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“They’re meeting the woman their son is having an affair with.”
“They don’t view you like that. They see you as the woman their son loves and also the woman who has made their son so very happy.”
“Was there ever a time when they liked Avery?”
“They seemed to, while she and I were dating and during the early part of our first year of marriage. When things started falling apart between Avery and me during that first year, though—when she told me that she really didn’t want to have children—my mom and dad both told me that there was something about her that didn’t settle with them from the start. They kept hoping they were wrong about their negative gut feelings about her but they obviously weren’t wrong. They were on-target.”
“Please do me a favor.”
“Anything.”
“If your mom and dad share their gut feelings about me with you, then tell me. I’d really like to know what they are,” I said.
“Of course. But I can already tell you that they’re gonna love you. They’re gonna see how beautiful you are, inside and out. They’re also gonna see how authentic and caring you are. There’s not a fake bone in your body, Stevie Sinclair.”
“I am who I am. I just hope it’s enough for your parents.”
“You’re more than enough, so stop worrying. Don’t be nervous. I’m gonna be right there with you, holding your hand.”
“Okay.”
“So when do I get to see you again?”
“I was hoping we could meet at the running trail after work tomorrow.”
“That’s what I was hoping—and also on Tuesday and Wednesday. I’ve gotta see you as much as I can before you go to Austin.”
I could hear thewantso thickly in Zac’s deep voice and all it did was increase my desire for him.
“On one of those evenings, you’re gonna have to come over to my house. I need to go swimming with you.”
“Is that code for you wanting me to run you like a river again?”
“Yes, it is.”
“Happy to do it. We may not go to the trail at all this week. I may just go swimming with you Monday through Wednesday.”
“And I’m happy to do that.”
“Hang on. My mini-me just walked in,” Zac whispered into the phone.
“Okay.”
“What are you doing up, buddy?” he asked Malcolm. I loved that I was getting to hear another conversation between them.
“Is that mermaid Stevie?” Malcolm asked.
Zac didn’t answer him right away and I knew why. He was shocked again by Malcolm automatically thinking it was me that his daddy was talking to. Then I was shocked by what Zac endedup telling his precious son. He told him the truth. He told him that it was me on the phone—and then Malcolm said he wanted to talk to me.
“Let me ask her if she has time, okay?” Zac told him. Then he got back on the phone. “Um…”
“Yes, I’ll talk to him. I’ve wanted to,” I said.
“I know you have. Here he is.”
For the next few minutes, Malcolm and I talked about how he was doing and all the fun things that he’d been doing. I got to tell him how much I loved the two pictures he’d drawn for me and that I’d taped them to the front of my refrigerator. Then he said he was going back to bed because he was sleepy. Before he got off the phone, though, he told me that he loved me. I was so taken aback by him doing that and also so touched. After I told him that I loved him too, Zac got back on the phone with me.
“Hey, hang on just a sec,” he said, then asked Malcolm if he was going to sleep again. Malcolm must’ve nodded yes because Zac told him he loved him and to have sweet dreams.
