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“It’s most certainly not lame,” I chime in as he pulls me into the house and down the hallway toward the game room. “That’s what I told him! He’s just being all grumpy all the time.”
Considering Daniel was about to turn fifteen in a couple of weeks, I could see how that might be the case. I was grumpy when I was a teenager too. Always fighting with my brother and my dad. The only person that understood me and could calm me was Rebecca.
And there she was again, sneaking into my thoughts. Nomatter how much I tried, I couldn’t erase her from my mind. It was like the woman was etched into every fiber of my being, and now that she was gone, I didn’t know how to move on with my life without her in it.
“Look!” Levi tugs at my hand, drawing my attention. I shift my gaze to the Lego set and listen patiently as Levi explains every little detail about the set and the new movie.
A lock of his hair falls in his face, and instinctively, I push it back. My heart squeezes tightly in my chest at the sight of him. At four years old, Levi was way too smart for his own good. He could talk your ear off about anything and nothing.
Would Becky’s and my child have been like Levi? Were we supposed to have a girl or a boy? Would they be interested in Lego sets? Sports? Dolls? None of it? I could have imagined a hundred different scenarios.
An ache I didn’t know how to name spreads inside my chest, making it hard to breathe.
“Daniel!” Blake yells loudly. “Get downstairs, please. It’s time for lunch.”
There is a beat of silence before Daniel yells, “Not hungry.”
“Well, I don’t care. Mrs. Maxwell made lunch, so you better get your ass downstairs now.”
“Uh-oh.”
I glance at Levi. “That happens a lot?”
“Yup,” Levi nods, his hands clasping together.
Just then, Blake appears in the doorway. “Levi, time to wash your hands.”
Levi jumps to his feet and does as Blake says, so I straighten, running my hand over my face.
Blake watches me carefully. “You good?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
“C’mon, let’s go to the kitchen. Wannabeer?”
I shake my head. I had a strict no-drinking rule the moment the pre-season started.
“Mind if I have one? I have a feeling I might need it.”
“It’s your house, dude.”
Just when we get into the hallway, loud footsteps echo as Daniel rushes down the stairs. Just like Levi, his dark hair is also longer. Even through an oversized black hoodie, I can see his shoulders are slumped forward, a grim look on his face, as if he’s bracing for a fight. For all intents and purposes, he looks like a younger version of Blake. Both boys do.
“I told you I’m not hungry,” he mutters, crossing his arms over his chest.
“And I told you I don’t care. You can eat now, or you’ll go hungry until dinner when you can eat the leftovers Mrs. Maxwell made.”
“Whatever,” he grits his teeth and marches into the kitchen.
I whistle softly. “You weren’t joking about needing that beer.”
Blake lets out a sigh. “I wish.”
I could bet. I didn’t envy him one bit.
“Hey, Mrs. Maxwell. How have you been doing?” I greet, as we enter the kitchen to find his housekeeper stirring something on the stove.
She glances up at us, a surprised look flashing on her face. “Miguel! We haven’t seen you around here in a while.” Then she turns to Blake. “Why didn’t you tell me we had company?”
