Chapter 7 Abby
CHAPTER SEVEN
Abby
“Mom, look,” Mav says, waving a piece of paper in my face. I’m not even all the way in the house yet.
“Give me just a second, bud,” I say, toeing off my shoes and hanging my jacket on a hook by the door. I turn back to face him. “Okay, go for it. Show me.”
He holds up a piece of lined paper with his handwriting on it. “I wrote a note to Oliver’s dad about me maybe hanging out with Oliver sometime.”
“Oh… okay.”
A big smile crosses his face. “Oliver brought it back today because his dad wrote on it.”
He points to the bottom, where a small section is written in pen, not Mav’s pencil.
He hands me the paper. “Can you text his dad? He wrote his phone number on there.” He looks up at me with those big, round eyes that remind me that, despite how mature he acts, he is still only seven. “Please.”
My eyes scan over the slightly slanted script on the page that does include a phone number. “Yeah, bud. I’ll text him.”
Mav wraps his arms around my waist. “Thanks, Mom. Oliver is my best friend, and I just want to hang out with him sometimes when we aren’t at school.”
“I’m sure his dad and I can figure something out.”
He gives me one last squeeze before darting up the stairs with his backpack in hand.
“Let me know if you need help with your homework,” I holler after him.
“I won’t,” he says confidently.
I chuckle to myself because he absolutely will not need me at all.
I pull out my phone and plug the new number in. I need to text him now, or I’m likely to forget later once I start cooking dinner and everything.
Me: Hi. My son brought home a note with your number on it today. I really hope this is Oliver’s dad. If not, this is going to be rather embarrassing.
I don’t get a response right away, so I start folding the three loads of laundry I neglected while Mav was at school.
Mav is finally in bed for the night after he read a book to me about photosynthesis. Sometimes I just have to shake my head at his interests. They make him happy, though, and that’s all I really care about.
I’m curled up on the couch with a warm blanket and a glass of white wine in hand. I’m deciding what to watch when my phone vibrates on the couch cushion beside me.
Oliver’s Dad: That made me laugh out loud. Oliver stared at me like I was crazy.
Oliver’s Dad: I’m not catfishing you. Promise.
Oliver’s Dad: Sorry for taking so long to respond. It was a long night. Also… sorry about text-bombing you.
I chuckle to myself at how endearing this guy is. I have literally three text messages to go off, but I’m already getting a good vibe.
Me: No worries. I’m a fan of multiple texts. It comes across as almost…
Me: Sweet?!?!
Oliver’s Dad: Is there a limit to them being sweet?
My head tilts to the side as I contemplate his question.
Me: As long as it’s in single digits, I think you’re still in safe territory. After that, it seems a little…
Oliver’s Dad: Desperate?
Me: Bingo.
Oliver’s Dad: I promise to keep it to nine and under in a row.
Me: Appreciated.
Oliver’s Dad: So, back to the kids…
Me: Right… kids.
Me: Want to maybe meet up at a park or something, so they can hang out there? Neither one of us has to send our kid with a stranger that way.
I don’t think he’s a bad guy, but text messages can be deceiving. I don’t trust anyone with Mav until I know them.
Oliver’s Dad: Should I be concerned? Are you a murderer or something?
Me: Not yet…
Me: Okay… just seeing how that might come across through texts. NO… definitely not a murderer.
Oliver’s Dad: Noted.
Oliver’s Dad: Saturday? The park with all the climbing stuff by the football field?
Me: Yes and yes… two?
Oliver’s Dad: Sounds good.
Oliver’s Dad: Oliver is going to be excited.
I set my phone down beside me, taking a sip of my wine. I can’t stop smiling.
I have no idea who this guy is. He’s probably married, for all I know, but talking to him just made my day a little bit better.
Friends.
Yeah, we can be friends.