Virtuous(34)

I shake my head. “No, thanks.”

Logan and Madison take up residence on their mother’s lap. “How did you keep this a secret?” Aileen asks her son, giving him a squeeze that makes him giggle.

It’s so nice to hear him laugh. He’s always so somber and quiet.

“It wasn’t easy,” he says. “I just told Maddie today so she wouldn’t mess up and tell you.”

“I kept the secret,” Maddie says.

“You did great.” Aileen glances tentatively at the love seat where Flynn is sitting so close to me I can feel the heat of his leg against mine. “You have to tell me how you two know each other.”

I look at him, and he nods for me to go ahead and tell her. So I relay the story of how we met in the park, how Fluff bit him, and how we had coffee and then dinner together Saturday.

“So you guys are dating?” she asks, her squeal reminiscent of Leah’s.

I answer quickly. “Oh, I don’t think so.”

He shocks me when he reaches for my hand and links our fingers. “Yeah, we are.”

Aileen fans her face. “Holy shit.”

Logan pounces. “Mom!”

“Sorry, honey, but really, you have to admit this situation calls for a swear word or two.”

Madison giggles while Logan stares at his mother like he’s never met her before. I get a glimpse of what Aileen was like as a younger, healthier woman, and I’m saddened all over again for the battle she’s waging.

“I’ve seen all your movies,” Aileen says almost shyly to Flynn. “Most of them at least five times.”

“I’m so glad you enjoy them. That’s great to hear.”

“You must hear it all the time,” she says.

“Never gets old to know that what we’re doing is connecting with people.”

“It’s connecting all right.” The dirty double meaning isn’t lost on us, and we laugh.

“Which one is your favorite?” I ask.

“Oh gosh, do I have to pick just one?”

“You can pick as many as you want,” Flynn says, making Aileen giggle.

I love seeing her laugh. We spend an hour with them, talking movies and Hollywood. Flynn is amazing. He answers all her question about his friends and what they’re really like and how much of what is printed about all of them is utter crap. Aileen hangs on his every word, as do I, because I feel like I’m learning more about him listening to him talk about his work.

When I see her begin to tire, I suggest we should go and let her rest.

“Not before we take some pictures,” Flynn says. “Aileen will want to brag to her friends about this, and she can’t do that without pictures.”

In that moment, I absolutely adore him. It no longer matters that he didn’t call me. I feel like I’m seeing his heart right now, and I like what I see. I like it very much. He poses for no fewer than fifty photos with Aileen and the kids, some of them silly, some of them ridiculous and a few that will give her something to keep her warm on cold winter nights. He is endlessly patient with her and the children.

“I will never, ever forget this,” she tells him when he gives her a final hug to say good-bye.

He kisses her forehead and then pulls back to look her in the eye. “If there’s ever anything I can do for you or the kids, here’s my card. Call me. I mean it.”

Aileen’s eyes fill with tears. “You’ve already done more than you’ll ever know.” She turns to me. “And you, you sneaky devil! Thank you. Thank you so much.”

“My pleasure. Feel good and keep in touch, okay?”

“I will.”

After we say good-bye to the kids and I receive a very tight, very emotional hug from Logan, we take our leave. We are quiet as we descend the stairs and head outside into encroaching darkness. The days are so short this time of year, something I normally find depressing. But I’m so exhilarated by what we just did there’s no space for depression.

“That was so fun,” I say to him when we reach the bike. “Thank you again.” I look up at him and note that he seems tense.

“What can I do for them? How can I make this easier for her?”

“What you just gave her—”

“Is a small thrill that’ll last a day or two until reality sets in again. How can I help her in some more meaningful way?”

I stare up at him, not sure how to reply.