Page 7 of The Ex Next Door
A few minutes later, Lou waltzed in, David behind him. “Look who I found outside kicking a ball around! He’s right at home already.”
“Mom, I don’t want to play on the soccer team anymore,” David said with a whine. “I’m not any good at it.”
“Who says, little man?” Lou ruffled David’s hair. “I thought you looked pretty fly out there.Flymeansgood, by the way. That’s what the kids are saying now.”
Wonderful. Amy would have to deal with that issue later. David had missed a goal at last week’s game and been crabby ever since then. But he hadn’t mentioned quitting. She couldn’t let him quit just because he’d lost a single goal. Sports for kids David’s age were about having fun, teamwork and building leadership skills. It was not aboutwinning.
They all ate dinner together, both Lou and David taking two helpings. Afterward, Amy asked Lou to help set up her bed. This was something she had refused to ask “he of the brawny arms” after he’d hauled in her mattress, and that of the kids. Amy could do it herself, but she wasn’t extremely familiar with the tools required. Lou had come prepared to put things together.
“Hey, guys, why don’t we just cuddle up in my bed tonight? You know, like we used to do when Daddy would go on business trips? That way Lou and Grandma can go home. It’s getting late.”
“Daddy said I’m too big to do that,” David said.
Amy was pretty sure another slice of her heart went with those few words.
“I’ll sleep with you, Mama.” Naomi took her hand, as always reading the room with the expertise of a fifty-year-old psychologist.
The despair on her face must have been easy to read, because then David said, “I’ll just sleep on the floor next to you.”
“That’s right, little man.” Lou fist-bumped him. “You’re the man of the house. You can protect your mama and sister.”
Noooo,Amy wanted to scream, though she knew Lou meant well. David was not the man of the house. He’s a child and I don’t expect him to protect me.She would protect her son. But David grinned and seemed to like the idea, so Amy let it go for now.
“I don’t need protecting,” Naomi said, pushing her glasses up her nose.
And just like that, Amy felt a stitch slip over her bruised heart.
That’s my girl.
Amy was doing okay. She was raising a strong and independent daughter and God willing would raise a loyal and good man.
* * *
The next morning, the lawn mowers woke Amy up. In some ways, this neighborhood was like her old one. Saturday seemed to be the national weekly mowing day. Except in her old neighborhood, most people had a service. Rob did it himself those first years, a proud homeowner, but later decided he was too busy for it. That’s when Amy took it up, not willing to pay for something so simple.
Naomi and David were already up, waiting for Rob. Itwas his turn to have them this weekend, and to say David was excited would be an understatement. He had his backpack packed, and the soccer ball nearby. Bowls of colored milk were on the table, evidence of their breakfast. Usually, she made pancakes on Saturdays, but she didn’t know where she’d packed the mix or the skillet.
Dressed and ready for the day, Amy headed to the coffee machine. She’d made sure to set up essentials last night before bed.
“Morning.”
“What time is Daddy coming?” Naomi was still adding things to her stuffed backpack. Mostly books.
“I’ll check with him but it’s going to be the usual time, I’m sure.” She glanced at her Fitbit watch. “In an hour or so.”
“We’re going to work on my soccer moves today,” David said, thankfully forgetting his crabby mood of yesterday. “Next time I’m going to make that goal.”
“As long as you have fun doing it.”
When Amy glanced out the window, she saw Declan, rolling the mower across his lawn with ease. He wore a baseball cap, old, frayed jeans and a tight-fitting T-shirt so worn she could practically see through it. She was simply enjoying the view of barely concealed six-pack abs when the lawn mower turned and crossed the shared lawn. Yep, he was mowing her lawn.
“Mom, the neighbor is mowing our lawn,” David announced helpfully.
“I see that.”
“Can he do that?” David scrunched up his nose.
“What do you mean?”
