Page 226 of Lost Then Found
I crouch a little to catch his eye. “Weird how?”
There’s hesitation in his face, the kind that makes me want to scoop him up and tell him he doesn’t have to say anything if he doesn’t want to. But I wait.
“It’s just…it’s been me and Mom for a long time,” he says finally. “It’s gonna be weird…having a new life.”
I nod slowly, letting that sit for a second. “Yeah. Change like this? Itcanbe weird. I get that. But it can also be good—really good. Sometimes the best things in life start out feeling strange or different. Doesn’t mean they’re wrong, just means you’re getting used to something new. Like trying on a pair of boots that don’t feel quite right at first. You wear them for a while, break them in, and then you can’t imagine walking without them.”
Hudson doesn’t say anything, but he’s listening—I can see it in his face. I rest a hand on his shoulder, steady. “It’s still you and your mom, bud. It always will be. But now, it gets to be more.”
Hudson scuffs his shoe against the floor, eyes drifting toward the window before he speaks. “I like my school right now.”
I nod, giving his shoulder a light squeeze. “Yeah, I know you do.”
He kicks again, slower this time. “If we live here…I’ll have to go to a new one.”
“You’re right,” I say, not sugarcoating it. “It’d be a different school, different kids. But I think there are some pretty good things about it, too.”
He lifts his head, curious but cautious. “Like what?”
“They’ve got areallysolid baseball team,” I tell him. “One of the best around.”
His brow lifts. “They do?”
“Yeah,” I say, smiling a little. “They’re called the Grizzlies.”
He thinks about that for a second, then gives a small nod. “That’s kind of cool.”
“I think you’d like it,” I say, watching his face, gauging every shift. “I really do. It’s worth giving it a shot. I’d bet money that within the first couple of months, you’ll have a whole group of new friends. Ones you can play ball with, hang out with after school.”
Hudson shrugs again, quieter this time. “I hope so.”
“You will,” I say, like it’s fact. Because it is. He’s a good kid—sharp, funny, easy to like. He’s way cooler than I was at twelve. He’s going to be just fine. Also, I’m fully prepared to verbally destroy any middle schooler who messes with him, so. That helps.
“You know,” I say, letting the words come slow, “it means a lot to me…having your approval to marry your mom.”
Hudson glances up at me, his brow furrowed, like he’s trying to figure out what I mean.
“I’m serious,” I continue. “She’s the love of my life, she always has been. But you’re her world, kid. You come first. And I’m not just marrying her, I’d be getting both of you. So yeah, it matters. What you think. A hell of a lot.”
His face softens, just a little. That same look Lark gets when she’s trying not to get emotional in front of people.
I nudge his arm with mine. “And guess what? This may come as a shocker, but I’ve never been married before. So…is it okay with you if we both try something new here? Together?”
Hudson squints at me, mock-serious. “Depends.”
I lift a brow. “On what?”
He grins, slow and lopsided. “Do I get to pick my room and paint it whatever color I want?”
I let out a laugh.This kid.“You drive a hard bargain.”
Hudson raises his eyebrows, clearly waiting for a real answer, not some vague half-agreement. He’s already learned how to spot when someone’s dodging.
“Alright, yeah. You can paint it whatever you want.”
His grin widens instantly. “Okay then. You can marry her.”
I laugh, head tipping back. “That’s all it took?”
