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“Ohhh. Cool.”
While he played with the dog, I surreptitiously picked up the clothes strewn on the floor. Hopefully Toby didn’t notice them or the fact they belonged to his dad. Talk about awkward.
“So, Toby,” I said. “What are you doing here?”
Toby sat on the floor, continuing to pet Mookie. “My mom told me Dad crashed with a friend after the wedding. I’m not dumb. I know he’s with you.”
I sank down on the couch, heart hammering. A ten-year-old had never made me feel so nervous before, and I’d dealt with a lot of kids in a lot of situations.
“Yeah, he’s here. In the other room. I’m sorry. I wanted to wait until you were ready to have this conversation, but you’re here and… Well, I know it’s not the ideal timing, but I really do love him, Toby. I love both of you…if that matters.”
His eyes filled. “Then why haven’t you been around?” he demanded. “I’m sorry I yelled at you. I’m sorry I said all those mean things. I’m sorry if I made you mad, but—”
I slid to my knees beside him, leaning in to hug him while Mookie gave a little yip at the excitement. “Oh, honey, you didn’t make me mad. Not at all.” I looked him in the eye. “You were upset, about the school situation and about your dad and I dating. It was a lot to take at once. You were overwhelmed, and I just wanted to give you some space and some time. Especially once your mom arrived.”
Toby sniffed and swiped a hand over his eyes. “I miss you coming over. You make my dad happy. It’s not the same with Mom. I get that now.” He looked up at me, eyes filled with pain. “They stress each other out. They stress me out. I guess I forgot what it was really like. I just…missed my mom and my old house and my friends, but…I don’t miss the way I felt some of the time. Is that bad?”
“No.” I brushed a hand over his hair. “It’s not bad, Toby. It’s okay to feel whatever you feel.”
“I love my mom.”
“Of course you do,” I said. “She’s a great person.”
“But I want you to be my family too.”
This time, my eyes filled. I clutched him to me so tightly that Mookie squirmed out from between us with a chuff. “I want that too, Toby. I know I can’t replace her. I don’t want to, okay? You’ll always have your mom and your dad, and if you want, you’ll always have me too.”
He smiled shyly. “Yeah, that sounds good.”
From the hallway, Hunter spoke up. “See? I told you Toby would come around. He’s a smart kid.”
Toby glanced over his shoulder. “Dad, I already said it was okay. You don’t have to butter me up now.”
I laughed. “He’s got your number.”
Hunter grinned. “He sure does. But in this case, I mean it, Toby. You’re a smart kid. You’ve been through a lot of change this year, and I’m really proud of you for the way you’re handling it all.”
Hunter came over, dropping to his knees. “So can I get in on this group hug or what?”
“Get in here,” I said, holding out an arm.
We hugged in a little puppy pile on my floor, Mookie dancing around us, while it hit me: This was my family now. I held them a little tighter, my heart so full it took my breath away. I was going to do everything in my power to give these Rhodes boys the happy ending they both deserved.
The happiness we all deserved. The one we’d give to one another.
EPILOGUE
TEN WEEKS LATER…
HUNTER
“Hurry,Dad, we don’t want to miss seeing Clark!”
“Working on it!” I stuffed my change into my pocket, took the funnel cake that had come after a longer wait than I’d expected, and handed Toby the cotton candy he’d wanted. Pure sugar was a healthy lunch, right?
The old guilt that I was a terrible parent didn’t strike as we wound our way through the Granville Fairgrounds, where a huge festival was under way to celebrate its 150th birthday. The sun was shining down brightly, as if to cast its blessing on the events, and my son was happy. What was more important to his well-being than that?
Food vendors, carnival games, and booths selling crafts lined the midway. The sound of car engines revving filled the air, Granville’s renovated racetrack at the rear of the fairgrounds finally open and hosting one of its first events. But we were headed to the makeshift stage where the high school football pep rally and bonfire took place each year. There, Clark’s trivia team—renamed from Ho & Bros to the more kid-appropriate Smarty Pints—was competing in a special “Granville history” tournament.
