“Do I want to ask about the red-shafted guy?”
“If only it was a guy…Sadly, I photograph wildlife and not porn, although I suspect the pay’s a lot better with porn. So what do you say? Ready to hit the town, bestie?”
“Do people still say ‘bestie’?” she teased.
“Who gives a rat’s ass what other people say?”
God, Anna had missed her. She needed more of Ashley’s attitude in her life. “I can’t leave Toby with my father.”
“So bring him with. I haven’t seen the little guy in ages.”
“You know he’s five years old, right? We can’t go drinking.”
“You’re sure we can’t pass him off as a little person? Send me a recent photo and I can have a fake ID by nine tonight.”
Anna laughed. “His bedtime is at eight thirty.”
“Damn. Old-school mum all the way, huh? Who would have thunk it?”
“Guilty as charged.”
“OK, so we tone things down a bit. We’ll take him to Ruby Tuesday’s or Chili’s or whatever chain place kids like, but Auntie Ashley draws the line at Chuck E. Cheese.”
“Deal.”
Ashley paused then turned serious. “I’ve missed you, Anna.”
They’d been best friends all through high school and college, but had barely seen each other since Anna moved to England. At the time it had felt like a natural progression of things, but now she wasn’t so sure. “I’ve missed you, too.”
“So pick the restaurant and the time, then text me the deets and I’ll meet you there.”
“Deets?”
“You get your English terms like ‘bugger off’; let me have my ‘bestie’ and my ‘deets.’”
“I’ve never once told someone to bugger off.”
“Opportunity lost there, mate,” she said with her fake accent. “I’d take advantage of the lingo down under.”
Anna smiled. “Now you’re channeling Australia. I’ll see you later.”
She hung up, feeling better. She and Ashley hadn’t see each other since Toby was a toddler, when Ashley had scored some job in the English countryside to photograph badgers. Sure, they talked on the phone every month or so, but it wasn’t the same. She was eager to finally see her best friend face-to-face.
She still had an hour before she picked up Toby, so she went by Starbucks and pulled out her laptop to catch up on some work. The Internet tab with the list of assisted living centers in the area reminded her that she needed to set up more tours, but she didn’t have the heart to look through more of them now.
She opened a spreadsheet and tried to focus on her work, but her mind kept drifting to Matt. How was he not married? Had he ever been? How many girlfriends had he had after her? Had he changed his mind about getting married and having kids? Or had he not found the right person? She had no right to the relief that washed through her, yet it filled her nevertheless.
Why was she obsessing over him? She couldn’t ignore the fact that she still had feelings for him. But did she still love him or the idea of him? She’d realized years ago that he’d ruined her for all other men, but twelve years had passed. She was a different person, and it stood to reason he’d changed, too. She reminded herself that she loved the man he’d been before; she didn’t know the man he’d become. But the kindness he’d shown her son after all the pain she’d put him through told her all she needed to know.
Matt Osborn was a good man.
Sighing, she realized she wasn’t getting any work done and packed up her laptop. She would get to Matt’s about ten minutes early, but maybe she could use the time to convince Matt to meet her later in the week so she could apologize.
She pulled into his driveway and turned off the engine, taking in the yard and the exterior of the house. The houses in the neighborhood were older, but they were well kept, Matt’s included. This was a family neighborhood. Maybe he had gotten married and then divorced.
Her heart hammered in her chest as she stood on his front porch and rang the doorbell. The door opened and he filled the space, his face expressionless.
She gave him a sheepish smile. “I know I’m a few minutes early…”
“It’s okay. The boys are playing Legos in the dining room. I can get Toby.”
“Actually,” she said, trying not to sound breathless, “can we talk for a minute?”
He glanced over his shoulder then stepped out onto the porch, partially closing the door behind him. “The boys practiced soccer for about an hour, I gave them a snack of apples and peanut butter. They’ve been playing Legos ever since.” He paused and his expression softened. “Toby’s a good boy.”
