Page 55

Fifty-Five

Jade

I walk up the sidewalk at the end of the school day. It feels weird to be here as the parent.

Trina eyes me while sipping her iced latte and talking to the other moms. She whispers something, but I don’t really care. I chill on the ledge in the small courtyard, sipping my own caffeine boost, trying to tamp down my fears that I actually don’t have this handled like I told Henry.

Why does it bother me so much that I was his bottom of the barrel choice? All those deep-seated fears that live inside me have risen to the surface. I’m not as organized as him. I can be messy and not stick to a plan. I think school is really important, but I don’t think it’s everything. All qualities that aren’t prized mother material.

The bell rings, and I stand up from the ledge and wait for Mrs. McConnell to bring the class to the doors. At least I have this part down since I was on the other side.

One by one, the kids come out and run to their parents. When Bodhi gets to the open doors, I watch him look around.

Mrs. McConnell waves. Henry messaged me that he’d called the school and told them I’d be the one to pick Bodhi up. Then he gave me Mack’s number, but he said to call him with any questions. As if I’m going to bother him on the road, but that’s so Henry.

Bodhi’s eyes light up when he spots me, and he runs down the stairs and through the courtyard. “Jade! What are you doing here?”

“Well.” I crouch down. “Mack is sick, and your dad is on the road, so it’s me and you for the next couple days.”

He smiles and wraps his arms around my neck. “Best day ever,” he whispers, and my heart warms.

“Come on, we’re going to get my stuff from my house before we head to yours.” I stand and take his hand, walking down the street toward my family home.

“I wish I could walk to school,” he says when we’re halfway there.

“Your dad and I used to walk this route to and from school, and we’d try not to step on any cracks in the sidewalk.” Which, looking down now, seems impossible. The sidewalk definitely needs replacing.

He releases my hand and jumps over a crack. “Like this?”

“Yep.” I skip a crack. “Watch out, it can get tricky.”

The two of us jump from one open space to the other, and at one point, Bodhi is on his tiptoes, trying not to fall over.

“This is fun,” he says, and it feels good to give him a first. For him to discover something he finds fun from me.

“Well, it’s easy when you have those small feet.” I point out, and he looks down at his feet.

“One day they’ll be big like Daddy’s.”

I rustle his hair and stop at the bottom of my parents’ steps. “Yes, they will.”

He jumps from the sidewalk to the bottom stair, so he doesn’t step on a crack. “Are Waylon and Owen home?”

“No.” I give him a sad face. “They’re at practice.”

“Oh.” There’s disappointment in his tone.

I cover my heart with my hand. “Hey, I’m fun.”

I insert the key in the lock, and he distracts me by placing his hand on my arm. I glance down, turning the key.

“I’m really happy.” His smile warms every nerve in my body. Then he walks into my house, takes off his shoes, and holds out his bag. “Where do I put this?”

“Just on the bench. Do you need help with your coat?”

He shrugs it off and places it neatly on the bench with his bag.

“Do you want a snack?” I ask, walking toward the kitchen.

“Did Victoria bake cookies?” He’s so excited he’s skipping down the hall. I love this just me and him thing. We haven’t done much of that.

I open the fridge and pull out an apple, then some peanut butter.

“An apple?” He groans.

“Yes, but I’ve got peanut butter to go with it. I’ve seen your dad make this for you.”

He slides up on a stool.

I wash the apple and grab a cutting board. “So, how was your day?”

“Willow has a crush on Micha.”

“A crush?” Seriously, they start with crushes this young?

“Yeah, she wants him to take her to the carnival.”

Oh, the St. Pat’s carnival—which isn’t much of a carnival at all, unless it’s changed since I went there. It’s just events the parents put on for the kids, and they can travel from classroom to classroom, playing games.

“That’s not until the spring.”

He nods. “Yeah. Guess she’s a planner.”

I stifle a laugh and put the apple slices on the plate before spooning out peanut butter to go with it. Before I pass it over to him, I snap a picture with my phone and attach it to a text for Henry.

Got Bodhi, and we’re at my house. Look, healthy snack.

He doesn’t respond, and I hope that’s because he’s sleeping.

“Did you send that to Daddy?” Bodhi scoops some peanut butter onto his apple and stares at my phone.

“Yeah. He’s got a game tonight.”

“Can we watch it?” he asks, and I have no idea if that’s something he usually does.

“Do you watch them with Mack?”

He shrugs. “Sometimes.”

“Then let’s make some popcorn and watch the game. You are allowed to have popcorn, right?”

He giggles and bites his apple. “Yeah,” he answers around a mouthful.

Damn, the pressure to make sure I don’t screw this up is intense. Henry’s putting a lot of trust in me, and I don’t want to disappoint him.

“Once you’re done, I’ll grab my bag, and we can go to your house.”

Parking is insane over by Henry’s, so I plan to take an Uber.

He nods, continuing to eat his apple.

Later that night, our popcorn is popped, and we’re about to sit on the couch to watch Henry’s game when I remember something.

“Bodhi, do you have homework?”

His mischievous smile says he does.

“Okay, get it out so we can get it done.”

His body does a movement as if he lost all control over the muscles in his body, and he slides down the couch to the floor. “But Daddy’s game.”

“We can have it on while you do it.”

That’s probably not the best plan. Hopefully he won’t share that little tidbit with Henry.

He groans but goes to his bag and pulls it out, dragging his feet as he comes over and drops the folder on the table. “It’s just my spelling.”

Hopefully we can knock this out quickly, but I’m mad at myself for forgetting until now.