Her hair was splayed out around her and Zach couldn’t help but stare at how dainty her nose looked or how pale her skin was against her dark eyelashes.
Realizing that he was staring a bit too long, Zach turned and made his way into the kitchen to find a glass for water. After it was filled, he downed it. Just as he set the glass down on the counter, he heard a noise behind him.
Turning—and expecting to see Danielle there—he was surprised when he was met with the dark eyes and blond hair of Jesse. He was tall for a six-year-old. His curious expression peeking up at him.
“Who are you?” he asked.
Zach coughed at the directness of Jesse. He didn’t have a lot of experience with little kids. He folded his arms and leaned against the counter. “I’m here to help with your bathroom,” he said.
Jesse turned and glanced in the direction of the bathroom. “That’s Roger’s job.”
Confused Zach leaned forward. “Who’s Roger?”
Jesse shrugged. “The guy that fixes our house.”
Zach nodded. “Okay.”
Jesse studied him and Zach felt as if he would melt under his scrutiny. Not sure what to do, he gave Jesse a smile.
“Can you reach that cupboard?” Jesse asked, nodding toward the cupboard above the refrigerator.
Zach glanced over and then back to Jesse. “Yeah, why?”
Jesse gave him a big grin. “Mom lets me have a piece of candy after lunch. Do you think you could get one down for me?”
Zach peeked over at Danielle who was still asleep. “How about we go out for some ice cream and let your mom sleep a bit longer?”
Jesse’s eyes lit up as he nodded. “Okay,” he said, rushing over to the door to grab his sandals and slip them on.
Zach grabbed his wallet and the two of them were outside the apartment within just a few minutes. They walked down the hall toward the elevator. The air was sticky and hot and Zach couldn’t help but notice the tiny window air conditioning unit that was barely working much less expelling out cool air.
Once they were in the elevator, Zach glanced down at Jesse who was bouncing on his toes as he pushed the first floor button and the doors slid close.
“Do you play any sports?” Zach asked. With this kid’s energy, he knew if Jesse wasn’t, he needed to be.
Jesse shrugged. “Mom’s too busy. She tries. I know it makes her sad.” There was a moment of silence in the elevator as Jesse got a far off look in his eye. Then just as quickly as it came, it passed, and he was back to fidgeting.
Zach wanted to say something. It broke his heart seeing this little boy look upset. Zach had always been a fixer growing up. That was probably why he was always passed over. Isaac would reel the girls in and Zach would be the one to pick up their broken hearts.
The elevator doors opened and Zach and Jesse stepped out into the foyer. Zach had to call Jesse back a few times as they walked down the sidewalk toward Ivonna Cone Parlor. He held open the door and ushered Jesse into the cool air-conditioning.
It took a while for Jesse to pick what he wanted and Zach ordered after him. Once the ice cream was handed to them, Zach paid and then motioned for Jesse to follow him to the table. Theysat in silence, each devouring their ice cream. Jesse finished his bubble gum and superman mixture in just a few minutes, his lips and cheeks were dyed blue.
Zach smiled at him as he reached over and pulled some napkins out of the dispenser on the table. After motioning to Jesse’s face, Jesse took them and attempted to wipe the ice cream off, but failed. Smeared blue ice cream streaked across his cheek, but he didn’t seem to notice. Instead, he crumpled up the napkin and dumped it into his now empty bowl.
Zach shook his head as he finished his ice cream. Should he help Jesse? It was what he’d seen most parents do, but he wasn’t Jesse’s parent. Would it be weird for him to reach over and wipe it off?
Going with not wanting it to be weird, Zach just let it go. He turned his focus to Jesse. He didn’t know why, but for some reason, he wanted to know more about the kid. The fact that he’d been such a big part of Danielle’s life during the time she’d been gone, caused him to wonder what she’d been up to.
“Are you excited to start school in the fall?” Zach asked, leaning back and folding his arms across his chest.
Jesse looked up at him and shrugged. “School stinks.”
Zach studied him. He wondered what grade Jesse was in. “It’s not too bad.”
Jesse wrinkled his nose. “Yes it is. It’s boring and they give too much homework.”
Zach couldn’t remember any of his elementary years much less the amount of homework that was handed out. So, he just shrugged. “I’m sure they’ll go light on you. You’re in what, first grade?”
