Chapter 14 #2
“It was on a bun like a sub sandwich, but it wasn’t from the sub shop!”
I’d never considered buying the long buns, but maybe I should.
Except the vultures here would probably eat them first. I’d have to come up with other options for meals.
My siblings and Bruce were capable of feeding themselves.
I was tempted to vent to her again, but what was the point?
With an internal sigh, I stood up. “We need to go, Arne.”
Tonya arrived on time and the boys greeted each other happily.
“Thanks,” I said as I did up my seat belt.
“No problem. Any word on the car?”
“I’m waiting for a quote.”
Tonya gave me a smirk as she pulled out into the street. “I didn’t think you’d have it fixed yet and was also sure you wouldn’t ask for a lift.”
“Guilty,” I said.
“Just warning you, I’m going to come by before every soccer game until I see you driving a vehicle again.”
I had to swallow. “Thank you.”
Tonya and I herded the boys to the field once we’d arrived at the park and settled in chairs.
“So, what did you do for childcare with the power outage today?” she asked after pulling out a can of sparkling water.
Someone fell on the field, so there was a pause till she got up again. No tears.
“I took him to work with me.”
“That’s allowed?”
“In this case, yes.” Tonya was as good a friend as I had right now, and I needed to tell someone. “The client is the guy I dated in high school, and he’s willing to let Arne come if needed. It’s not a difficult assignment.”
“That’s nice of him… Wait, didn’t you go out with a hockey player?”
My claim to fame in PoCo. “Yep.”
Her eyes rounded. “JJ? The guy from the Blaze?”
I nodded.
“Get out of— Seriously? Is it okay to work for people you know?”
“There was extra paperwork because of that. He had a couple of other PSWs and there were problems, because of who he is. He wanted someone he could trust to protect his privacy.”
Tonya shook her head. “Well, you’re certainly that. You’ve never mentioned him.”
“It was a long time ago.”
“Any regrets?”
I shrugged.
Tonya huffed. “I imagined most of your clients as old and cranky.”
I pictured Justin on the treadmill and hoped I wasn’t blushing. “That does describe some of them.”
“Next time, if you need childcare and don’t have a client that obliging, call me. Barney loves playing with Arne, so in a lot of ways it’s easier to have him around.”
Was she serious? She was. But there was no way I could add to the debt I owed her. “Thank you. That’s very kind.”
She waved a hand. “I’ll get you back. Drop Barney on you when Brody and I want to have a date.”
“Absolutely,” I agreed, but I hoped it didn’t come to that. I shared a room and a pair of twin beds with Arne. There wasn’t much space for a sleepover.
“Arne’s going to be even more interested in playing hockey, I bet. I asked, and one of the kids in Barney’s hockey camp had to cancel. Do you want the information?”
Oh hell. “I…I don’t know.”
“The offer stands, to borrow our equipment. Barney would be thrilled. I can even pick Arne up if you want—it’s not a problem. I won’t say anything more, but I had to let you know.”
“How much is it?” Whatever this would cost would just be a drop in the bucket of what it would be if we did more than this camp.
“I’ll send you the brochure.”
“I’ll think about it, okay?”
Tonya gave me a smile. “It’s tough, doing the single mom thing with a family to take care of too. I’m fortunate to be where I am right now, so I’m happy to help when I can. But your call.”
I would love to be able to give Arne something he was this excited about. But depending on what the car cost, it was probably totally impossible.
I was quiet on the way home, thanking Tonya again as she waved my gratitude away. Arne and I headed up the driveway to the door.
“I didn’t say anything about Mr. Johnson. I almost did, but I didn’t.”
“I’m proud of you. For that and for your game.”
He slowed to a walk, expression falling. “But I might forget. And Mr. Johnson would be upset.”
I stopped and faced my son. “Arne, people will find out that he’s here.”
“I haven’t told anyone, I promise.”
“I know, sweetie. But other people aren’t as considerate, and he’s kind of well known.”
“So I don’t have to keep it a secret?”
I sighed. “It would be good not to talk about it. Because…” I could see the question he was about to ask. “If people know you’ve met him and that I’m working for him, they might ask you to get things from him. And we don’t want to take advantage of him, do we?”
His forehead was creased in a frown. “Are we not supposed to get his autograph? Because Barney has some autographs.”
“I bet Barney got those when there was a team event. The players are there to sign things, and it’s just for a little while. But famous people get asked to sign autographs and take pictures all the time. Like, when they’re getting ice cream, and then their ice cream melts.”
That seemed to connect with him. “Oh, that would be bad. It’s like when you’re watching TV and Grandpa Bruce asks you to do something. He should only ask when the show is over.”
That was uncannily accurate of Arne, but I didn’t want to cause any conflict at home.
“Something like that. But Grandpa Bruce doesn’t ask me when we go out to eat or interrupt me when I’m watching you play.”
“What happens if I accidentally tell someone about Mr. Johnson?”
“Nothing bad. If anyone asks you to get his picture or autograph, you just say no. But sometimes people are pushy, so I thought it would be better not to tell them.”
He sighed. “I wish people would just all be nice and then we wouldn’t have to worry.”
Wouldn’t that be great?