Chapter 11
Jeannie
Mommy-Mobile Memories
I was having so much fun, it actually felt a little illegal.
Wild, because I was just sitting in a mini-van, sipping my overly syrupy coffee and pointing to different light displays all around us.
Not exactly what teenage me would consider a crazy night on the town, but whatever, I was old now, and it was what it was.
Well, old according to my teenage self. Thirty was basically ancient, and honestly, my lower back agreed.
“I think the musical one is down this cul-de-sac,” Remy said, his excitement making his lyrical accent more pronounced.
It was funny, I was familiar with Creole culture from television, but those accents were so thick that some were even borderline incomprehensible.
But Remy’s wasn’t like that at all. Although he did say he was from the area, I couldn’t help but think that it was a bit strange that we had our own sub-cultures in America that weren’t really talked about all that often.
“I think I see it! I think I see it!” Max cheered from the back, in a spare booster seat that Remy happened to have. I knew it wasn’t exactly common for nine-year-olds to need one, but with his low bodyweight, we kept using one for safety.
“Me too, buddy,” Remy answered, just as thrilled, and my stomach did a little flip at that.
The way Remy treated my son was giving me some serious butterflies, and I wasn’t entirely sure they were appropriate. As far as I knew, he was simply being kind and generous, but here I was, thirsting after him like I’d never tasted water.
It really wasn’t like me.
But what was a woman supposed to do when faced with such sweetness, a dashing smile, and green eyes that could melt frozen butter? On top of that, he was funny and had made my kid’s night. Ugh. Swoonworthy.
I tried to remind myself to keep that twitterpation in check, however.
Just because Remy was being kind didn’t mean he deserved to be objectified.
Didn’t I hate when random men did that to me?
Or at least that was what the prim and proper side of my brain kept saying.
The other part wanted to peel his shirt off with my teeth.
What was he wearing under that light coat of his? A flannel? A Henley? A muscle tank? God, his broad, thick, and muscled frame would look droolworthy in a fitted shirt.
I shook those thoughts away as Remy turned the corner onto the street, and we joined a lengthy line of cars rolling through the cul-de-sac at a snail’s pace. None of us minded however, because the display was truly amazing.
All five of the houses had banded together to make a scene that traveled across the little circle, back and forth as the lengthy song demanded.
I couldn’t even imagine all the work and creativity that had gone into it.
It was touching that these strangers had put so much effort into creating something that brought joy to people they wouldn’t talk to or even see really.
Sometimes, humanity really got it right.
The rest of the ride was a blur of laughs, sounds of wonder, and shaky videos taken on my phone. I wished it could last forever. No job to worry about, no bills. Just living in the moment and truly being alive.
Once we were on the other side of nine p.m., I glanced to the back. Max was starting to nod off, his head falling forward to his chest only to snap back up a few moments later.
Our day had started with him having near-debilitating leg cramps.
I’d carried him to the bath and put him in the water, then rubbed his legs to get his muscles to relax.
It had been so bad, I was going to text Remy to cancel.
But Max was absolutely adamant that we not.
His cramps had eased enough that he wasn’t in terrible pain, and there was a reason we had multiple mobility aids.
He’d reminded me that he would still enjoy the light tour in his wheelchair just as much as he would on his own two feet.
And boy, life really had proven how correct he was. If I had given into that fear, if I hadn’t listened to him or trusted him, I wouldn’t have the photos or all the wonderful memories that we just made.
Everything felt so fated. So meant to be. I was a tad worried I was trusting a stranger a little too much, but my son was having the best Christmas he’d probably ever had.
And it wasn’t even the big day yet.
“Where are we going next?” Addy asked as we joined the line of cars to get back onto the main road.
“That’s it for tonight, Addy,” Remy said.
“Aww! Really?” Eva objected.
“Isn’t there anywhere else we can go?”
Remy looked like he was going to reprimand them gently, but Max spoke before he could.
“I’m gonna be honest, I don’t think I can last much longer. I’m, like, mega tired.”
“Oh, okay,” Addy said, and that was that.
Immediate acceptance and no argument. It really made me wonder if the girls having a mother with disabilities had just primed them to be the perfect friends for Max.
I would be lying if I said I wasn’t worried about his friend situation.
I was hoping to get him into school full-time next year, and it was hard not to fret about how he’d socialize in an environment like that.
