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He gives a short, tired laugh, and then promptly looks like he can’t believe he just said all that.
“Ugh,” he mutters to himself.
Poor guy.
I’m unable to keep my voice from going gentle when I say, “I’m sorry to hear that. Do you think everything is going to be okay?Willyou be all right?”
Stark heartache mixed with uncertainty sits on his face for a long second, and then he summons a smile. “Yeah, for sure. Stuff happens, that’s all.”
I don’t have to know him inside and out to know he’s lying.
And, like with the whole note thing, I care. I just do. He’s a nice guy and he clearly has something painful weighing on him. I don’t really want to brush it off if there’s a chance I can be of some help.
I’m in the middle of figuring out how to ask him about it when a small voice joins the conversation: “Do you want to go to the park with us?”
I snap my attention to Rae, who’s looking up at Landon with her bottom lip folded into her mouth.
Did she just invite him out with us?
She did.
“Rae!” I whisper, shocked, because this isn’t what I had in mind for trying to help him feel better.
He wasn’t expecting it either. “I…uh….” I look up and see he’s equal parts surprised, flattered, and hesitant. “It’s so nice of you to ask and it sounds fun, but I…I don’t think….”
Judging by how he glances at me, I’d guess he wants to say,‘I don’t think your aunt would like that very much.’
Well, if I’m being honest, it doesn’t soundrevolting,but it’s still—
“Annie always says fresh air is good when you’re having a bad day,” Rae tells him. “We’re going to get some. I bet you would like it, too.”
Landon looks at me quizzically now, probably wondering if Annie is me.
Not really knowing what else to do, I close my eyes for a moment and sigh. “Rae, you’re sweet, but IknowI’ve talked to you about strangers before.”
“But you know each other. He came to our door and you know his name. He’s not a stranger toyou.”
I puff up my cheeks and then blow out a breath.
Landon looks impressed by her argument, but he shakes his head and says to me, “Yeah, but hey, don’t worry. I’m not going to impose on you guys.”
“What does‘impose on’mean?” she asks.
“Well, Rae…” he lifts his eyebrows at me to check that that’s her name, and I nod, “…if you’re imposing on someone, it means you’re bothering them. I’m not going to bother you guys on your trip to the park.” He gives her a sincere smile. “Thank you for inviting me, though. That was really kind of you.”
“Oh!” She shakes her head as her blue eyes go big. “No, you wouldn’t be bothering us! Me and Annie know when someone is a bad person or a mean person and we already know that you aren’t bad or mean. She even told me you’re nice and she wouldnothave said that if she didn’t mean it! So we would have fun at the park! Annie was in a bad mood a minute ago, but the ducks are going to help her feel better—”
“You are killing me,” I mumble under my breath.
“—swings are big enough for big people, they aren’t just for kids!” She stops, takes a breath, and then lets it out in a big sigh. “Or maybe you’re like my mama and you don’t like the park.”
The sudden mention of Kelle catches me off-guard, but only briefly. I’ve gotten pretty used to Rae bringing up memories of her life with her mother, even though it’ll always amaze me that children can remember things from when they were so new in the world.
I smooth at her hair sympathetically, recalling probably even better than she can how Kelle always denied her things she wanted, even if they were free like a trip to the park.
“So,” she continues slowly, thoughtfully, “if you don’t like the park, then that’s okay ‘cause you can just take a bubble bath! ‘Cause Annie says those help bad days, too!”
I choke on my own saliva and start coughing.
