Page 46 of As the Years Pass

It brings back more memories than it should.

“You’re welcome,” I say, my voice raspy.

His attention goes to the TV, and he scrolls through movies.

“You still like Indiana Jones?” he asks.

“Do I still—are you kidding? You don’t outgrow Indiana Jones, Adam.”

I get a full laugh from him this time, and he puts on the movie. We drink our beer, sit back, and watch as Indiana travels through India to find some missing magical stones.

Adam gets up a couple of times to check on the kids and only apologizes once, so that’s progress.

When the movie is done, I don’t want to leave. I have the urge to go into his bedroom, get under the blankets and cuddle with him until we both fall asleep. I’d wake in the morning and make breakfast for everyone, and check on the kids so he could sleep in late. I bet he never gets to sleep in late.

But I can’t do any of that. So, I get up from the couch and say, “I should get going.”

Something passes over his eyes, like maybe he doesn’t want me to go either. Of course he doesn’t say that, so maybe I’m making things up in my head.

Wishful thinking.

He walks me out and down the stairs.

“Where did you park?” he asks as I step onto the porch.

“I left my car at the bar.”

He pops his head out. “Good thing it isn’t raining.”

“For the moment.”

His smile is slow. “Yeah.”

“Thank you for this,” I say. “It was great.”

“It was fun. I liked having you here.”

“So, I’ll get another invite then?”

“You can come by whenever you want.”

I asked jokingly, but his tone… it isn’t the same. His words are a little raspy, and dare I say suggestive?

“I’ll remember that,” I say, pushing the thoughts from my head and taking a step back. “Good night, Adam.”

“Good night, Emmet.”

Chapter Eighteen

Adam

I spend Sunday with the kids. The rain holds off long enough for us to go to the park for a little while, then we go home and have hot dogs for lunch. Ian is fine, no fever since Saturday night. Not really sure what that was all about, but maybe his body was able to fight off whatever illness was trying to creep in. I told Leslie about it, just in case. She didn’t seem too worried, so I’ll try not to be.

Monday morning, I’m able to drop Judy off at school, something I’ve never been able to do since I always had to catch early flights to California. I love being able to do this with her. We still got up early to stop at a bakery. I got coffee and each of them a donut, and I let them eat it in the car on the way.

I wait in the drop off line, and when we get to the designated drop off spot, I get out of the car to help her out.

“Have a great day at school, sweetheart.” I kiss her head.