Somebody to Love(90)

Nick thought about that, then bolted, slamming the door of the loo behind him. “Sorry!” he called.

Parker and Ethan shared a smile of child-adoration. “I’ve literally been counting the hours,” she admitted. “You want some iced tea? You’re staying here tonight, right? It’s a long drive.”

“It sure is.”

“Nicky and I can sleep in his room, and you can have mine,” she said. A great excuse to snuggle with her son all night.

“Anywhere’s fine,” Ethan said. “I have to say, the place looks great, Parker. It’s really cute. A lot better than I pictured.”

“Thanks. Um, James…you know, Thing One? My father’s attorney? I told you he was here, right? Harry made him come. Anyway, he’s been doing everything. I just clean and paint.” Her ears started itching.

“Is he around?” Ethan asked.

“Nope. Not today.” James had said he wouldn’t be by today so she could have some time alone with Nicky. He’d even left Apollo, remembering that her son loved the snake, and had offered to take the creature when it was time to leave Maine for good. The thought gave her a pang; not of parting from Apollo, of course, but of the summer ending.

“I always thought he was a good guy,” Ethan said.

She was spared from having to comment with Nicky’s return. “Mommy, Elephant loves it here! He already found a fort!”

“Elephant! You are so good at finding forts!” She kissed Nicky’s favorite stuffed animal on the nose. “So who’s hungry? I have enough food for an army, or, in the case of the Mirabelli men, two people.”

Ethan had pictures of the big trip on his iPad, and Parker admired them, as well as Nicky’s collection of rocks, which he’d brought with him. “This one’s quartz,” he told her. “And this one is I don’t know what. And this one’s shale, right, Daddy?”

It was amazing, how much Nicky seemed to have grown up in the three weeks without her. But after lunch, he climbed into her lap and rested his head against her shoulder, and he fit just as well as he ever had. Parker called Lucy, who was fending off the elder Mirabellis and doing a mountain of laundry. She offered to go check on a house Parker had found online; it was a rental in a nice neighborhood—not that Mackerly had slums, exactly—and it was close to Nicky’s school.

That night, when Nicky was asleep in his room—it didn’t seem like James’s room at all anymore, not with Nicky’s rocks and Legos and stuffed animals scattered about—Ethan and Parker sat on the small back patio.

“Want to go down on the dock?” Ethan asked.

“Nah,” Parker said, feeling her cheeks prickle with heat. “Here’s good. The blackflies get pretty fierce on the water.”

They sat in the comfortable silence of two people who’d been friends for a long time. But it was a little different now. Maybe it was the three weeks apart, but Ethan seemed…older. A little preoccupied.

“So I have to ask,” Parker said. “Is Lucy pregnant, Eth?”

His head snapped up. “Wow.”

“Ethan! You dog!” She jumped up and hugged him. “Congratulations, buddy.”

He smiled, his mouth curling in what Lucy called his elvish smile, and his eyes were bright. “Thanks. It’s really new. She started puking on the trip, and that tipped us off.”

“It’s wonderful. I’m so happy for you guys.” Remembering Lucy’s loss of her first husband, as well as her adoration of Nicky, brought a lump to Parker’s throat. Lucy and Ethan deserved every happiness. They’d both waited a long time. “What do I have to do to be godmother? Diaper coupons? Free babysitting for life?”

“I’m pretty sure you have it locked down,” Ethan said.

Parker sighed happily. “That is the best news. So. New restaurant, new baby. You’ll have your hands full.”

“In all the best ways. We figured we’d wait to tell Nicky, if you’re okay with that. It’s early days, and nine months is a long time.”

“Good idea.” Ethan had never made a misstep as a parent, not so far as Parker could tell, anyway.

“So are you doing okay, Parks?” he asked gently.

“Yeah. I’m actually really good. The house is listed, and now that it’s spruced up a bit, I’m hoping to get an offer.”

Ethan nodded. He was quiet for a long minute. “How’s your father?”

Parker paused. “I don’t know. We’ve had a few tortured conversations in which neither of us says much. According to James, he’s fine.”

“Have you been to see him yet?”

“No. It’s a long drive. About four hours from here, maybe more.”

“Nicky was asking about him. Wanted to know if he could visit.”

Parker paused. “I’d have to check the place first.”

“Your call. But he’s curious.” Ethan stood up. “Okay, I’m gonna hit the hay,” he said. “I was alone in the car with your son for eight hours today. I’m whipped. Your son can talk, Miss Welles.”

It was their habit to refer to Nicky as “your son” whenever discussing his, ah, less-than-stellar moments. Your son put my phone in the washing machine today or Your son sang “Wheels on the Bus” for thirty-nine straight minutes. “Like he doesn’t get that from your side of the family,” Parker said with a smile. “He’s Marie’s grandson.”