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“Happy anniversary, dear.”
THIRTEEN
Alexander
Five Years Later…
“Dad!Dad! Look what Uncle Ames did for me!”
I turn and bend down, catching my son, Aiden, around the waist as he shows me his arm. There on his thin bicep is a drawing of a pirate ship, the flag tattered and flapping in the wind as the waves crash against the bow.
I’ll admit, it’s good work and it looks cool. I just don’t want it on my four year old’s arm.
“Cool,” I tell Aiden as he wiggles to be let down so he can run off to tell his mom.
“That better wash off,” I say, turning to aim a glare at Ames.
He just grins, leaning against the doorframe.
“Yeah, it’s just a stencil that I drew for him.”
We’re in Philadelphia for Valentine’s Day. It was my mom’s idea. Her and my dad moved back to Philadelphia a few years ago, tired of the busy New York streets and wanting something slower paced. My mom has been trying to convince Eden and I to move here ever since and she’s always trying to get us to spend more time here, especially since the grandbabies were born. I had asked Eden if she wanted to move, but we both love New York too much to leave. At least for right now.
Even Anthony is in New York now. He was hired at a comedy club in the city a few years ago and got married a few months later. He and his wife, Emerson, are here visiting, too.
“Where’s your girl?” I ask Ames, smiling when I see Eden with Aiden and Alice, giggling on the living room floor.
“She’s back in Pittsburgh. She had to finish up some work so I’ll see her tonight.”
“You wanna leave and go see her right now, don’t you?” I ask, but it’s not really a question.
Anyone with eyes in their head can see that he’s itching to get back to Pittsburgh and his wife.
“Yeah, but Mom will kill me if I leave now. I’ve only been here a few hours.”
“You’ve been here all afternoon and we already ate dinner. I’m sure it will be fine. I’ll tell her that she can watch Aiden and Alice this weekend. She won’t even notice that you left.”
Ames grins, his eyes lighting up as he claps me on the back.
“I owe you one,” he tells me as he grabs his coat and heads for the door.
“I’ll collect!” I call after him and he grins at me one last time before the door closes behind him.
“Where’s Ames going?” Anthony asks, shoving half of a cookie into his mouth.
“Back to Pittsburgh.”
Anthony nods, looking around for his wife. I can tell the second he spots her. His whole face softens and that look that only Emerson can put in his eyes is there.
“Congratulations again,” I tell him, raising my glass of water at him.
He swipes it from my hand, downing all of it.
“Thanks,” he says and I roll my eyes.
He and his wife just found out that they’re expecting their first child and everyone is thrilled for them.
Eden has already offered to give them all of our old baby toys and clothes and both girls are excited to have play dates with each other. They’ve been talking about the best daycares and schools and the pros and cons of cloth diapers all afternoon.
