Page 21

Mackenzie

At dinner time, the elevator pings Theo’s arrival, and the scent of burgers and fries fills the condo before he even steps inside. He’s holding a white paper bag with Mel’s Diner written on it in bright, cherry red letters. Seeing it makes my heart ache a little. Justin always got burgers when he was buying lunch for the office.

“I have dinner!” Theo announces, setting the bag down with a thud.

“Mel’s!” Levi’s voice rings out behind me, his feet pattering against the tile as he rushes in. I reach for plates and pull the ketchup bottle from the fridge.

“Guess what I did at school today?” Levi says a little while later with a mouth full of cheeseburger. Crumbs fall onto his plate.

“Tell me,” Theo says, smiling.

“I made two new friends! We played soccer at recess, and it was awesome!”

“Recess, huh? Is that your favorite subject?” Theo jokes.

“Uh-huh!” Levi nods, a bit of ketchup stuck near his mouth.

Theo laughs. “I liked recess more than class too. Running around outside is way better than sitting in a boring old classroom.”

Levi grins. Watching the two of them together makes my heart feel full. I would never trade having Levi with me, but I still hate that our father isn’t involved in his life.

“Sports are the best,” Levi says, taking another big bite of his burger.

“Maybe we can play soccer in the park again this weekend,” Theo says.

Levi's eyes light up, and he nods. “Yeah! And I also have a game tomorrow morning.”

“That sounds great. After that, I might be able to show you a few tricks.”

“Really?” Levi thinks a moment. “Do you know how to bounce the ball from knee to knee.”

Theo nods.

“Yes!” Levi bounces in his seat.

I push my chair back from the table, smiling wide as I head into the kitchen.

“What are we going to do this evening?” Theo asks.

“I need to stop by my place,” I say, the thought sneaking up on me. I miss my stuff, my space, just some normal things that help me feel more like me. “There are some things I can’t go without much longer.”

Theo nods. “We’ll go together. Maybe we can take a walk along the boardwalk toward Golden Gate Beach.”

A little while later, Phillip drives all of us to my place. When we pull up to my building, I look around, checking for flashing cameras or reporters. But everything is quiet.

“Looks calm,” I say. “Maybe Levi and I should—”

“Let’s wait until after the funeral,” Theo says immediately. He touches my hand, just for a second. “Things are going to get busy again soon. Particularly with today’s news.”

He’s right. I suppose this isn’t the end of our drama, just a short break before things get hard again. “Okay,” I whisper, then get out of the car and head inside with Phillip while Levi and Theo stay behind.

A few minutes later, I come back with a bag over my shoulder. We store it in the car and then take a walk along the boardwalk. The salty ocean air feels good, and the sound of the waves lapping against the boats fills the quiet between us. Levi runs ahead, chasing a bunch of surprised seagulls. They flap and fly away, squawking while Levi laughs.

“Careful, buddy!” Theo calls, laughing a little.

For a moment, he doesn’t seem like a man carrying the weight of a company and a friend’s murder.

“Isn’t this nice?” I say, wrapping my arms around myself as the soft breeze lifts my hair. Out here, everything feels calm and gentle.

“It’s more than nice,” Theo says, looking out at the place where the sky meets the sea, all deep blue and golden light.

Levi runs back to us, his cheeks red from the wind. “Can we do this every day?” he asks, breathing hard.

Theo smiles. “Every day might be tough,” he says. “But how about whenever we need a break from the craziness?”

Levi thinks for a second, then holds out his pinky. “Promise?”

Theo doesn’t even pause. He wraps his pinky around Levi’s. “Promise.”

As we reach the end of the boardwalk and step onto the sand of Golden Gate Beach, the ankle-biter waves roll in a steady rhythm. Levi’s laughter dances in the breeze, happy and carefree.

Up ahead, I spot two people I know—Rhys and Jade. They’re walking toward us with a scruffy dog whose tail wags like crazy.

