15. Río
RíO
The SUV stops in front of an imposing brick structure with a sign, The Haverford School, prominently displayed. Beneath the name, the sign says, Education for Down Syndrome Children.
What have I gotten myself into? I know nothing about disabilities, and even less about interacting with kids. To be fair, Mila is the same age as my own stepsister, but I can’t remember the last time I actually talked with her. I rub sweaty palms over my thighs.
Stealing a glance at my babysitter, her face is a study in excitement.
It’s clear she loves her sister. Her only remaining family.
We’ve lived divergent lives, to be sure.
But for her needing to take UC’s jet from the awards ceremony she wrangled me to, I wouldn’t be here with her.
The fact she invited me along—more accurately, I invited myself—has to mean something.
This woman loves deep and hard. For the first time in my life, a longing to be the recipient of such emotion rises.
I get out of the vehicle behind Hayden, who is vibrating with desire to see her sister. I offer her my arm. “Ready?”
Her fingertips slide underneath the crook of my elbow. “Very much.”
Together, we enter the school where some administrator approaches us. “Miss Vaughn, we’re so glad you’re here. Your sister’s in her room.”
“Great.” Hayden turns to me. “You can wait in the lobby. I hope this won’t take more than an hour or so.”
We’ve come this far, there’s no way I’m going to be left behind. “I’m good. I want to meet your sister.”
Hayden and the administrator exchange glances, then my babysitter leans in and forces a smile. “Are you sure?”
“I am.” I know I need to meet Mila if I want to better understand Hayden. Which I do. After last night—hell, before then—she’s all I can think about.
The three of us walk down an unusually welcoming and cheery hallway and stop in front of a door. The administrator says she’s going to enter first, and Hayden should come in after five minutes. The administrator disappears inside the room.
Hayden paces the hall, glancing at her sister’s door every thirty seconds. On the cement wall, I begin a beat in time with her strides. After a minute, she stops and offers a self-deprecating laugh. “What can I say? I’m nervous. I hope I can calm Mila down.”
“I have no doubt. She’ll probably take one look at you and give you a big hug.”
She smiles. “I hope so. She gives amazing hugs.”
The door opens and Hayden is called inside. Before she enters, I say, “I’ll be right here, waiting for my chance to meet your sister.” I kiss her forehead.
Then I’m alone.
Glancing around, I notice a large plastic bucket on the floor and remember the busker in Barcelona.
Without much thought, I pick it up and flip it upside down.
Down the hallway, another bucket is off to the side.
Guess the school was preparing to use them for something?
They won’t mind me borrowing them for a short while, I’m sure.
I make a mental note of where I got each one and create a small drum setup.
If I only had my sticks with me. No matter, I can use my hands. I tap a happy beat, hoping my little music will help Mila get over whatever it is she’s going through. About ten minutes later, Mila’s door opens and three women step outside.
“Río?”
Hayden’s question brings me to my feet. “Hey.” I point to my makeshift drums. “Hope you don’t mind, but I found these lying around.”
Before Hayden can respond, the administrator says, “No problem. We got these buckets in preparation for a painting project that hasn’t happened yet.”
My gaze travels to the shorter girl peeking around Hayden. Should I shake her hand? Would she be afraid if a strange man touched her? Not knowing proper etiquette, I wave. “Hi, Mila. Your sister’s told me so much about you.”
Hayden turns and puts her arm around Mila. “Would it be okay if I introduced you to my friend, Río?”
The girl giggles. “That’s a funny name.”
“Hey,” I mock tease her. “My real name is River.”
“Like where I go for picnics when it’s warm?”
Hayden tousles her hair. “Exactly. Only that’s his name. River.” Hayden glances at me.
After a brief pause, she says, “My real name is Mila,” she announces.
“I like your name,” I say, and the girl’s smile could light a stadium.
Her head tilts. “What are you doing in my hall?”
“I was making a drum set. Do you play an instrument?” I look at Hayden who nods at me.
For her part, Mila lifts her chin. “I play triangle.”
“Oh, that’s a very important part of the drum line. Do you have your triangle in your room?”
“I do!” The girl turns and disappears into her bedroom.
Hayden puts her hand on top of mine. “You don’t have to do this, you know.”
“It’s fine. I really want to meet Mila.”
The administrator approaches us. “Miss Vaughn, if your friend here can keep Mila occupied for ten minutes or so, I’d like to speak with you privately.”
Hayden looks at me. I don’t let her object. “Of course. Go have your meeting. I’ll make sure Mila has a wicked triangle solo.”
