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“Uh, well, I first met them last spring,” Abby explained. “Dylan had fallen off the monkey bars and broken his arm...” She told the story, smiling as she recalled Scott chasing her through the park to give her jacket back, their awkward exchange of information, and her chagrin at being asked on a thank-you date. Then, she talked about how Dylan had showed up on her doorstep several weeks later.
“So, he felt safe with you?”
Abby considered before answering. She didn’t want to imply he hadn’t felt safe with Scott. “I think he remembered I’d taken good care of him when he first broke his arm. He hoped I’d help take care of him again.”
“Because he didn’t trust his father would.”
“N... No. Nothing like that. Scott thought it was funny. I think most parents would. He didn’t catch on right away to Dylan’s... worry.” She shied away from using the wordfear. “As soon as he did, though, he changed right away. He found a new doctor for Dylan, helped him understand the process, even let the doctor use the cast-saw on his thumb before using it on Dylan.” When the guardian blanched, Abby shook her head. “It’s fine. You hold it at an angle and it tickles. Most kids are scared of the saw, so it’s kind of standard practice.”
“And what about later? I understand the two of you began dating in June?”
“Yes, although, we had kind of been dancing around each other for weeks beforehand. We did a lot of stuff all together, with Dylan, and my dog, Gen, too. I wasn’t... I didn’t feel ready to date, yet, but I enjoyed spending time with them, and Scott’s such a good father...” She trailed off, unsure what else to say.
“Have you ever heard Scott talk about his ex-wife, Lindsay Meyers?”
Abby chewed her lip. “Before all this? Not at all, no. He thought it would be too much drama for me. And Dylan didn’t spend a lot of time with her, anyway. Since,” she waved her hand to encompass the most recent events. “We’ve talked. He’s told me a little more about what happened between them and how he feels, now.”
“How does he feel?”
Abby’s gaze hardened as she studied the guardian. “I think that’s a question you should ask him.”
The guardian nodded, sat back, then continued, “What about in front of Dylan? Have you seen him discuss this situation with his son?”
“The situation? Yes,” Abby hedged. “His mom, no.”
“How do you mean?”
“Well, they had to talk about his mom taking him from my place. He’s a pretty easy-going kid. I’ve never seen him upset like that, before. And he knows his mom and dad are back in court about his custody. He’s smart, and he’s asked a lot of questions. Scott always answers them honestly, but he’s careful not to say anything about how it’s going or about his mom.”
“Can you give an example?”
Abby tipped her head to one side, rifling through remembered conversations.
“Dylan wanted to know why he couldn’t stay with me anymore when his dad had away games. Scott told him he and Lindsay were learning to co-parent in a new way, and that included respecting how his mom didn’t know me.”
“How did Dylan take that?”
Abby huffed a small laugh. Dylan’s response wouldn’t be judicious in this situation.
“He accepted it.”
“Has he promised Dylan that he can stay with him?”
Abby shook her head. “Scott tells him he has to be patient, and there are a lot of people who love Dylan very much, and we’re all trying to figure out what’s best for him. So far, he’s accepted that answer, too.”
“Has Dylan talked about wanting to live with his mom?”
Abby compressed her lips before a smile could sneak out. “No, he hasn’t.”
What he had said, a few nights ago as Abby had tucked the blankets around him and leaned down to brush his cheek with her own, had been, “I wish I could live with you and Gen instead of my mom.”
Abby hadn’t thought it wise to answer him then, nor did she think it prudent to say as much, now, but the memory warmed her heart, nonetheless.
She wished he could, too.
Twenty-Five
EVERY YEAR SIX teams draw the short straw and have to play on Thanksgiving Day. While Abby loved the chance to sit at home and watch back-to-back football all day, this year, the Raptors were one of those teams. Sunday to Thursday always made for a short week of recovery, but at least they got to play at home. The Saints would have to travel, on top of only getting four days off, but they’d all have over a week afterwards to rest up for the last big push into the end of the regular season.