“Nice. I’ve never been out that way, but I hear it is beautiful.”
“It sure is. You and Lacey will have to make a trip out sometime. Maybe when Harper comes out on the jet you guys can tag along for a long weekend,” he suggests.
“Maybe,” I agree and take a sip of my Coke.
* * *
As the sun lowered,the crowd dispersed, and now we’re down to just Lacey, the kids and me. I loved getting to play with them in this setting. They didn’t even blink when meeting me, just accepted me as a friend of their mom’s and Harper’s.
“Do you need help at home?” I ask as we take a load of things back to her van.
“I’m not sure,” she admits as she fumbles with her keys. I give her a few seconds to get the doors unlocked and the items set inside.
“I don’t have to, and I’m not asking for anything more than to offer my help. I understand if that’s still too much too soon.”
She nibbles on her lip, looking back at the kids still playing in the park. “I just don’t know what the right decision is. I don’t want to confuse them or do anything to hurt them, ya know?” She looks up at me with pleading eyes.
“I can’t make the decision for you, only you can do that. But my offer stands, Lacey.”
“Thank you, Garrett,” she says before turning back to the park. I stay standing between her van and my truck and watch as she walks back to where the kids are. She must tell them it’s time to go, as they both come running to her, but don’t stop before passing right by and heading for the van. The doors slide open just before they reach it and they both climb up into their respective seats. Lacey reaches the van and helps Hope with her car seat straps. Ben is big enough he can buckle himself in his booster seat.
I hang back until the kids are secured in and the doors are closed. “Why don’t you call me once they’re in bed and you have a few minutes to talk,” I suggest. I want to take the pressure off of her about whether I should come over when the kids are home or not.
“Okay, yeah, I can do that,” she agrees.
“Drive safe. We’ll talk soon,” I tell her before climbing into the truck. I wait for her to get in and pull out before I do the same, pointing my truck toward the highway before I turn around and do something stupid, like following her home and pressing my luck.
11
LACEY
I getthe kids home and into the bath. They are both filthy after a long day playing at my parents’, followed by the park.
“Mom, did you see me throwing the ball?” Ben asks.
“I did, and you were doing such a great job! I’m going to check into baseball for you, if you still want to try playing.”
“Yes!” he exclaims as he splashes around the tub.
Hope is being extra quiet as she sits in the water. I can tell she’s having to fight keeping her eyes open, so I quickly get her washed off and out of the tub. She changes into some pj’s and stands in front of me as I sit on a stool in the bathroom so I can brush her hair out before bed.
“Do you want braids?” I ask her.
“Yes,” she tells me ever so quietly. I know she’s super tired, as her thumb is in her mouth. I divide her hair and give her two braids, then help her brush her teeth and go tuck her into bed. She’s asleep before I can even get out of her room.
“All right, buddy, time to get out of the bath,” I tell Ben. He’s also at the point that if he stops moving, he’s going to be asleep before he even knows it. I love it when they play so hard they just pass out. It usually means it will be a night I don’t get woken up by one of them needing something random in the middle of the night.
“Can we go back to the park tomorrow night and play catch with Garrett?” Ben asks as he gets his pj’s on.
“I don’t know, honey. He doesn’t live very close, but maybe another day.”
“I like him, he’s nice, Mommy,” Ben tells me.
“I like him, too, and he is nice, that’s why he’s Mommy’s friend. Are you ready to brush your teeth?” I ask, changing the subject.
“Yeah,” he says as he covers his mouth when he yawns.
I follow him into the bathroom and supervise his teeth brushing. He’s getting better, but still needs a little help. “Okay, let’s get you tucked in so you can sleep lots before your fun day with Grandpa tomorrow.”