Somebody to Love (29 page)

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

N
OTHING
FELT
AS
good as having her son back in her arms. Nothing.

“I missed you, Mommy,” he said, wrapping both his arms and legs around her.

“Oh, sweetie, I missed you, too. Felt like I was going to pop without you.”

Nicky laughed at that, and Parker breathed in his good Nicky smell, kissed his sweet little neck again. He’d gained two pounds in the three weeks they’d been apart. She could tell. “Let me see your beautiful face,” she said, pulling back. “Oh, my gosh. The handsomest boy in the universe—am I right, Ethan?”

“The image of his father,” he agreed with a grin.

“There’s a dog! You have a dog! Hi, doggy!” He wriggled out of her arms to investigate, and Beauty, who was crouched in the corner, trembled at his approach.

“She’s a surprise for you, honey, but she’s really shy,” Parker said. “Just hold out your hand and let her sniff it.”

Nick obeyed, and, wonder of wonders, Beauty’s tail wagged. “She likes me!” he announced, kneeling down, and sure enough, Beauty licked his hand, then came closer. “Mommy, she’s kissing me! What’s her name? Is she mine? Can I keep her?”

“Her name’s Beauty,” Parker said. “And yes, we’re keeping her.”

“Hi, Beauty! You’re licking me! Do you think I’m lunch?” He petted her on the head as the little dog licked his face. “Ew! She licked my mouth. Mommy, when can I go swimming?”

“We can go later on. Do you have to go to the bathroom?”

Nick thought about that, then bolted, slamming the door of the loo behind him. “Sorry!” he called.

Parker and Ethan shared a smile of child-adoration. “I’ve literally been counting the hours,” she admitted. “You want some iced tea? You’re staying here tonight, right? It’s a long drive.”

“It sure is.”

“Nicky and I can sleep in his room, and you can have mine,” she said. A great excuse to snuggle with her son all night.

“Anywhere’s fine,” Ethan said. “I have to say, the place looks great, Parker. It’s really cute. A lot better than I pictured.”

“Thanks. Um, James…you know, Thing One? My father’s attorney? I told you he was here, right? Harry made him come. Anyway, he’s been doing everything. I just clean and paint.” Her ears started itching.

“Is he around?” Ethan asked.

“Nope. Not today.” James had said he wouldn’t be by today so she could have some time alone with Nicky. He’d even left Apollo, remembering that her son loved the snake, and had offered to take the creature when it was time to leave Maine for good. The thought gave her a pang; not of parting from Apollo, of course, but of the summer ending.

“I always thought he was a good guy,” Ethan said.

She was spared from having to comment with Nicky’s return. “Mommy, Elephant loves it here! He already found a fort!”

“Elephant! You are so good at finding forts!” She kissed Nicky’s favorite stuffed animal on the nose. “So who’s hungry? I have enough food for an army, or, in the case of the Mirabelli men, two people.”

Ethan had pictures of the big trip on his iPad, and Parker admired them, as well as Nicky’s collection of rocks, which he’d brought with him. “This one’s quartz,” he told her. “And this one is I don’t know what. And this one’s shale, right, Daddy?”

It was amazing, how much Nicky seemed to have grown up in the three weeks without her. But after lunch, he climbed into her lap and rested his head against her shoulder, and he fit just as well as he ever had. Parker called Lucy, who was fending off the elder Mirabellis and doing a mountain of laundry. She offered to go check on a house Parker had found online; it was a rental in a nice neighborhood—not that Mackerly had slums, exactly—and it was close to Nicky’s school.

That night, when Nicky was asleep in his room—it didn’t seem like James’s room at all anymore, not with Nicky’s rocks and Legos and stuffed animals scattered about—Ethan and Parker sat on the small back patio.

“Want to go down on the dock?” Ethan asked.

“Nah,” Parker said, feeling her cheeks prickle with heat. “Here’s good. The blackflies get pretty fierce on the water.”

They sat in the comfortable silence of two people who’d been friends for a long time. But it was a little different now. Maybe it was the three weeks apart, but Ethan seemed…older. A little preoccupied.

