My lips turned up into a smile. "I have your father to thank for that. He saved me. I don't remember anything before waking up in the water."
I didn't mention that I wished I could forget our time on the ship as well. I had the feeling Graham didn't mention that part to his son and I was fine with that.
"That's because Dad is a hero." I could hear the awe in his voice and I completely understood it. Graham was a hero.
"He sure is." I looked back and could see the hint of a blush on Graham's cheeks from his son's words and mine. If Andrew wasn't with us, I would tease him about it but I didn't think his son would understand.
"So, Andrew. Tell me about yourself?"
I listened as he described the sports he played. Graham had been right. Football was Andrew's favorite. It was easy to see in the way he described the sport and how animated he was while he talked about it. Jiu jitsu seemed to be his second love, followed lastly by baseball. Andrew didn't come right out and say it but it sounded like he merely tolerated the sport.
It wasn't until Andrew started to describe his friends that I realized Graham had one thing wrong about his son. Andrew did indeed have a crush on a girl even if he wouldn't admit it. I could tell in the way he talked about one friend in particular. The faintest blush crept up his neck that it probably wasn't noticed by most, but because his father tended to do the same, it was easy to recognize.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Graham
Watching Sarah interact with Andrew was surreal. She had him talking about himself in seconds like I've never seen before. Not that I ever brought women around him. Today was certainly a first and any reservations I may have had, disappeared within minutes. Sarah was a natural.
She talked to Andrew like she had known him her whole life. She asked the right questions and genuinely seemed interested in his answers. It was more than what I could say for his mother, who normally only pretended to care about his life. I would even go as far as saying she didn't care much about him at all other than as a tool to use against me.
"Where are you from?" This time it was Andrew asking Sarah a question.
"I currently live in South Carolina, but I'm from Georgia."
Andrew groaned. "I would love to live in South Carolina. At least it's warm there."
I shook my head as Sarah laughed. "You don't like Boston?"
I knew what my son was going to say even before the words let his mouth because they were the same thing he told me every winter.
"It's not that I don't like it. The summers are great but winters are brutal. The cold makes it tough to want to go to school some days."
"Oh, I don't know. The snow is probably pretty though. I can't remember the last time I was able to enjoy a white Christmas."
"Sure, the snow is great but I wish we could get it without the negative temperatures." Andrew didn't let up, just like I knew he wouldn't. This was the same argument he had every year for his mother as to why she should move. The fact that she couldn’t convince her husband surprised me. I would've thought she would jump at the chance to live in a warmer climate.
"I guess you're right, but it's been a long time since I've experienced it, so I can't say for sure."
"Well, you just might get your chance depending on how long this takes." I interjected for the first time since the two of them started talking.
"What do you mean?" Sarah looked at me like I had seven heads.
"We’re headed back to Boston today," I told her matter-of-factly, which I guess she didn't appreciate if her crossing her arms over her chest and popping out her hip was any indication.
"When did you decide this?"
Oh yeah. Her tone definitely said she wasn't happy.
"Last night on our way back with Andrew."
Speaking of my son, he quickly threw me under the bus with his next words. "I'm just going to go into the next room while you discuss this." He hiked a thumb and then rushed out of the room.
I was tempted to yell a few choice words at him on his way out but I stopped. None of them would be appropriate to say to my child.
"Were you going to discuss this decision with me?"
"No," I replied honestly but held up my hand when she looked like she was ready to argue. "But not because I didn't want to, but because it honestly never crossed my mind. All I was thinking about was keeping you safe and I can do that better from Boston."