“Hey, look who it is!” Rhys calls, smiling.

The dog, full of energy, runs straight for us, his floppy ears bouncing. Levi crouches down with his arms out, and the dog runs right to him.

“What’s his name?” Levi asks. The dog sniffs his fingers, then starts licking them happily.

“This is Bandit,” Jade says. “We’re calling it a trial run at being parents.”

“Good luck with that,” Theo says, scratching Bandit behind the ears. “From what I’ve seen, dogs end up in charge.”

“Don’t tell him that,” Jade jokes. “He already acts like he’s the king of the house.”

I laugh, watching Bandit soak up the attention. Rhys and Jade must live really close by. I never knew that. “Can’t believe you’ve been just around the corner this whole time,” I say, shaking my head.

“Where do you live?” Rhys asks.

“At Beach and Divisadero.”

“You are pretty close.” Jade smiles at me.

“I can dog sit,” Levi announces.

I look at him, surprised. I don’t know if we’re ready for the responsibility of a dog, but we can certainly dog sit.

“That sounds like a great idea,” Jade says. “You want to throw his Kong into the water? He loves to chase it?”

Levi turns to me. “Can I?”

“Go for it.”

Levi and Bandit head down to the water, and he throws the red Kong into the waves. Bandit brings it back and drops it at his feet. They do this over and over as our conversation turns serious.

“It’s so hard to believe,” Rhys says, looking up at the darkening sky. “Crystal doing something like that? It just doesn’t seem real.”

Theo nods. “Yeah. I know what you mean.”

Rhys runs his hand through his hair. “I had problems with Crystal, sure. But maybe I was blaming her too much. Justin brought her into all this, and maybe she wasn’t stable. It kind of seemed that way sometimes, honestly. So could be that it wasn’t all her fault.”

“The police haven’t charged her, so for all we know, they’ve discovered that someone was supplying Crystal with smoothie ingredients,” I offer.

I look out at Levi, who’s still throwing the Kong into water.

“Come on, Bandit!” he says, clapping his hands. The dog tilts his head, tail wagging.

Rhys looks at us with a teasing grin. “So, are you two a couple now?” he asks, clearly joking.

“Definitely not,” Theo and I say at the same time, way too fast and a little too loud. My face gets warm, but I try to stay calm and act like it’s no big deal.

“It’s just…with everything going on, it made sense for Levi and me to stay at Theo’s place for a bit—in his guest rooms,” I explain, trying to sound casual.

“Suuuuuuure,” Rhys says. He nods, but I catch the look he gives Theo.

Before I can say anything else, Levi comes running back. “Can we get a dog like Bandit?”

“Maybe someday,” I say, giving his shoulder a squeeze. “But we’ve got a lot going on right now. We’re not even living at our house. Let’s get through this first, okay?”

He lets out a small sigh and his shoulders drop, but he still looks hopeful. “Okay.”

Eventually, we say goodbye and head back to the car. Only then do I realize that Phillip was trailing behind us the entire time.

The ride back to Theo’s is quiet, the kind of quiet that comes when everyone is just plain tired.

Back at the house, I help Levi get ready for bed. He takes a bath with lots of bubbles, brushes his teeth with minty toothpaste, and climbs under the covers while I read his favorite book, The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe . He holds my hand tightly, squeezing it a little more as he gets sleepier, like he’s holding on to something that makes him feel safe.

“Goodnight, Kenzie,” he mumbles when we finish the chapter, his voice sleepy and soft.

“Sweet dreams, lovebug,” I whisper, kissing his forehead. I slide my hand out of his and take one last look at his peaceful face before closing the door.

Theo is standing outside, leaning against the wall. I can’t tell what he’s thinking. But when our eyes meet, something changes. Before I can say anything, he steps closer, puts his hands on my waist, and kisses me.

The kiss is slow and gentle, like he wants to make it last. I don’t stop him. I let myself enjoy it—how warm he feels, how safe he makes me feel, even when everything else seems unsure.

