Her big brown eyes peered back at me, full of emotions as she began to calm. I watched closely as she swallowed and licked her lips before speaking again.
"Thank you," she started, "for rescuing me. That was, um, my ex-husband, and well, I haven't seen him in over a year. Figures the one time I leave my house for a new location, I would run into him. I don't even know what he's doing here…" She trailed off, her eyes going vacant as she tried to solve the problem of how she'd missed this danger.
"I'm guessing," I admitted, "it has to do with Christine. She has a daughter that goes here, my niece, Paisley."
"Oh."
"Yeah."
"Well, that's just fucking fantastic." Loren laughed a little manically.
I couldn't blame her. It was a bit ridiculous. The odds that my ex-sister-in-law happened to be engaged to my neighbor's ex-husband had to be very slim, and yet, when I thought about it, it made perfect sense.
While Chicago might have a large population, there were definite divisions, and most didn't date outside of those arbitrary lines making the dating pool tiny and incestuous over time. Especially after a certain age. It was like trying to throw a rock and not make a ripple. You'd inevitably end up with a dating partner that was connected to someone you knew or had dated. This only affirmed it.
"I need to get back to the kids. I was coming to get you to watch their match. If it's not over now, do you want to check it out?"
"Oh shit, Levi! I'm so sorry, Monroe. Let's go."
She pulled away from my hands, and I missed touching her. Deciding to ‘shoot my shot', as the kids were always saying, I grabbed her hand and led us back into the auditorium. Loren didn't let go, and I was doing a victory lap inside my head. She'd intrigued me from the moment she moved in, and I'd always wanted to get to know her more. Loren's heartbreak and despair called to my own, recognizing the pain.
I took her around the outside to hopefully make it to the match before it was over. I could hear the cheers as we neared and picked up my pace. Slipping through the crowd, she tightened her grip, sending shivers down my spine. Spying an open spot, I pulled her with me to the outside of the ring and spotted the twins and Levi. Thankfully, Christine was a shit aunt and hadn't realized Levi was here, thus allowing us to avoid running into her again.
I would look to see if Paisley was around before we left and if she was alone, I would check in on her. I liked the kid and didn't fault her for who her mother was. She and Levi were close in age, so they enjoyed one another's company too. Hopefully, she would stay sweet and not let her mother's influence infect her.
"Dad! You almost missed it. Look, look!" Levi directed as he pointed to the dueling robots in the middle.
"Whoa, that's cool," I heard Loren exclaim as she took in the battle. Pride filled me at her statement, and then I laughed at myself since it wasn't about me. However, part of me liked that she got this side of me, or appreciated it at least.
Myles controlled the panel that operated the movements, and Miley gave him strategy plays as they watched their robot ramp up at the other one. It always amazed me the skill these youngsters had, and I loved that programs emphasized them earlier. It was evident to me that if we gave kids opportunities, they could do amazing things. I never wanted to limit Levi, even if that meant supporting his dream of playing hockey.
Loren moved closer, my hand staying firm in hers as we watched the battle at hand. The time was almost out, and it looked like it would be a close battle. The other team's robot was a little faster, and it might edge them out in the end.
Myles made one final push to topple over their robot but misjudged the angle and hit the corner as theirs whipped out of the way. Unfortunately, the momentum sent their robot careening over as it lifted onto one wheel. The crowd held their breath as we waited to see if it would land or fall.
Just as the buzzer sounded, it landed back on the wheel, and a collective sigh of relief on our side could be heard. It would cost them, though, but at least it wouldn't be an automatic win for the other team. If you didn't win, you hoped to at least come out with your robot mostly intact with the least amount of repairs.
"That was great, guys. I can tell the areas you've improved your strategy. Great work, Miley." Both kids beamed back, affirming my commitment to be here for them since their mother had to miss it.
"That was awesome. Dad, can we go to lunch at the place with crazy straws to celebrate? Please," Levi begged. Turning to Loren, I hoped she would join us.
"What do you think, Lo? Want to go to lunch with us at the crazy straw place?"
Her eyes raised to mine, and she smiled as she nodded. "Yeah, that's what I was coming to ask you, actually. I invited Jude, so as long as he's cool with it, then I am too."
"Well, that can be arranged. But I think we're going to need a bigger vehicle or take the L train."
At my statement, all the kids started chanting "train, train," making Loren and I laugh at their enthusiasm. Guess we were taking the L.
"Okay, I'll go grab Jude and meet you upfront once you have your score?"
"Yeah, see you there."
She released my hand, and it felt like the world slowed as our fingers separated, wanting to cling to one another as they were pulled apart. Perhaps, it was a bit dramatic, but I felt her absence immediately and the calm she had unknowingly provided me. Looking back to the kids, they all had little smiles on their faces, and I laughed at their ability to understand things. Children were more intuitive than people gave them credit for.
A few minutes later, the judge walked into the middle of the pit and declared the other team the winner by one point. The twins were disappointed, but as we walked to the front, they began talking about how they could improve. Their enthusiasm and ability to shake off the loss was refreshing.
We made it through the exhibits and thankfully, found Paisley without her mom. She and Levi hugged, and he gifted her a cookie before we said our goodbyes. Paisley hugged me after looking twice for her mom, and my heart broke a little at that. She understood on some level what was going on and I was persona non grata.