My babysitter’s gaze bounces between me and the administrator. “Are you sure?”
“Definitely.”
“Here it is!” Mila bounds into the hall. Sure enough, she’s holding a triangle.
I take it from her hand and pretend to inspect it on all sides. “Wow.” I pass it back to her. “You have the best triangle I’ve ever seen.”
The girl hugs it into her body. Hayden puts her hands on both of her sister’s shoulders. “I need to talk with Mrs. Smitty, Mila. Are you good if I leave you here with Rí, River for a couple of minutes?”
For some reason, I suck in my breath. Her sister’s words feel like they’re going to determine more than the next ten minutes. After a pause, Mila gives Hayden a nod. “Yes. I will stay here with Mr. River.”
Since when did I become Mr. River? I stifle a chuckle.
“Great!” Hayden hugs her sister again, then the pair approach me. “Río, my sister would like a quick lesson on the drums. Are you good with that?”
I offer Mila a smile. “I’d be honored. What do you think about playing the drums while I play your triangle?” As I’m speaking, Hayden and the administrator disappear down the hall. I reach out my hand.
In response, the girl pulls her instrument to her chest. I quickly rejigger. “Or, I could play the drums and you could add in the triangle?”
“Okay. I’ll try.”
“Sounds like a great plan to me.” I resist the urge to give her a hug like her sister did and take my place behind the plastic buckets.
Settling myself onto the floor, I bounce my hands on the buckets, quietly testing the loudness and her reaction to it.
After a few rhythms, Mila hits the triangle, surprisingly in time with my beat. “That’s great!”
My praise is received with an enormous smile, as she continues to supplement my beats. I come to a natural pause. “Whew. That was fun, but I’m tired. Are you sure you’re not interested in hitting the drums for a while?”
She bites her lip, so reminiscent of her sister. “I think I can!” She rushes toward me as I get to my feet. “Here!” She shoves her triangle at my chest as she takes her seat on the floor behind the unusual drum kit and immediately starts banging.
I let her randomly hit the buckets for a minute, then clink the triangle. She looks up at me, beaming. “Want me to show you a couple of beats?”
“Okay.”
A win! I show her a simple rhythm on the two buckets and she studies my moves intently.
She nods and tries to replicate what I showed her.
To be honest, she more resembles an out-of-control muppet than a drummer, but she’s having fun.
That’s what’s important. I add a few dings on the triangle as she wails on the pails.
She slows down and I give one final ting on the triangle. “Great job, Mila!”
The little girl stands and runs over to me and gives me the hug I’ve been missing all my life. Her head lands on my torso and surprisingly strong arms squeeze my waist. “Thank you!” Still embracing, she tilts her face toward mine. “I’m so happy Hayden found you, Mr. River. She’s the bestest.”
My chin points downward to hers. “She is pretty great.”
“Did you know she took open water training so she could go into the ocean with me? Only the most amazing sister would do that.”
“You’re one lucky girl.”
She hugs me tighter. “I am. And now I have a river to go swimming with too!” She giggles and steps back.
“Sounds like I missed a great concert.”
Hayden’s observation snaps me out of the spell her sister put me under. “You sure did.”
Mila races to her sister, yammering a mile a minute about how I taught her all about drums. Giving them space, my mind spins.
When have I ever given a woman any attention time except what was needed to get into her pants?
Before Hayden, never. Now, I asked—asked!
—her permission to touch her boob last night.
And nearly begging to meet her sister? Once I did, something inside of me wanted to teach her my pride and joy, even in the form of plastic buckets.
The little nugget about Hayden taking first aid swim lessons so her sister could enjoy the ocean? Priceless.
“Isn’t that right, Río?”
A younger voice corrects, “Mr. River.”
Hayden rephrases. “Mila here doesn’t let just anyone play her triangle. I guess being the drummer for a world-famous rock band gave you certain permissions?”
“Wait!” Her sister stomps her foot at me. “You’re with a band?”
“I am,” I reply. “Your sister works with us, and she’s great.”
Mila repeats her earlier pronouncement. “She’s the bestest!”
Hayden grabs her sister’s hands. “You’re going to be fine without me for a while, right, Mila?”
She nods. “I promise.”
“We’ll talk on the phone all the time,” Hayden presses. “You’ll listen to Mrs. Smitty for me?”
Her sister looks at the floor. I need to strain to hear what she says. “I threw my cellphone today and it broke.”
Hayden touches her sister’s cheek. “That’s alright. I’ll get you another one.” She gives Mila a kiss. “Well, River—”
“Mr. River.”