“I liked tonight,” he says quietly, his hand tracing along my side.

“Me too,” I say.

But then, the house phone sounds.

Theo tenses and pulls away. The moment is gone.

“Sorry,” he says, already walking toward the phone.

I watch him go, my heart beating fast, but now for a totally different reason. Something doesn’t feel right. Who would be here this late?

I move into the kitchen and stand at the counter, scrubbing at a stain, just to have something to do. I scrub harder than I need to, trying to stop my brain from thinking about that kiss…or how fast everything changed.

Then I hear Theo’s voice from the hallway. It sounds confused, and it makes my stomach twist.

“Hey,” he calls. “Do you know an Ellie Davis?”

The sponge slips from my fingers and falls into the sink. Everything stops. “Yes,” I manage. “That’s Levi’s mom.”

There’s a pause. Then Theo speaks again into the phone. “You can let her up.”

I turn toward him as he hangs up the phone.

“She was making a scene in the lobby,” he says, sounding annoyed. “She’s coming up now.”

My stomach drops. Not here. Not now.

I nod, but I can’t speak. Theo pulls out his phone and starts typing.

Then I hear a soft creak. I look over as Phillip steps into the room. His sharp eyes move between Theo and me, and I can tell he’s ready for whatever is about to happen.

The three of us stand there, waiting, like we all know this moment is about to change everything.

Then the elevator dings.

I grip the edge of the counter and take a deep breath.

The elevator doors slide open, and Ellie stumbles out. Her clothes are wrinkled, her hair messy, and her face is red and sweaty. Her eyes are wide and wild as they search the room.

“Where is he?” she yells. “Where’s Levi?”

Theo steps in front of her, blocking her path to me. Phillip stands close by, silent but ready.

“Ellie,” I say softly, stepping around Theo. I wrap my arms around her, more to steady her than to hug her. “I’ve been so worried about you.”

She tenses up and shoves me back. I almost fall. “Levi’s been alone this whole time!” she shouts. Her eyes are saucers, and her hands shake. “You’re lying!”

“Ellie, he’s here. Listen to me,” I say. “Levi was without his nanny for a while, and then Dad and Birdie went to Kauai. I couldn’t find you, so Levi’s been staying with me. He was never alone.”

She shakes her head over and over, not wanting to believe me. Her eyes are glassy, and I can tell she’s not thinking clearly. She’s not herself.

“Let’s sit down, Ellie,” Theo says. He steps closer and lightly touches her elbow. “We can talk.”

But Ellie pulls back, like even standing is hard. “I couldn’t reach Gordon!” she cries. “His staff said Levi was with you, but I couldn’t get through to you! I didn’t even remember where you worked!”

“Ellie…” I sigh, tired and sad. “I don’t know why you couldn’t reach my dad. I tried to call you, but your phone wasn’t working.”

She gives a bitter smile. “I had to sell it,” she says, lifting her chin like she’s daring me to argue. “I needed food.”

I bite my lip, trying not to cry. I’m pretty sure that’s not what she sold it for. Even if Dad has been sending me Levi’s child support funds, Ellie gets generous alimony.

Her eyes meet mine for a second, but then she looks away. She doesn’t want to admit it. And she doesn’t have to. The truth is sitting right here between us.

“Levi needs to come home with me.”

I stand straighter, trying to stay calm. “Ellie,” I say, “Drew told me there was an eviction notice on your door, and you don’t have the nanny anymore. Where will you take him? How will that work?”

She looks around the room—at the floor, the door, anywhere but at me. “I’ll find a way to get him back to LA, and we’ll stay at a friend’s place.”

“Levi is in school here,” I say gently. “He’s making friends. He finally has a little stability.”

She shakes her head fast, like she’s trying to block out my words. Her body moves in quick, jerky motions. “I want my son. Now!” Her voice gets loud, high and full of panic.

“Mom, stop yelling,” Levi says from the top of the stairs.

