Page 40 of Tides That Bind

Lucas whooshes past me to Riley, sliding onto his lap. Riley shifts beneath him, his good arm wrapping Lucas's middle covered by Spiderman pajamas.

“Are you coming home now?” Lucas softly asks.

I still, the pads of my fingers tingling from the freezer burninvading the carton of chocolate ice cream. Watching carefully, I see Riley’s Adam’s apple bob before he answers, but he looks over Lucas and at me and I swear I feel him begging the same thing from me that I am of him.

Please,can I?

Please, will you?

“Yeah.” He gives me a gentle nod before ruffling Lucas's hair. “I’m back.”

Lucas sighs, his voice quieting. “I thought you were gone forever like Dad. I don’t like thinking about everyone leaving me forever.”

The way Riley’s head falls again is soul crushing. I’m thankful Lucas can’t see how his innocent candidness can break a grown man.

“I won’t go anywhere again,” Riley promises.

This time, even I believe him.

Lucas beams. “Now you can come to school for career day.”

“Career day?” Riley asks, looking at me questioningly

I open the carton of ice cream. “Riley might be busy,” I tell him. “And I told Ms. Wilks I would—”

“Mom.” Lucas places his good hand to his head dramatically. “Yoga isn’tcool.”

“I think yoga is cool,” Riley says even though I know he doesn’t. “Stretching is…important.”

“Important,” Lucas tries the word before shaking his head. “But notcool. Being a police officer is cool.”

My eyes find Riley’s and the stillness in his body tells me he’s holding his breath like I am. The only sound before Lucas speaks again is the sound of him flicking the velcro strap of Riley’s splint.

“Surfing is cool too.”

Riley looks at me. I can tell he’s waiting for permission.

“Alright. If Riley can go—”

“Yes,” Riley cuts me off. “I’ll be there.”

I nearly trip over Tides as I step to the side, reaching into thecabinet for three bowls before I decide to add another plastic one to the mix, filling it with a hefty scoop before I lower it to the ground. Tides stares at it, lifting his face to mine and waiting for my silent okay.

Tides can have pizza and ice cream.

Riley can come home and show up for Lucas at his school’s career day.

It’s a yes day.

My eyes fly open when the door shuts. Lucas's warm body is snuggled against me, his wrapped wrist resting across my middle.

I jump when Tides does, right onto the end of the couch, careful to not step on my feet I know he wants me to move. I scoot up, grimacing from the burning in my arm. My head is fuzzy and achy.

“Sorry,” Riley whispers. “I tried not to wake you. Took him for a walk.”

The clock reads just after eleven. “How long have I been asleep?”

“Since Killmonger walked to the throne.” Riley goes into the kitchen to hang up Tides’s leash and returns as I slide out from beneath Lucas, replacing my body with a pillow for him to rest his injured arm on.

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