Stay(32)

“Thanks again.” I start for the door, but Stephen stops me.

“Let me send for the car to take you back.” This time when I look up, his smile is warm. It makes my insides all squishy.

“We’re good. It’s a short train ride.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“I’ll let you know.”



* * *



Sometimes Eli loses the battle between being a kid and being a big boy—meaning sometimes he still holds my hand. Usually when he’s really tired, like now.

“Feeling okay, buddy?”

He nods, resting his head against my arm as we wait in the subway station. He smiles, but I see the lines around his eyes. Now I wish I’d taken Stephen up on that offer of a car… I just couldn’t stay around him being warm and high-fiving my son. It’s fucking with my Not-Friends Zone approach.

Eli lifts his head. “Stephen has a bunch of sea stuff. Did you know he likes biology just like me?”

“I didn’t.”

“And his dad made him play sports even though he didn’t want to. Just like me!”

Eli is so excited, it scares me a little. “He told you that?”

“Yeah. He has these two big ships in bottles… One is Blackbeard’s ship, and the whole thing is black—even the sails!”

“Sounds like you had a fun day. Would you want to go back?”

“Oh, yeah. His house is huge! It’s bigger than Dad’s.”

“I’m pretty sure it’s been in his family a while.” Our train breezes up, and I stand, still holding my son’s hand.

“It’s okay, Mom. Our place is cozy.”

Grinning, I rub his head, and he winces, which makes me frown. “Does that bump still hurt?”

“It’s okay.” He shrugs, and I know he’s protecting his dad.

Burt never called today to follow up on his threat to talk to a lawyer. Maybe he was only bluffing. Maybe he was just taking a cheap shot at me—as usual. Maybe I’m moving too fast on this whole Stephen arrangement. How can I know?

All I know is I’ll do anything to keep Eli safe. I put my arm around my son’s shoulder and give him a squeeze. “I like our cozy little place.”

“Me too.” He blinks up and smiles.



* * *



“Girl, you are not going to believe who called me this morning!” Lulabell dances in from her office and catches Eli’s arm, giving him a little dosey-doe. “Guess!”

She spins to face me, and I don’t even know where to start…

“RuPaul?”

“Wouldn’t that be a trip?” She laughs, slapping her hip. “No.”

“Umm…” I look around the room. “Lady Gaga! She wants you to do all her dry cleaning, you little monster!”

“I wouldn’t be standing here right now. I’d be dead on the floor!” She laughs more, waving her hand at me. “You’ll never guess, so I’ll tell you. Leon Steinfeffer!”

I jerk back. “Leon who?”

“Steinfeffer. It’s a silly name, I know, but he is the Candice Bergen of the New York-Miss United States circuit. He loved your hair and makeup at the Art Bar, and he wants you to join the crew of the Lady Liberty pageant!”

My head is spinning. “I thought pageant girls did all their own hair and makeup…”

“For the most part they do, but it’s a service they offer, and the pay is phenomenal.” The bell rings, and a girl enters, dragging several beaded gowns over her arms and shoulders. Lou writes her up while I take the dresses, wrangling them onto the hanging bar and red-tagging them.

“So what do you say? Hair and makeup for Lady Liberty? Oh, just say yes.”

I huff a laugh as I haul a sack of laundry across the counter. “What are the hours? I’ll have to do something with Eli.”

The bell rings, and it’s Stephen to pick up my son. Today, he’s in a light gray suit with a brown tie that matches the lighter highlights in his wavy hair. I get a hot flash just looking at him, and that settles it. This roommate thing will never work. Not. Ever.

He’s behind a woman carrying two large net bags, and when he offers to help her, Lou leans into my ear. “Such a gentleman. I bet he’d help with Eli.”

Turning my chin so he can’t see my face, I glare at her. “I would never ask Stephen to babysit. Are you kidding me?”

“Why not? They seem to be friends. All they talk about are ships and pirates and the Navy. Unless he has an ulterior motive.” She waggles her eyebrows.

“It’s not like that.” I hand the woman her claim ticket.

“Whatever you say, girl. What should I tell Bob?”

I exhale deeply. “Tell him yes. I’ll figure out something.”

Stephen’s at the counter. “Contract for you.” He slips a business envelope out of his pocket. “And I’ll take Eli.”

“Let me call him.” I turn the envelope over in my hand as I step around the entrance. “Eli? Want to hang out at Stephen’s again today?” His head pops up, and he nods. “Get your stuff together.”

Returning to the front, I wave the note. “You didn’t have to do this. It seems like a lot of extra work.”