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“I’m really sorry that happened,” I say, and I sling an arm around his little shoulders and give him a side squeeze. “They’re wrong. Your mother is a wonderful woman, and you know that. I know that. It’s not their business what we do, and all that matters is that your mom loves you and takes care of you. You can’t control what other people say, but you can control your reaction to it.”
He nods. “I didn’t say anything because I didn’t know what to say.” He shrugs. “Cade was there, too, and I thought he believed it, too. That my mom was going behind his mom’s back.”
“Did he say anything?” I ask.
“Yeah, he stuck up for me even though neither of us knew what was going on.”
Jesus. “He sounds like a really good friend.”
Jonah nods. “He is.”
I press my lips together. Part of me wants to tell him that I love his mother very much and I love him, too. He’s one-half Jolene. How could I not love the kid?
But we’re not even close to being there, so even though it feels like the right moment, I let it slide by. “Have you talked to your mom about what the other kids said?”
He shakes his head. “I was scared to talk to her about it.”
“How come?”
He lifts a shoulder. “Because I didn’t want her feelings to be hurt by what the kids said about her.”
“You’re a really, really good kid. You know that? But she’s a strong lady, and she can handle it. In fact, I think she’d want to know just so she could reassure you that it doesn’t matter what they say, and nothing will ever change how much she loves you.”
He draws in a deep breath. “Okay. Then let’s go tell her.” He stands.
“Hey Jonah?” I say, and he turns toward me. I reach out and squeeze his shoulders. “You got this, little dude.”
He offers a half smile and a nod, and then he marches out of the bedroom to go talk to his mom as I sit in wonder for just a beat that he trusted me enough to share that entire conversation.
It makes me feel like I can do this—like Jolene and I can do this. There’s a lot out there trying to force the two of us apart, but it’s feelings like these, the ones that are warm in my chest, that tell me if we just link hands, we’ll be stronger together to face them all.
CHAPTER 12: JOLENE
I wait nervously for the boys to come out of Jonah’s room, and after Jonah comes out looking more relaxed, I’m torn between a broken heart and a totally full one. He explains everything, and I love that he felt close enough to Lincoln to confront him with it even though I feel sad that he didn’t want to talk to me about it.
It’s so conflicting to feel that way, but it’s where I’m at.
Sam and Cade return from the store, and they picked up a few things for Jonah’s science project while they were out. Lincoln offers to help, and I can’t help but look on with pride as Lincoln Nash helps my son do his science homework. I’m overcome with emotion.
It’s enough to nearly make a girl think this will all work out.
Once the kids are in bed, I ask Sam, “So what happened with Devin?”
“Oh, I admitted to him how I feel thanks to your sage advice, and he yelled what the fuck am I supposed to do with that before he stormed on outta here. So…yeah,” she says, and she collapses on the couch beside me. “What about you two?”
We both sigh at the same time.
“That good, huh?” she asks.
“I guess some kids were teasing Jonah at school today, but Cade stuck up for him even though he didn’t know what was really going on,” I tell her.
She sets a hand over her heart as if to say how the very thought of her child doing such a wonderful thing warms her heart. “I talked to him in the car and explained what was going on.”
“How’d he take it?” Lincoln asks.
“Honestly?” She shrugs. “He was happy I wasn’t seeing you.”
“Ouch,” he says, and he holds a hand over his chest like she just stabbed him.
