Me: Jake and I will be gone by 5:30. The garage code is 1215; you can let yourself in.
Gabe: You guys don’t have to leave. I’ll bring pizza from Caruso’s.
Me: I don’t want to be inyour way.
Gabe: You won’t be in my way. I actually would prefer you stay so you can show me where you want your fridge and microwave.
Me: Okay… then shouldn’t I be the one buying the pizza?
Gabe: Nope. I’ll see you tomorrow.
I’d thought it was best to keep Jake away from Gabe. I didn’t want to upset him by reminding him of his son that he’d lost, so I’d planned on taking Jake to see the latest animated movie, even though I was worried he wouldn’t be able to sit still after the first forty-five minutes. That was his max when we watched movies at home.
I decided to see if my parents or sister could watch him Friday instead and we’d shoot for a matinee on Saturday.
As luck would have it, my mom was thrilled at the prospect of babysitting her only grandchild.
“Of course. Just bring his overnight bag, and we’ll keep him until Saturday.”
“You don’t have to do that, Mom. I should be able to pick him up no later than nine.”
I couldn’t imagine Gabe would want to work past then after having worked all day.
“Nonsense. There’s no point waking him up when he’s perfectly fine here.”
“Are you sure you don’t mind?”
“Honey, we love that little boy and love having him around. It’s no trouble.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow.”
I hung up the phone and burst into tears, so grateful for my parents. I wasn’t sure what I’d dowithout them.
How could Jake’s grandparents want to see him more than his own father?
Chapter Forty-One
Gabe
I was going to place my pizza order with Caruso’s, when I realized I wasn’t sure if Jake ate anything on his. Deciding it was better to be safe than sorry, I sent Gretchen a text.
Me: What does Jake like on his pizza?
Gretchen: He usually just eats cheese, but I didn’t want him to get in the way so he’s staying at my parents tonight.
While my mind immediately went to cutting Beau loose as soon as possible so I could be alone with her, I didn’t like the part where she wrote, “I didn’t want him to get in the way”.
Instead of texting back, I immediately dialed her number.
She answered on the second ring.
“Hello?”
“He wouldn’t be in the way.”
“He’s two years old. Of course he would be.”
