Rose #3
It’s a little busier than it was a few minutes ago, though the lunchtime rush hasn’t hit the diner yet.
Ben is sitting on the same stool Joel put him on, a small chocolate milkshake in front of him.
Win leans on the counter, talking to him.
Another man is in the kitchen. He’s older, with short dark hair threaded with gray, and he grins at me when he sees me.
“Nico Georgiou,” Joel says as we walk toward Ben. “It’s his place.”
“Everything okay?” Win asks, frowning when he notices my red eyes.
“Fine.” I take a seat on the stool beside Ben. “Sorry I was gone so long.”
“No need to apologize,” Win says.
“The chocolate shake is my treat.” Nico steps out of the kitchen with three white pie boxes. “For a little man minding his manners and being so well-behaved while waiting for his mom to come back.”
Ben sits up straighter in his seat, glancing at me as if to make sure I heard the praise.
If there’s one way to get my son to behave, it’s treating him like he’s successfully done an adult thing.
“Then I’d agree Ben definitely deserved a treat.” I grin at Nico for reading Ben so well. “I appreciate your offer, but I can pay for the shake.”
Nico slides the pie boxes across the counter to Joel. “Consider it a treat for Ben and a welcome to town. I’m Nico. Lina told me about you and Ben and that I’ll see you on Saturday for my grandson’s birthday party. I usually close the diner for a couple of hours so I can spend time with family.”
“Rose, and I can’t wait for the party. Neither can Ben.” I’d forgotten Nico was Lina’s father, but the resemblance between them is definitely there.
Joel picks up the boxes. “I'd better get these to the station, or they’ll wonder what happened to me.” He tweaks Ben’s nose. “I’ll see you later, little man. Be good for your mom.”
“I will,” Ben promises.
Joel turns to me, softening his gaze. “I’ll see you at home later?”
Home.
What is this strange, warm feeling in my belly, and why do I want it to never go away?
“Okay,” I tell him.
Joel says goodbye to Win and Nico, then leaves to return to the firehouse with the pies.
Win glances toward the kitchen as Nico leaves to top off someone’s coffee. “I’d better get back to work.”
“Thanks for watching him,” I say.
“We were just chatting.” Win winks and points his finger to his nose in a secretive gesture that makes Ben giggle. “You should order a banana milkshake,” he says to me.
“Yeah?” It’s never been my favorite. I prefer strawberry, but the banana I had for breakfast was soothing on my stomach and gave me energy I desperately needed. “You know what? You might have a point. I think I will.”
When Win returns to work, I order myself a banana milkshake—hoping my belly won’t reject it—along with fries. Ben has a burger and fries from the kids’ menu.
We eat our lunch in an increasingly busy diner, surrounded by the sounds of conversation and laughter, with Win’s terrible singing drawing smiles from everyone. Then we head to Lucky’s store to buy Ben’s potential new friend a birthday gift.
Walking through the front door feels like a homecoming.
Win gave me a spare set of keys when we moved in so I could come and go whenever I wanted, so maybe that’s why.
Maybe it’s because it’s so cozy and comfortable. It could be because Ben has been treating it like a home almost from day one, leaving his toys everywhere, no matter how much I work with him to put away his Lego.
After wrapping Harry’s gift, a train we found in Lucky’s Toy Store, I leave Ben watching cartoons in the living room and head down to the basement to switch out the laundry from the washing machine to the dryer.
This morning, before Win, Murph, and Joel left for work, I asked if they wanted me to throw in any of their stuff as well.
The laundry is never-ending with an active five-year-old who has recently discovered the joys of cartwheeling in the backyard, and who has a habit of wearing whatever he’s eating.
“You didn’t move in to do our laundry. We take care of that on weekends, like we usually do with housework," Murph said quietly but firmly.
The guys come home from work, filling the house with conversation and laughter, asking about our day as I ask about theirs, and Ben runs circles around everyone.
Dinner is easy.
Win throws together a quick meal of pasta, meat sauce, garlic toast, and green beans. Ben gives Win, Murph, and Joel’s plates a quick glance, then eats his green beans without needing a bribe.
I fall asleep on the couch after dinner, waking up with a blanket covering me, the TV on low, and Murph, Win, and Joel sitting cross-legged on the floor building Lego with Ben.
And I just watch them, knowing one of them will soon realize I’m awake and this perfect moment will end, but for now, I soak up their quiet conversation and laughter with a stupid smile on my face.
Murph looks at me, does a double-take, and winces. “Sorry, did we wake you?”
Still smiling, I shake my head. “No, you didn’t wake me. Got room for one more before it’s this little one’s bedtime?” I get up from the couch.
Win scoots over. “Sure. And watch out for that—”
I wince. “Too late.”
I lift my foot, and Joel picks up the Lego I stepped on. “Sorry. I was actually looking for that piece.”
I sit cross-legged on the floor, tempted to grab my phone for a quick photo, but I cherish this moment instead.