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She smiled and bobbed her head once. “Yep, we even walked to the ice cream spot.”

“Aww, well thank you,” I went into my pocket and pulled out her babysitting fee and something extra for the cost of the ice cream.”

“Oh,” She sounded pleasantly surprised. “Thank you!”

“You bet.” I winked. “Probably best you get home and check in so your momma doesn’t get worried about ya.”

“Yes, Ma’am.” She waved toward Oakland, who flashed a half-hearted smile and a polite nod her way.

I slowly gravitated toward the swing, my heart breaking at the sight of my grieving boy.

“There will be tough days for a while, but things will get better,” I promised.

“I know.” He sniffed. His voice was so quiet I wasn’t sure I accurately heard his first two words. “I just wished I knew some friends.”

He shrugged in that ‘no matter’ way that he’d learned from Patrick.

I sighed, not having given a moment's thought toward his social interactions since the day at the church. Of course, he wanted friends. He was an adolescent boy, a child with a love of exploring the woods, fields, and all sports.

“You know, that’s an interesting coincidence, Oak.”

My spine stiffened at the sound of Cole’s voice.

Had he really followed me home?

Was he truly so bold as to intrude on us during a moment like this?

“Turns out, I know some boys on a local team what was just about to cancel their game cause they’re short a player.”

Oakland’s backside left the swing and his feet landed heavy in the dirt, “I’ll get my glove. Don’t let them cancel, Mr. Henshaw! Don’t let ‘em.”

He scrambled into the house, leaving me slack-jawed and unsure of what to say. I kept my back to Cole, my shoulders still high and tense.

“You oughtn’t have done that.”

“Which part? Inviting the boy to make friends with–?”

“Both.”

“Hmm. Seems to me, you’re both in need of a friendly face. I can be that. I can be a friendly face that helps you and your boy find your feet after such an unexpected tragedy.”

I wasn’t awkward in the sense of having never received such attention. Nor did I feel as if he were being insincere in any way, when he’d complimented me. I’d been crowned and tussied up with sashes back home in my younger years. My mother embraced the pageant lifestyle with an unhealthy enthusiasm. I had gobs of county ribbons and trophies stored in the closet, what I didn’t have an abundance of, was experience with men.

I didn’t know how to discern his intentions, and I didn’t want to lead him on, or gossip. I wasn’t ready to let go of Patrick, and though he made me curious, I wasn’t sure I had room in my heart for someone new.

“And that’s what you want? My friendship?”

I turned to face him, even if the sight of him made my eyes sting.

He had honest eyes, and a steady tone, “If that’s all you have to give, then I’d still count myself to be a lucky man even having the acquaintance of a lady like you.

My frozen, battered heart skipped a beat, only to do a complete somersault and throw itself into a race when the screen door slammed.

“I’m ready, I got everything, I’m ready. Did you tell them, Mr. Henshaw? Did you?”

“Oakland,” I quietly, but firmly said his name.

He excitedly glanced toward me, only for the joy to drain from his face when he saw my stern gaze and wet cheeks.