Chapter 14
“What if she doesn’t show?” I asked Halton.
He took a sip of his coffee, looking calm. “I’ll call the judge, and he’ll rain hellfire down on her.” He indicated the chair beside him. “Sit. You’re not fighting this on your own, Dom. I’m here to confirm the boy is here, and I’ll stay across the restaurant to make sure she doesn’t do anything to mess with your time. I’ll report everything to the judge.”
“Who is she bringing?”
He scoffed. “Her lawyer canceled this morning. So, I guess, no one.” He looked past me. “They’re here. Go sit with Cherry.”
I headed to the table across the restaurant we’d agreed on. It wasn’t busy, and the food was decent. Josh could pick out whatever he wanted, and I got to have lunch with my son for the first time in years.
They walked in, and I was surprised when, other than a scathing glance my way, Roxanne indicated me to Josh and listened to whatever Halton had to say with a nod. I heard her reply, her sharp “I’ll be here at three,” clear across the space. Then she left.
Halton walked over, and I stood, tamping down the tsunami of emotions I felt. Josh was tall for his age, and even if I hadn’t seen a picture of him, I still would have known him. He looked like me. Right down to the serious expression I tended to wear. I could tell he wasn’t overly happy to be here, but he came.
We stared at each other for a moment, then his gaze bounced to Cherry. “Hey, it’s the math lady. What are you doing here?”
She smiled and held out her hand. “It’s Cherry,” she reminded him. “I’m your dad’s fiancée.”
“Oh.” He frowned. “Is that why you were nice to me?”
“No. I didn’t know who you were until you told me your name. I was nice to you because I liked you.”
“Oh,” he repeated. “Cherry, then.”
His gaze swung back to me. “I’m not calling you Dad.”
I held out my hand, not surprised at his words. “How about Dom? It’s good to see you again, Josh.”
He stared at my hand, then extended his. “I guess.”
Halton lifted his eyebrows at me and nodded. “I’ll be over there.” He walked away, returning to his table and opening his laptop.
I indicated the booth where Cherry was sitting. “Will you join us?”
He sat down with a huff. “Like I have a choice.”
I sat across from him, and we studied each other. “How about you give me a chance?” I asked. “It’s lunch and a couple of hours.”
“And next week for the whole day. Taking me away from my weekend.”
“I’ve waited nine years for that day, Josh.”
That seemed to surprise him. “Why?”
I rubbed my eyes. I didn’t want to get into a mud-slinging match about what his mother had done, compared to what she had told him. I only wanted to get to know him. For him to know me.
“Because you’re my son, and I missed you.”
He frowned, and I had a feeling he wanted more. I looked at Cherry, feeling helpless and unsure how to answer.
“Why don’t we take it one step at a time?” she suggested. “We’ll concentrate on today. How about we order lunch, and you tell us about your life, Josh. Did the math tips I gave you help on your test?”
That simple question changed his countenance completely. He grinned at her. “Yeah, it did. It made studying easier, and I got a C+ on my test. Last one, I got a D. My teacher was happy, and my mom didn’t yell at me.”
“Good,” she said, handing him a menu. “I can show you a couple more if you want.”
“Okay.” He studied the menu. “What can I order?”
“Whatever you want,” I said. “I’m having a cheeseburger platter. With onion rings. I’m not a big fry guy.”
Josh’s eyes grew round. “Me too. I always get rings. And a chocolate shake.”
“Good plan.”
And he smiled.
It did something to me, seeing his smile directed at me. I returned it with one of my own, and Cherry laughed. “I’ll have the same, but with fries.” She winked at Josh. “He always steals a couple of fries from my plate. You can too if you want.”
“Maybe a couple,” he replied with a shrug.
I had to laugh. He looked and sounded like a thirteen-year-old me. Trying to seem cool and unaffected when everything was chaotic around me.
And I liked it.
Conversation between Josh and me was stilted, but when it came to Cherry, she could draw him out. When I asked him a question, his answers were short, but at least he spoke. I was worried I would get the silent treatment. Cherry was able to get him to talk about his love of baseball and football. That he enjoyed running. He wasn’t into girls—yet. And he admitted he was a bit of a loner.
“We’ve moved a lot,” he admitted, beginning to relax.
“Why is that?” I asked cautiously.
He shrugged. “Usually ’cause Mom has a new man, and we follow them.” He rolled his eyes. “This one is a real winner.”
I exchanged a look with Cherry. “You don’t like him?”
“He’s lazy and treats me like a baby. Plus, he yells a lot. I hate that.”
“Ah,” I murmured. “Do you feel unsafe?”
“No. He’s just a jerk.” He crunched an onion ring. “Cherry said her boyfriend was a mechanic. I assume that was you?” he asked. “You work on cars?”
“I do. I help run a garage. I work on cars and motorcycles and assist with restorations.”
His eyes lit up. “Cool. What’s your favorite?”
“I love vintage sixties. Restoring those is my favorite. I like the older bikes too.” I paused. “We’re working on one right now in the garage. Maybe you’d like to see it.”
“Hell yeah.” He swallowed. “I mean, heck yes.”
Cherry chuckled, and I shook my head.
Josh grinned. “I’m not supposed to swear.”
“I hear you,” I replied. “Cherry keeps a swear jar. So does Charly. And her ears are like fine-tuned microphones. They pick up every one that happens in the garage.”
“Who is Charly?”
I picked up my milkshake. “Well, let me tell you…”
Josh looked over my shoulder. “Mom is here,” he announced, sounding almost disappointed.