“So I have to ask,” Parker said. “Is Lucy pregnant, Eth?”

His head snapped up. “Wow.”

“Ethan! You dog!” She jumped up and hugged him. “Congratulations, buddy.”

He smiled, his mouth curling in what Lucy called his elvish smile, and his eyes were bright. “Thanks. It’s really new. She started puking on the trip, and that tipped us off.”

“It’s wonderful. I’m so happy for you guys.” Remembering Lucy’s loss of her first husband, as well as her adoration of Nicky, brought a lump to Parker’s throat. Lucy and Ethan deserved every happiness. They’d both waited a long time. “What do I have to do to be godmother? Diaper coupons? Free babysitting for life?”

“I’m pretty sure you have it locked down,” Ethan said.

Parker sighed happily. “That is the best news. So. New restaurant, new baby. You’ll have your hands full.”

“In all the best ways. We figured we’d wait to tell Nicky, if you’re okay with that. It’s early days, and nine months is a long time.”

“Good idea.” Ethan had never made a misstep as a parent, not so far as Parker could tell, anyway.

“So are you doing okay, Parks?” he asked gently.

“Yeah. I’m actually really good. The house is listed, and now that it’s spruced up a bit, I’m hoping to get an offer.”

Ethan nodded. He was quiet for a long minute. “How’s your father?”

Parker paused. “I don’t know. We’ve had a few tortured conversations in which neither of us says much. According to James, he’s fine.”

“Have you been to see him yet?”

“No. It’s a long drive. About four hours from here, maybe more.”

“Nicky was asking about him. Wanted to know if he could visit.”

Parker paused. “I’d have to check the place first.”

“Your call. But he’s curious.” Ethan stood up. “Okay, I’m gonna hit the hay,” he said. “I was alone in the car with your son for eight hours today. I’m whipped. Your son can talk, Miss Welles.”

It was their habit to refer to Nicky as “your son” whenever discussing his, ah, less-than-stellar moments.
Your son put my phone in the washing machine today
or
Your son sang “Wheels on the Bus” for thirty-nine straight minutes.
“Like he doesn’t get that from your side of the family,” Parker said with a smile. “He’s Marie’s grandson.”

“And Althea’s, let’s not forget. You guys have a good visit, by the way?”

“We really did. It was different. Nice.”

“Glad to hear it. See you in the morning.”

As Parker washed up, she could hear Ethan talking to Lucy. She went into Nicky’s room, and the sight of his little form there in bed filled her with such a rush of love that her knees went weak. Beauty was snuggled at his side, her muzzle on his hip. “Good girl, Beauty,” Parker whispered. She wondered if Beauty sensed that Nicky was hers. The dog hadn’t let Ethan near her, slinking behind something when he approached. But she already loved Nick, thank goodness.

Three weeks was too long. She made a mental note never to be away from her son that long again until he was, oh, maybe forty-five or so.

Nice that he’d be a big brother. She’d known it would come, that announcement, and the familiar pang of envy bounced around in her heart with her genuine happiness.

She lay down next to her little guy, stroked his silky hair. The band of worry and loneliness that had been tight around her heart loosened as she listened to his breathing. He was back with her, and all was right with the world.

Even so, she wondered how James was doing tonight. He’d seemed pretty chipper when he left, his duffel bag in hand. Hadn’t seemed melancholy at all, whereas she…well. This was a dopey train of thought to pursue.

She got under the covers and snuggled closer. Nicky didn’t stir. The kid could sleep through a monsoon and not wake up; had in fact slept through a pretty fair hurricane last year and then had been quite confused as to why so many leaves and branches were on the ground the next morning. She kissed his neck, breathing in the smell of baby shampoo and boy.

They were back together, mother and child. She shouldn’t want more.

* * *

T
HE
NEXT
MORNING
, Ethan made breakfast as Nicky explained how many tricks he was going to teach Beauty. “She could jump through my hula hoop. She could catch mice for Apollo. She could jump off the diving board! She can swim with me in the pool all winter long!”

Ethan and Parker exchanged a look. “Well, we won’t be living in a house with a pool anymore, remember, honey?” Parker said.