His voice is soft, but it hits hard.

Ellie’s anger disappears. She runs up the stairs to him, wraps her arms around him, and hugs him tight. Her hands are shaking as she whispers into his hair. “I love you so much, baby…” Her voice breaks. “I just want us to be together.”

But Levi doesn’t melt into her arms. He stiffens, then pulls back. “I’m good here with Mackenzie,” he says, his voice strong and clear. “I go to school now.”

Ellie’s face changes. Her breath catches, and tears fill her eyes, but they don’t fall. She knows what’s happening. She’s losing him.

And even after everything—all the times she let him down, all the wrong choices she’s made—it still hurts to watch. It hurts for her. And it hurts for him.

While Ellie holds tight to Levi, like she’s trying to keep the past from slipping away, I quietly step aside. I pull out my phone and dial Dad’s number. My heart beats fast.

The phone rings once. Then twice.

“Hey, Kenz,” Dad says.

“Dad, Ellie’s here,” I tell him. “She’s trying to take Levi. She wants to pull him out of school.”

There’s a pause. Then Dad’s voice turns sharp. “Put her on.”

I go to the bottom of the stairs and call up to Ellie, offering her the phone. “It’s Gordon.”

She comes downstairs, and her hands shake as she takes it. Her eyes meet mine for a second, scared and full of guilt, before she lifts the phone to her ear. Whatever Dad says, she listens. Her mouth opens and closes, like she’s searching for a way to fix everything.

I step back and look up. Levi is still there at the top of the stairs, small but standing tall. His dark eyes lock with mine.

I open my arms and meet him halfway. “It’s okay. You’re going to be okay.”

Levi relaxes into me.

“Go back upstairs, buddy,” Theo says softly from behind me.

Levi frowns. I can see the struggle on his face. “But Mom…” His voice fades to a whisper.

I crouch down and take his hands. “I promise I’m going to get her some help,” I tell him. I don’t know if he believes me. I don’t know if I believe me.

Then he says it again.

“I’m not leaving with her, Kenzie. I don’t want to live with her anymore.”

Everything goes still.

When I look down, I can tell Ellie heard him. The phone slips from her hand and hits the floor with a thud. Then she sinks down and joins it on the floor.

Part of me wants to go to her, to comfort her, to help her stop crying. But another part—the part that’s always protected Levi—keeps me right where I am.

This is the moment that matters.

This is when we choose who we’re going to be.

And I choose Levi.

Always. No matter what.

My phone buzzes, snapping me back to the moment. I go down and pick it up off the floor, pressing it to my ear.

“Kenzie?” Dad says. “I found a place for Ellie. It’s a really good rehab center—with great care. And it’s not very far from you.”

I look at Ellie, still curled up on the floor. She looks so tired, so full of regret. Can this place help her? Can she really get better?

“Are you still staying with Theo?” Dad asks.

“We are.”

“Can Theo take her there?” Dad asks.

I pause, then nod, though he can’t see me. “Yeah. He can take her. But Levi stays with me. She’s not taking him.”

“Understood,” Dad says with a heavy sigh. “I’ll be there tomorrow to see them both.”

“Thank you,” I whisper, though it feels strange. I’m not sure if I feel thankful or angry. Maybe both. I hang up and kneel next to Ellie. “Gordon’s coming tomorrow.”

She looks up at me, her eyes red and unsure.

“Until then,” I say, “Theo and Phillip are going to take you somewhere safe, a place where you can start to get better.”

The words feel thin, like they might break, but I have to believe them. Because if I don’t, how can she?

Ellie gives a slow nod. Then she looks toward the stairs. “Levi,” she says.

He’s still there, watching everything.

Ellie reaches out. “Levi,” she says again. “I love you.”

He nods.

He doesn’t move. He doesn’t speak.

I stand and go back up to wrap my arm around his shoulders. He’s too young to have to deal with all of this, but I’ll always be there for him.