“No, I’m not your mother,” I answered calmly. “But I am someone who loves you, Noah, and that’s all that matters right now.”
Nothing but silence was awaiting me, so I pressed on, “You’re right, Noah. I did lie to you.”
His head popped up, and I was met with more tears and red-rimmed eyes.
“When I said I found my niche, I led you to believe it was the first day. I guess I wanted you to have the courage and belief that if I could do it, so could you. I see now, that was wrong.”
“So, you didn’t have a great first day like you said?” he asked.
With my head lowered, I answered, “No, it was the worst.”
“Tell me about it.”
“I ate my lunch in the restroom. All the girls were mean and catty, commenting on the way I wore my hair and how quiet I was. I was shy, but to them, shyness just meant stuck-up.”
“You’re not shy now,” he said.
“No, I learned to overcome it. Or rather, I learned senators’ daughters couldn’t be shy.”
“Did it ever get better?” he asked quietly.
“Yes, eventually. Being the new kid is never easy. It’s not like the movies. You can’t just stumble in and suddenly become the popular kid. Find one friend, Noah. That’s all you need for now.”
“There was this one kid who seemed nice,” he said, sitting up a bit straighter. “He had the same Redskins patch on his backpack as me.”
“See?”
He shrugged.
“It will get better, I promise. Just take it one day at a time. Your dad and I are here for you, no matter what.”
He nodded, and even though he thought he was all grown-up and tough-as-nails, that boy sprang off that couch and catapulted into my arms in less than a second.
Now, there were two people crying in the room. Even though I’d solved a million problems like this over the years, feeling his arms wrapped around me in gratitude and love felt a hundred times better.
“And don’t worry about your accent,” I added. “They’re just jealous because they don’t sound like a younger version of Matthew McConaughey.”
He looked up at me in confusion. “Who’s that?”
I giggled. “Never mind. Come on, let’s get some more cookies.”
We walked back over to the kitchen just as Jackson was stepping inside.
“Well, damn, I was hoping to surprise you by coming in this way!” he announced. He walked over to Noah and ruffled his sandy hair, looking completely surprised when small arms wrapped around his waist.
“Hey, buddy. Good day?” Jackson asked, his eyes meeting mine.
His expression softened for just a second, and it was then I realized that he’d heard everything.
I love you, he mouthed. Smiling, he shoved a cookie in his mouth.
I love you, too, I answered back.
“It was okay. Tomorrow will be better,” Noah replied.
“It always is,” Jackson said.
~Jackson~
“Noah?” I yelled from the bathroom. I quickly finished brushing my teeth.
“I’m right here, Dad. You don’t have to yell.”
A small chuckle escaped my lips, hearing him harp on me for yelling.
“Hey,” I said, walking into the room, “did you give our home number to any of your friends at camp?”
“Why would I have done that?” He tugged at his tie, made a face and then tugged at it again.
“We keep getting calls from numbers I don’t recognize, and when I answer, the person hangs up. Just thought it might be a girl trying to get a hold of you.”
He looked at me through the reflection of the mirror as he readjusted his tie one more time.
“No one does that anymore, Dad,” he said, rolling his eyes.
“Really? That’s a shame. I still remember calling Mindy Sims for the first time in sixth grade. My palms were sweaty, and my knees shook. I nearly pissed myself when her dad answered the phone.”
“Yeah, that sounds fun.”
“I know. You’re way too cool for that.”
It was now my turn to roll my eyes.
“Why do I have to wear a jacket when it’s still ninety degrees outside?” he whined, studying his appearance with a woeful expression, as he straightened out the lapels of his jacket.
I walked up behind him, admiring how grown-up he looked in his tweed blazer and khaki pants. Liv had taken him shopping, and with a bit of guidance, he’d managed to pick everything out himself. I was amazed by how a few pieces of clothing could age him so drastically. Even though he tried to act years beyond his age, when he dressed in bright-colored skater shoes and shorts, he still looked like an eleven-year-old boy. Today, in clothes fit for a young gentleman, he appeared years older.
“It’s eighty-five out today, and you have to wear the jacket because the invitation says so. Besides, you look good,” I said, smiling, as I adjusted my own tie behind him.
“Now, I do,” he grumbled. “But I will be pretty dumb looking when my clothes start to melt off, and you have to explain why a half-naked kid is running around the lawn.”
“Well, that was vivid. At least we know you haven’t lost your imagination with age.”
I saw his eyes roll in the reflection, and I laughed.
“When is Liv coming over?” he asked.
I moved across the room to gather my shoes. “She’s not. We’re picking her up.”
I sat down on my bed and began lacing up my shoes as silence blanketed the room. I looked up and saw Noah staring at me through the mirror, his expression blank as though he were in deep thought.
Finally, he cocked his head to one side and asked, “Dad, are you going to marry Liv?”
I sat up erect as he turned around to meet my surprised face.
“Yes, eventually—I mean, if she wants me—us,” I answered, stumbling over my words. My heart was suddenly racing, and my pulse quickened. The thought of marriage didn’t scare me. At least, the thought of marrying Liv didn’t scare me.
But the idea that she might not say yes frightened me beyond belief.
As far back as I could remember, I knew I’d be married one day. Two souls could never fully become one until vows were taken, and promises were made. That was how I had been raised and what I believed. It was probably why I’d so easily given my heart to Natalie when she told me about the pregnancy. It was only a natural progression for me.
Love equaled marriage, right?
But what if it didn’t for everyone?