Nicky’s face fell. “Oh. Yeah.” He looked around the kitchen. “Is this our house now?”

“Nope. This is just for a couple weeks. A little vacation. Then we’ll go back to Rhode Island and live near Daddy and Lucy.”

“We’ll move in with you, Daddy,” Nicky said as Ethan put a plate of scrambled eggs and toast in front of him.

Parker gave Ethan a look that said,
Help me out here, pal.
He got the message. “You and Mommy are going to have your own house, and you’ll spend half the time there, and half the time with me. Just like always, Nick.”

“I want to live with Beauty all the time.”

“Well, Beauty can meet Fat Mikey, and maybe they’ll be friends.” Ethan grinned at Parker; the enormous cat would be more apt to eat Beauty than befriend her, but there was always hope.

“They will be,” Nicky pronounced. “They’ll be best friends. Except Beauty’s scared of you, Daddy. You have to be nicer to her.”

At that moment, a knock came on the door, and Parker’s heart seemed to roll over in her chest. “Come on in,” she called.

“Morning,” James said as he came down the hall.

At the sound of his voice, Beauty left Nicky’s side and streaked over to him, wagging her tail and whining happily, putting her paws against his leg, the better to get an ear scratch.

“Hey, Beauty.” James knelt to pet the waggly little dog, then stood up. “Ethan. Good to see you again.” The men shook hands. “How was your trip?”

“It was great, thanks for asking. How are you?”

“No complaints.” James’s gaze dropped to Nicky. “Hi.”

Nicky stared back solemnly.

“Honey, you remember James, right?” Parker asked. “Mr. Cahill? Grandpa’s friend?”

“Yes,” Nicky said suspiciously. “I remember.”

“Can you also remember your manners?” she prodded.

“Hi, Mr. Cahill.”

“Did you have fun on your vacation?” James asked, rather solemnly.

Nick nodded.

Not his usual chatty self. Of course. Maybe her son sensed something. Ethan did, apparently, as he was gazing steadily at Parker.

James cleared his throat. “Well, I figured I’d get to work on the stairs to the dock.”

“Oh, okay. Um, would you like some coffee?” She was abruptly aware of the little tableau she, Nicky and Ethan made.

“No, thanks. I got some at the diner.”

“Want some help, James?” Ethan asked.

James glanced at Parker. “No, no, that’s fine. But thank you.”

“Parker says you’ve been great,” Ethan added as Nick climbed into his lap. He dropped a kiss on Nicky’s head.

“Yes. You’ve really been…um, great,” she blurted. Lordy, this was uncomfortable.

“Well. My pleasure.” He paused. “I can come back later, if that would be better.”

“No, no. It’s fine. Whenever you want, James,” she said.

“Do you have a nail gun?” Nicky asked.

James looked at Nicky. “Yes.”

“Can I use it?”

“No,” she and Ethan said at the same time.

“They’re the bosses,” James said. “Okay, I’ll get to work.” With that, he went out the back door, and a few seconds later, the screeching sound of wood being pried up could be heard.

“I wanna help. I wanna use the nail gun,” Nicky declared.

“No, Nicky. It’s not for kids,” Ethan said. “Why don’t you work on teaching Beauty a trick? Maybe in your room, so you can surprise us?”

“Okay.” Nicky scrambled off Ethan’s lap and ran down the hall. “Come on, Beauty!” he bellowed, and Beauty trotted obediently after him. “Come see Apollo. Do you love Apollo? Mom, can I let Apollo out of his case?”

“No,” Parker said. “It’s locked, and it’s gonna stay that way.”

“He wants to come out,” Nicky argued.

“He’s not coming out,” she said. Nicky grumbled but dropped it. Seemed as if he’d gotten a little more willful than she remembered.

“So,” Ethan said.

“So.” She took a bite of toast. Didn’t look at Ethan.

Right from the birth of their son, Parker and Ethan had agreed to share information that might affect Nick. Dating was one of those topics; when Ethan and Lucy had taken up with each other, he’d come to her and made sure she was okay with it. Things like vacations and work schedules, family events, any kind of change that might impact Nick had always been discussed.