He thought she was checking up on him. “That’s not what I wanted to talk about, but thank you,” she said softly. “So they got along well?”
“Very well. Ethan’s wanting Toby to spend the night, but I told him we needed to take it slow.”
“Good idea,” she said. “Toby’s never spent the night with a friend.”
“You’ve never left him before?” he asked in surprise.
“Only with his…sitter.” Lord only knew what he’d think of her if she’d called Maureen the nanny.
A ringtone began to play inside the house, and she heard Ethan shout, “Uncle Matt, Grandma’s calling on your phone.”
He glanced over his shoulder. “Go ahead and answer it. Tell her I’ll call her back in a few minutes.”
“Okay!” his little voice called out.
“Listen, Matt,” Anna said. “I was wondering if you and I could get together for coffee this week…and chat.”
His face was blank again. “Chat?”
“I hated leaving things the way I did. I’d like to make it right.” Even as she said the words, she knew how ridiculous they sounded—and how bad she appeared. She was trying to make herself feel better for leaving him the way she had. How had she not seen that before? “This can be your chance to tell me off like you probably wanted to after you proposed.”
His face paled. “Anna…”
“Uncle Matt,” Ethan said, his voice sounding closer. “Grandma says it’s important.”
“Okay. Tell her I’ll be right there.”
Ethan appeared next to Matt’s legs, his eyes wide as he held the phone to his ear. “She says it’s an emergency.”
“This can wait,” Anna said. “Take the call. I’ll go in and get Toby.” Then she realized she’d just invited herself into his house. “If that’s okay.”
“Yeah,” he said absently, reaching for the phone.
He stepped back inside, letting Anna brush past him. She found Toby sitting at the dining room table, concentrating on attaching a Lego piece to an airplane.
“Look, Mummy,” Toby said with a huge grin. “Coach Matt helped me make a Lego airplane.”
“That’s terrific, Toby. You had a fun afternoon?”
“Yeah! Coach Matt is awesome.”
Anna heard Matt’s voice behind her. “Mom, stay outside and wait for me. I’ll call Kevin and Holly and see if they can watch Ethan.”
Ethan watched his uncle with worried eyes.
“Hey, Ethan,” Anna said as she pointed toward a Lego helicopter. “Can you show me what you’ve been working on?”
Matt shot her a look of gratitude before he stepped out the front door.
Ethan watched him walk out the door then took a cautious step toward the table.
“Is that Batman?” Anna asked, picking up the booklet next to the helicopter. “Where does the Robin figure go?”
“Robins! That’s our last name, Mummy!” Toby said.
“Yes, it is, except we have an s on the end,” Anna said. “This Robin is Batman’s sidekick.”
“Who’s Batman?” Toby asked.
“Who’s Batman?” Ethan asked in disbelief. “Haven’t you seen The Lego Movie?”
Anna added that to the growing list of movies to watch with Toby. For some reason, Nanny Maureen had put it on the banned list, and Anna had never questioned it.
Ethan launched into an enthusiastic explanation about Batman, and Anna was thankful he seemed to have forgotten his uncle. But Matt came back inside a minute later, wearing a look of frustration.
Anna moved toward him. “Is everything okay?”
Matt hesitated and motioned her into the living room, then lowered his voice. “My mom’s security alarm went off, but it’s gone off so many times with false alarms, the security system people want her to check before they call the police. Mom’s asked me to come over to check it out, but I don’t want to take Ethan in case someone really broke in and my friends aren’t available.”
“I can watch Ethan,” she said.
His gaze frosted over. “That’s not necessary.”
“Matt, let me help. You just watched my son for three hours, I can watch your nephew while you check on your mother.”
“I’m sure it’s fine. She can get excited over absolutely nothing.”
She smiled. “I remember.” She’d loved his parents, and while his mother had been prone to overreaction, she’d been harmless and entertaining.
