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“Sorry.” I shrugged. “But you’ll be like the ... fourth to know.”
She gasped. “How could you be so cruel? I thought we were getting along.”
Kids filtered out of the school, heading to their parents.
“I suppose I’ll have to get over it so we can schedule their next playdate. Tommy’s begging for it.”
“He and Eric can play this weekend when the farm opens.”
“Yes!” she said. “Oh, I can’t wait to get fresh berries again.”
“Me either. I’m gonna try to master Bennie’s iced tea he used to make.”
“You better share.”
“Keep any talks of rings and plans a secret and I might.”
“You drive a hard bargain, but my silencecanbe bought.”
Eric ran up to me, hair flying in the wind. “Hi!”
“Hey, kid. Ready to go?”
He nodded happily and I said goodbye to Kerry as I loaded him into the truck. While we drove back to the farm, I glanced at him in the mirror. He played with his hands, looking unnerved.
“You know,” I said softly, “if cars bother you now, we can work on that.”
“Why would cars bother me?” he asked.
“It’s normal to feel differently about things after something bad happens. And I know you’ve been working on feeling better.”
“I do,” he said. “I’m okay.”
“But if you weren’t, you can tell me, remember?”
“Yeah, I know.”
We lapsed into silence and my stomach sank. I wanted to know what he was thinking so badly it hurt, but I knew I couldn’t pressure him.
Eric didn’t sit still, even when we pulled into the farmhouse.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” I asked, fully turning to him.
“Um ... actually, can we talk about something?”
“Do you wanna go inside?”
He shook his head. “Can you unbuckle me?”
I reached back and got him out of the seat. He climbed to the front.
“I’m staying with you forever, right?” he asked.
“Yeah, of course. The judge said I had sole custody.”
“And no one else can take me?”
“Nope.”