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“I sure don’t.” My face grows warm as a memory comes to mind. “Okay, it did happen once. We were on her family’s yacht.”
“What’s a yacht?”
“It’s a big fancy boat. I’ll take you out on it sometime. But back to the story. We were out on this yacht, and Jenni and I had eaten way too many bean burritos. She wanted to play board games, and we got into this big competitive game of Risk. I was about to win, but then my belly started cramping up from all the beans I’d eaten, and I kept trying to hold it inside. But then I sat a little funny to the side, and it just slipped out. It stunk so bad. I was so embarrassed because even back then I had a little bit of a crush on Jenni.”
Hayden bursts into giggles. “Did she know it was you?”
“I don’t think so. I completely denied it, and since no one would fess up, I was off the hook.”
“Did you win the game?” Hayden asks.
“I couldn’t tell you. All I can remember is that terrible fart.”
Hayden gets a kick out of this. “I would be so embarrassed. At my old school, there was this girl named Emily that I liked, and I let one out in front of her. It was loud, and she looked right at me. It was really embarrassing.” His face has gone red just talking about it.
It’s nice sitting here with Hayden, laughing and joking. And I can’t believe he’s even opening up to me about his crush. “I wanted a dad for so long. This is completely awesome.”
I didn’t even know I had a son, but I agree. It’s incredible, and we have so much time ahead of us to bond even more.
I just wish Jenni were here to experience it with us.
* * *
After dropping Hayden off at school the next morning, I head to Blue Mountain Brewery to grab my favorite coffee. I take it black, and their specialty coffee is really good here.
I won’t always be able to drop Hayden off, but this first week of bonding is important so I’m taking the extra time away from work to spend as much time with him as possible.
When I step inside the cozy coffee shop, a bunch of my mom’s knitting club friends are all sitting around talking.
Joyce Gregory and Maybelline Richardson look up and wave when they see me. Joyce’s gray hair is frizzed out all around her shoulders, and her glasses look like they’re swallowing her face whole. Maybelline has short red curls surrounding her rounded face.
“Hello there, Langston,” Maybelline calls when I’ve gotten my coffee.
“Hello, Miss Maybelline.” I nod to the rest of the group. “Ladies.”
“Come sit down. We have an extra chair.” Joyce waves me over.
“I, uh.” I can’t think of a reason not to. “Well, okay. For a little bit then.” They’ve known me since I was born, so I can’t really deny them anything.
“What’s this I hear about you breaking up with Jenni Finley?” Maybelline chides.
“Well, I didn’t even know they were dating,” Olive Leslie says. She has a halo of teased up white-blonde hair surrounding her head like an angel.
“Where have you been?” Maybelline says. “They’re the hottest item Blue Mountain has ever seen—well, at least they were before they broke up. Both of them locals. You don’t see that too often. Most of the kids around here marry someone from the big city.”
“You sound like you’ve been talking to my mom,” I say.
“Oh, yes, dear. She keeps us well informed,” Joyce says, bringing her coffee cup to her lips. “Although Olive hasn’t been paying attention,” she adds before taking a sip.
“I’ve been traveling. Florida is so nice this time of year. I’m behind on all the news.”
“We were all rooting for you,” Maybelline says.
“You poor dear,” Joyce says. “You must be so devastated. Jenni is quite the catch.”
“I am,” I say honestly. “Jenni is the best of the best.”
“Then surely there’s something you can do to make it better,” Maybelline says. “If you want to, that is. This does seem to be a delicate situation.”