His face softened. “This probably won’t take long.”
“Is it okay if we stay here? I’m living at my dad’s…”
“Yeah, of course.” But he didn’t look totally convinced it was a good idea.
“I promise not to snoop through your things,” she stage-whispered.
His eyes widened.
“I was teasing.” She couldn’t blame him for hesitating. She would have hesitated, too, if the situation were reversed. But then her conversation with Ashley gave her an idea. “How about I take them to Chuck E. Cheese and they can play some games? Toby’s never been before so I’m sure he’ll love it, especially if Ethan’s with him. Then when you’re done, you can meet us there. Or I can drop Ethan off somewhere. Whatever’s convenient for you.”
He studied her, the tension in his jaw easing. “It’s Saturday. You probably have plans.”
“Not until later.”
His eyes darkened. She could only imagine what he was thinking, but she saw no need to explain herself.
“The boys will love it.”
A war waged in his eyes, but he cast a glance toward his nephew, who was waving his half-finished helicopter around as he explained a scene from The Lego Movie. Matt’s shoulders dropped in defeat. “I’ll get Ethan’s booster and put it in your car.”
She tugged her keys out of her jeans pocket and handed them to him. He headed out the front door without a word, but she counted this as a victory.
That caught her off guard. A victory in what war? He was obviously unhappy with the concession. What was her endgame? Offering to watch Ethan was more than a step toward closure. Was she just doing a good deed, or was she hoping for more? The way she’d obsessed over him during the last four days hadn’t helped. Nor did seeing so many hints of the man she’d loved. But hope was dangerous and foolish. Besides she was leaving in a little over a month. She wouldn’t hurt him again.
Still, she couldn’t deny that if she really wanted to do the right thing, she needed to leave Matt alone. But that was next to impossible with the two boys in the next room becoming even better friends, and she couldn’t very well change her mind now.
“Good news!” she said to the boys. “Ethan’s coming with us, and we’re going to Chuck E. Cheese.”
The two boys squealed with delight as Anna herded them out the door and toward her car. Matt was already in her backseat, installing Ethan’s booster seat. His rear stuck out the open door, his jeans hugging his butt. She stopped short, sucking in her breath.
His gaze met hers as he climbed out of the car.
Great. He’d caught her checking him out.
Her face flushed, but he ignored her and squatted in front of Ethan.
“You listen to Ms. Fischer…uh, I mean Mrs. Robins, okay?”
“Fischer?” Ethan asked with a giggle. “Why’d you call her Ms. Fischer?”
“Hey!” Toby said in excitement. “My grandad’s name is Fischer. Albert Cranky-Pants Fischer.”
“Cranky-Pants?” Ethan asked as he continued to giggle.
Toby giggled, too. “That’s what Mummy calls him sometimes. Even to his tummy.”
Ethan scrunched up his nose in confusion. “Why would she call his tummy cranky pants? It’s the wrong side. Or is it one of those England things?”
“His face,” Anna said with a sigh. “I call him cranky pants to his face.”
Ethan’s eyes widened in wonder. “Because his face looks like a butt?”
“No, Ethan,” Matt said, trying to sound serious even though the corners of his mouth kept tilting up. “Saying something to someone’s face is an idiom. It means she meant for him to hear her call him ‘cranky pants.’”
Ethan seemed to consider Matt’s explanation before he repeated, “Because his face looks like a butt?”
Matt couldn’t hide a small chuckle. “No, Mr. Fischer’s face doesn’t look like a butt. Or at least it didn’t used to.”
“You’ve seen my grandad’s face?” Toby asked.
Matt’s smile fell as though he realized what he’d just admitted. “I have to go check on Grandma. Mind Toby’s mother and be a good boy.”
“I will, Uncle Matt.”
“I’ll come as soon as I’m done with Grandma.”
“Don’t come too fast, okay? I haven’t been to Chuck E. Cheese since I was a little kid.”
