Sweet Satisfaction

“Of course. Whatever you need .”

She smiled. “I remember when you were still in the Corps and I told you I’d wait for you during deployments. It’s like that I guess .”

I stopped loading the train set. “It’s not like that.” I eyed her. “I’m not waiting for you to come home .”

Grayson had plopped himself in front of the TV. That was one thing I had to work on. She gave him way too much screen time. I wanted him to be outside. Even if it was a hundred degrees .

“Ok. But you and Grayson will be here when I get back .”

“Right. But I just don’t want you to think it’s something else, Amber. I’m doing this for my son .”

>

She crossed her arms. “Ok. Ok. I get it. It’s not for me. You don’t have to hurt my feelings on purpose .”

I sighed. “I’m not trying to do that. Why don’t I take this to the truck and I’ll be back to get Grayson?” I walked to the door and rode the elevator .

The sooner I had the new custody papers drawn up the safer I was. Amber could change her mind tomorrow and decide she’d rather be a chef in Hawaii or a cruise ship performer even though she couldn’t sing .

I placed Grayson’s bags in the backseat, careful not to let the tracks spill on the floor. I made a second trip up the elevator .

I walked inside the apartment .

“Ok. I’m set .”

Amber knelt next to our son. “I’ll see you tomorrow. Ok ?”

He hugged her. “You too, Mommy .”

It was like shoving a dagger between my ribs. It didn’t matter that I didn’t love her, or that I never had. Watching a boy separated from his mother was painful. I took him by the hand .

Amber waved from the kitchen and blew us each a kiss .

I pretended to catch one for Grayson and pressed it into his chubby cheek .

“Bye Mommy .”

The door closed behind us and we drove toward his new home .

Twenty-One

Kaitlyn

I had babysat a thousand times. I even nannied one summer in college. I was great with children. I could have been a teacher. But as I twisted my hands together, I’d never been more scared of a child in my life than meeting Cole’s son Grayson .

What if he was shy? What if he didn’t let me near him? Cole needed my help to get the Dunes ready for the summer season. I had already decided part of that meant watching his child. But what if this was a colossal mess ?

I bit the inside of my lip .

The truck pulled into the parking lot. I flattened my palms against my shorts and walked outside .

Cole parked at the end of the parking lot in front of the unit he stayed in. I took a deep breath. I walked toward them, watching him unlock the straps on the car seat .

My heart was already melting. He lifted the tiny person into his arms and turned to face me .

I smiled. “Hi, Grayson .”

“Grayson, this is my special friend, Kaitlyn .”