Page 47 of River
“Let’s hear it.”
“Why is England the wettest country?”
“I don’t know.”
“Because the queen has reigned there for years!”
“Ah, good one.”
“There’s also another one that I heard in an Irish pub, but I once told it to my friends in London, and they didn’t like it. Are you ready?”
“Sure.”
“What’s the difference between Cinderella and the England football team?”
I smiled, waiting for the punch line.
“Cinderella wanted to get to the ball.” River laughed. “Do you get it?”
“Yeah. I get it.” I laughed with her. Not because her joke was great, but because seeing her glow with her easy laugh made me feel all warm and tingly inside.
“Your jokes are more like one-liners.”
“No, they’re not. They’re at least two lines, and short jokes are the best anyway. Now, it’s your turn.”
“Hmmm... I only know long jokes. Let me think of a short one.” We walked ten steps, and then I squeezed her hand and was already chuckling from the joke that popped into my head. “A Roman legionnaire walks into a bar and holds up two fingers and says, ‘Five beers, please.’”
River grinned, so I told her one more joke, “Two guys are out hunting in the woods when one of them collapses. He doesn’t appear to be breathing, his eyes are glazed over. The other man pulls out his phone with trembling fingers and calls 112. He gasps, ‘My friend is dead! What can I do?’ The operator says, ‘Please stay calm. I will help you. First of all, let’s make sure he’s dead.’ There’s a silence, then a gunshot. The guy gets back on the phone and says, ‘OK, now what?’”
“Noah, that’s awful.” River shoved my arm, but she was still grinning, and it delighted me how easy it was for me to make her smile.
“Why do you call me Noah? Most people call me Parker.”
“I like Noah better and besides, I’m not most people.”
I couldn’t stop grinning as we walked on. Not even the men who checked River out got to me.
When we passed a shop with toys, River bought some new balls that we brought with us to the home. I walked inside to greet Maximum, and he and I ended up playing ball with the children in the courtyard.
River held one of the babies while looking on and laughing with the children and us.
When I left an hour later, she came outside and kissed me again. Looking over her shoulder to make sure we were alone River lowered her voice.
“Maximum just told me that the sellers signed the papers, so if everything goes right, we can have the key on Wednesday.”
“That’s in six days.”
“Yes. Tomorrow, I’ll book a team of gardeners and cleaners who can help us get the place ready.”
“I can’t wait.” I hugged her, enjoying her scent and the way she fit so perfectly into my arms.
When she pulled back and looked up at me with her pretty face, she said, “Thank you for staying and playing with the children.”
I laughed. “They’re a brutal little group. Did you see them gang up on Maximum and me?”
“I saw that, but didn’t it feel good to see them so happy? Even Ana was laughing and playing along, and she’s usually the quiet one.”
“When can I see you again?” It was the number one thing on my mind.