“A little kid?” Matt asked as he stood. “You were there just a few months ago for Wesley’s birthday party.”
“I was five and a half then. Now I’m almost six. But you have to promise not to come too soon. I want to win a lot of tickets.”
“I’ll see what I can do.” He helped the boy into the back of the car and fastened the seat belt around him, then gave him a kiss on the cheek before he shut the door.
“You have my number?” he asked, keeping his gaze on the driveway as he offered Anna a twenty-dollar bill.
She refused to take it and crossed her arms. “I have your number, but I don’t want your money. I’m thrilled that Ethan’s coming to play with Toby and that’s enough. I’ll call you if there’s a problem, but I’m sure we’ll be fine. Go take care of your mother.”
“Thanks,” Matt said as he reluctantly put the money in his pocket. He looked like he wanted to say something then closed his mouth and went back into his house.
Toby had already gotten into the car and strapped himself in, beaming with happiness.
As long as her son was happy, she could endure anything. At least, that’s what she told herself.
Chapter Eight
Matt found his mother standing at the edge of her driveway wearing black yoga pants, a white fitted T-shirt, and a black athletic jacket. He would have thought she’d raided his sister’s closet if she didn’t have a yoga matt rolled up under her arm.
He parked his truck in the street and walked toward her. “When did you start taking yoga?”
“A month ago. There’s this wonderful elderly woman who just started giving classes at the Blue Springs Fitness Center. She really knows how to help us old women open up our pelvic floors.”
Matt’s mouth dropped open, then he shook his head in an attempt to lose the mental image. “I really don’t want to hear about your pelvic floor, Mom.”
“Roger appreciates it.”
“And I really don’t want to hear about Roger.”
“You don’t want to hear about my boyfriend? Or that he appreciates my open pelvic floor?”
“I’m going to have to sign up for therapy as soon as I leave here. You know that, right? I’m going to send you the bill.”
His mother laughed.
“Maybe you should have called Roger to come check your house.”
“I would have, but he’s at the lake fishing with his grandsons.”
Matt stared at her as the new shock set in. “You were seriously going to call him?” It was bad enough his mother had started
dating less than two years after his father died, but now she was letting the guy take over Matt’s job of taking care of things around the house?
She glanced over at his truck. “Where’s Ethan? Did you get ahold of Kevin?”
“No. Ethan’s with a friend.” He wasn’t about to tell her who. Especially after his mother had taken Anna’s side during the break up. “I’m going inside to check it out, but after I give you the all clear, we need to talk about Abby.”
His mother’s smile faded. “Okay.”
“Which section was triggered?” he asked.
“The back of the house. By the kitchen door.”
“Okay, wait here and I’ll be right back.”
He walked around the side of the house and let himself through the gate into the backyard. He moved to the back door, not expecting to find anything amiss, so he stopped in his tracks when he saw the broken windowpane. Pulling out his cell phone, he called 911 and reported a break-in, then headed toward the front.
His mother was still waiting at the end of the driveway, and the moment she saw him, she knew something was wrong.
“It looks like someone broke the window over the doorknob. I’ve already called 911, so all we need to do is wait.”
She cast a worried glance toward the house. “Are we safe?”
“There are no strange cars on the street so I doubt anyone is still inside.”
She didn’t look convinced.
Matt sent Anna a text saying he’d be longer than he planned, which would make Ethan happy. She sent a text back moments later telling him Ethan was having fun with Toby and to take as long as he needed.
“Who are you texting?” his mother asked.
“No one.”
“No one?”
“The person watching Ethan. I want to let her know I’ll be longer than I planned.”
“Her?”
“Mom,” he sighed her name in exasperation, but he knew she would press on until he gave her something. “She’s the mother of one of Ethan’s teammates.”
“Oh?”
“Stop with the matchmaking, Mom.”
“Who said I was matchmaking? I simply want to know who is watching my grandson.”
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