For Lucy

“This is my field.”

She jumps, turning toward me. I’m instantly rewarded with a tiny smile.

“Why? Did you rob it of all its trees?”

I chuckle. “No. Well, Will might have done it before I started working for the company. It’s been vacant for years. I heard they’re finally going to develop the land next spring.”

“I see.”

Does she? Does she see through my idle chitchat to my nerves? She hasn’t made me this nervous since our first date.

“Did Lucy tell you she walked across the therapy room yesterday with a walker?”

I grin. “You mean did she freak out and insist I order pizza and pick up ice cream? Yes.”

“Did she tell you Josh is taking her to a Royals game this weekend? He has a friend who knows the owner and they’re going to watch from a dugout suite.”

Fucking Josh …

“They? You’re not going?”

“Two of my students made it to the finals in a local competition, so I’ll be there with them. It’s in the morning, and I’ll be done before it starts, but just barely. I didn’t want to hold them up. Half the fun is getting there early to watch the players warm up. Besides …. I have a dirty house that I desperately need to clean.”

“I can go. I mean … do we really trust Lucy with Josh?”

Tatum rolls her eyes.

“You know …” I rub my lips together for a few seconds, contemplating the best way to ask my question. “You haven’t said anything about your engagement. Can I ask what happened with that?”

She kicks at a few rocks while staring at her feet. “I said I couldn’t make any life-changing decisions until I see Lucy making progress that might lead me to think she’ll be walking by her senior year.”

“She’s already walking. Maybe with a walker, but she’ll be on her own in no time.”

Tatum nods slowly. “Yeah, I know. I’m just …”

“Hey.” I hold up my hands. “I’m not pushing you into anything. Just a question between friends.”

She glances up.

I lift a single shoulder. “I mean … we’re friends, right?”

“Friends …” she repeats like she’s trying it on for size.

“I’m going to head home before Lucy wakes up.” I jab a thumb over my shoulder.

“Okay. Make sure Lucy’s ready Sunday by eleven.”

“Will do.” I jog back home, feeling a little high from our chance encounter and the indecision she feels for Dr. Josh. I wish I could take credit for it, but I know it’s just her. She’s not spontaneous by nature; it’s how I’ve conditioned her to be over the years. But now I’m not part of her daily life, nudging her closer to the edge and telling her to just close her eyes and jump. And I’m sure as fuck not going to encourage her to go all in and marry Dr. Josh.

After I get Lucy loaded up with Josh, and in the kindest way possible let him know he’d better take good care of my whole damn world, I clean the bathrooms, aerate my yard, and … think about Tatum. It doesn’t take much thought before I find myself in her driveway unloading my aerator.

She’s not much of a yard keeper, and clearly neither is Dr. Josh. Granted, he doesn’t live with her, but if you’re going to spend time between my wife’s legs, you sure as fuck better at least aerate her yard and throw down some fertilizer. It’s just human decency.

“Can I ask what you’re doing?” Tatum stands on the porch with her arms folded over her chest when I shut off the aerator.

She looks incredible in her leggings and long fitted tee, but it’s that signature pouty face that she passed on to our daughter that gets me every time.

“You can, but I’ll have to answer you with a ‘duh’ because it’s obvious that I’ve aerated your yard.”

“It’s not your yard.”

I keep pushing the beastly piece of equipment back to the truck and run it up the ramp into the bed. “Which makes it even more pathetic. Really, you should feel ashamed of yourself. You’re going to have a weed infestation and a thatch nightmare if you don’t get started on this early.”

“Are you going to mow my lawn this summer too?” she asks with a very mocking tone to her words.

“Probably. After all, I plowed your driveway all winter.”

“You did it so I could get out of my driveway to take her to therapy.”

I roll my eyes. “You have four-wheel drive.”

“Then why did you do it?”

“You know.”

She doesn’t respond right away. “Was Lucy pretty excited about the game?”

I grin at her changing the subject. “So excited.”

“She just sent me a text with a photo of their fancy suite. Want to see it?”

“Nope.”

“Why?” She giggles.

“Because I can be happy for her without torturing myself that she’s there and I’m not.”

“Get over here, Emmett, and come see the smile on our daughter’s face.”