, I have an idea.” I nudge Ethan aside and make my way upstairs.
I hear Simon ask, “What’s your crazy momma doing?” and Ethan’s giggles.
I’m back in a flash, out of breath when I flop back down on the couch. “You can have Daddy read this book. I’ll hold up the pages and he can read to you. How does that sound?”
“Is that my moon book?”
“Yep.”
Ethan claps his hands. “My moon book!”
“Is it your favorite?”
Ethan responds by nodding as he plops his thumb into his mouth.
I settle him on my lap and prop the screen against a stack of books on the table. “This is his favorite when he’s tired. This one doesn’t take too much mental energy. It’s my favorite for sure.”
I open the book facing out towards Simon and he begins to read the simple verse. His voice is gentle and calm, not missing a beat when I struggle to turn the pages in time. He reads it three times through before Ethan’s eyes begin to flicker open and closed.
“Daddy’s going to come upstairs with us,” I whisper as I stand up, Ethan in my arms. I hitch him up higher on my hip and then reach down for the tablet.
Simon whispers, “Thanks. This was a great idea.”
“I think we might be onto something, right?”
“I’d rather be there, but this is a decent substitute for the real thing.”
“Here we go,” I say to Ethan. “Under the covers.”
“Again, Daddy.”
“You got it, my man.”
And by the time Simon gets through the short book one more time, Ethan is out.