Seeing him interact with the girls took the edge off, though.
Sure, not everyone would be like them, but it gave me hope that he would gel with some of the kids.
“Shall we head back to your car?” Remy asked.
I blinked at him, realizing I’d miscalculated a bit.
“Oh… Uh, Max and I took an Uber because it was cheaper than the parking around the area with handicap-accessible spots. I suppose if you wanna drop us off on the side of the road, or take us back to where the tour started, we can Uber back home.”
The easiest thing to do would be to ask him to drive us to our place, but that would be pushing it after the food at the ice rink, the photos, and the coffee and hot chocolate. I was ever so grateful for his charity, but I never, ever wanted to be greedy and entitled by asking for too much.
“Nonsense. You’re already in the car, so why don’t I just drive you home? As long as you’re comfortable, that is.”
For the billionth time, my first instinct was to turn him down, but his words from earlier echoed in my head. Sometimes, our first reactions weren’t our real ones, so if I waited a beat, what did my heart say?
Well, it said that Max was already half asleep. And maybe, just maybe, if it was for my son, it was okay to be a little bit greedy.
“Are you sure that won’t put you out too much? You mentioned you live in the suburbs, and I’m pretty deep in the city. It’ll add almost an hour to your trip.”
“That’s perfectly fine with me,” Addy said from the back, startling me. Sometimes the kids were so involved with each other that I forgot they could hear us. “More time spent together. Besides, I’m not ready to go to bed yet.”
“Addy, Miss Jeannie and I were having an adult conversation. Remember what I said about interrupting?”
“Right. I need to ask permission to join the conversation.”
“Very good. But, as for the matter at hand, Jeannie, I promise you’re not putting me out.”
“If you’re sure, then we wouldn’t mind a ride home. I really appreciate you doing all of this for us.”
“It’s as much for us as it is for you. We quite enjoy your company.”
“Permission to join the conversation?” Addy asked from the back, and I stifled a chuckle. She was quite adorable in a very specific sort of way.
“Permission granted,” I answered quickly.
“Daddy is telling the truth. We really like hanging with Max and would like to continue to do so in the future.”
“Mmm…too…” Max said blearily, his eyes closed and his chin still resting on his chest. Oh, he was so close to being out-out. I would not be surprised if he even slept until noon the next day. But I wasn’t complaining. He certainly could use the rest with how active he’d been lately.
“I’d love for you guys to hang out again too,” I agreed, twisting around to smile at her. “I really appreciate how lovely you’ve been to Max.”
“It’s no problem,” Eva added. “Max is fun!”
“Yes, I agree,” her older sister said quite sagely, like they were agreeing on a new commandment for the people. “Max is very fun. And he knows a lot of facts. And those are fun.”
“I agree,” I said with so much enthusiasm, my son would have cringed if he was fully conscious.
“Has he told you guys about immortal jellyfish yet?” He’d learned about that after binge-watching an entire nature documentary mini-series, and I’d heard him drop it in casual conversation to different people about a hundred times since.
“No.” Addy leaned forward, her eyes sparkling with the same delight Max had whenever he was about to dig into a new book. “What is it?”
“I’ll save that for him to tell you next time, since it’s one of his favorites. Just another reason for all of you to play again, right?”
“Right,” Addy, Eva, and Remy all agreed at the same time. Almost immediately, they burst into laughter, and that was enough for Max to open one of his eyes.
“Whasso funny?” he asked, blinking blearily.
“Just these three being a bunch of goofy goobers.” I reached back to ruffle his hair.
When he pressed his head against my hand, it was the perfect topping on an already delicious sundae of an outing.
I would be thinking about this wonderful night for a long time.
“Remy is gonna drive us home, so you relax for a bit. We’re about twenty minutes away, give or take. ”
“Twen’ minutes,” Max repeated, then looked at Addy. “Thanks for drivin’ me around.” She gave him a nod, which I’d figured out was her ‘thing’. Max looked at Eva next. “And thanks for walking with me. Your hands are warm.”
“Bears run hot!”
I had no idea what that meant, but Max nodded like it made perfect sense. It was probably some inside joke between them. That was okay. Not everything was my business.
“They do,” Remy said quickly. “You love bears, don’t you, Eva?”
“I love yoouu.”