I glanced at my watch. “Oh wow.”
Time had flown past. Once we’d gotten on the topic of cars and the garage, Josh’s demeanor had changed completely. He’d become engaged and interested. There was no attitude, only rapid questions, barely letting me answer before the next one was out of his mouth. He laughed and talked, no longer unhappy about being there with us. I forgot about our time limit, Halton in the corner, and everything else. There was simply my son and me with Cherry—sharing lunch and getting to know one another.
I stood, running a hand along the back of my neck, once again anxious. I wasn’t sure what was going to happen now. Josh solved my dilemma by sliding from the booth and meeting my eyes. “So, next week, do you come pick me up or what?”
Cherry slipped her hand into mine. “We’ll arrange it with Halton.”
“What time?” He sounded so eager, I wanted to smile.
“Whatever time you want.”
“I’m up at eight.”
“I’ll get Halton to arrange it with your mom.”
“Can we go to the garage?”
“Absolutely,” I said. “I’ll introduce you to all the guys.”
“And Charly?”
I laughed. “I couldn’t keep her away if I tried.”
“Maybe Rosa would make some food for lunch?” he asked.
“If I asked, she would.” I grinned as he lifted an eyebrow. “So, I’ll ask.”
He studied me. “You’re okay, Dom.”
I grinned, almost giddy. “Thanks, Josh. I like you too.”
He nodded. “Okay. So, I’ll see you next week, right?” There was a look of worry on his face and in his voice. As if he needed reassurance.
I put my hand on his shoulder and squeezed. “Nothing will keep me away now, Josh.”
He had exchanged cell phone numbers with Cherry and me. “I’ll text you as soon as I know the time, and you can confirm with your mom.”
“Great.”
Cherry stepped forward. “May I give you a hug?”
He looked startled, then nodded. “Sure.”
Cherry hugged him and smiled. “See you next week.”
“Okay.”
He turned to go, and I had to blink away the sudden moisture in my eyes. It shocked me when he turned back. “See you next week, Dom.” Then he held out his fist.
I fist-bumped him and nodded. “Next week.”
“Thanks for lunch. It was, ah, great to meet you.”
I met his gaze. “The swing thing you told Cherry about? It was real, Josh. That was me. Us. And I hope one day you’ll remember more.”
He frowned, then began to smile. “I hope so too.”
This time, I didn’t hold back as he walked away. The tears rolled down my face, and I didn’t care who saw me.
It had been an incredible day. I had lunch with my son, and he fist-bumped me. It was my first physical contact with him since he was a toddler. The sensation was overwhelming.
I pulled Cherry into my arms and held her.
“Thank you,” I murmured.
“You’re welcome. And it’s just the beginning,” she whispered.
I liked those words.
Halton showed up at the garage on Monday afternoon, Fee with him. My heart sank in my chest, and I hurried over, meeting him.
“What’s wrong?”
He smiled, waving his hand. “Nothing big. We were driving back from a place I was thinking of buying and saw the sign for Littleburn, and I thought I’d drop in and see you.”
“You know, Counselor, for a lawyer, you’re a shit liar.”
He chuckled.
Cherry came over, looking concerned. “What happened?”
“Honestly, nothing big. But I did hear from the judge today.”
Cherry frowned. “Let’s talk in the office.”
We went in, and she shut the door. I grabbed her hand for support. “Tell me.”
“We were driving by,” Halton stressed. “Roxanne called the judge, furious you had Josh’s cell number and could reach him directly, therefore circumventing her.”
“He offered. I didn’t think I was breaking any rules.”
“You didn’t. The judge thought it was a positive sign that Josh was open to exploring a relationship.” Halton crossed his arms. “I guess he was a little enthusiastic about his upcoming visit to the garage, and she wasn’t happy.”
“I don’t like the fact that Josh says her new boyfriend yells at him.”
Halton’s eyebrows shot up. “Good information to know. I can use that.”
I released Cherry’s hand and gripped my hair in frustration. “I’m not trying to destroy her relationship with Josh. Or interfere in his life. I want to be a part of it. Why is that so hard for her to understand? Why can’t she give up on the grudge she has against me?”
Fee spoke up. “When I met Halton, I was getting a divorce. My husband no longer wanted me, but he didn’t want anyone else to have me either. Lots of people are like that.”
I barked out a laugh. “So, if I were single, miserable, and alone, she might be more open to me seeing Josh?”
Halton shrugged. “She strikes me as the type who wants all the attention and affection from every person in her life. She won’t like the fact that Josh liked you and Cherry.”
“Should I stay away for a while?” Cherry asked.
“No!” I said, panicked. I looked at Halton. “Right?”
“Absolutely not. But she is gonna try every trick in the book. She told the judge you were demanding the whole day from eight to well after dinner.”
“Josh asked if I could get him at eight. I said we’d ask. And I never mentioned after dinner.”
“I said as much. The judge is onto her, I think. He suggested nine to four. Then if it goes well, you get him the following weekend from nine Saturday morning to lunch on Sunday. We’ll go from there.”
“What should I do to protect Josh?”
“Exactly what you are doing. Putting him first and letting him decide. Don’t engage with Roxanne. If she comes after you, you call me.”
He stood. “Now, my car is making a funny noise. Can you squeeze me in?”
I knew he was trying to distract me. I appreciated the fact that he’d come here to see me—to tell me face-to-face that Roxanne wasn’t going to accept this quietly.
But this time, I wasn’t going away so easily.