Page 9 of Summer Weddings
“My dad did, too. If he hadn’t died he would’ve gotten me a pony and everything.”
There was such pride in Jeff’s voice that Robin bit her bottom lip to keep from crying all over again. Jeff and Lenny were so much alike. What she’d told her son earlier was true. More and more, Jeff was starting to take on his father’s looks and personality.
Cole gazed down at Jeff, and an emotion flashed in his eyes,so transient Robin couldn’t recognize it. He laid his hand on Jeff’s shoulder. “Since your mother explained there’s going to be a delay in getting you a dog, it’d be okay with me if you borrowed Blackie every now and then. You have to stay in your own yard, though. I don’t want him running in the neighborhood unless he’s on a leash.”
“Do you mean it? Thanks, Mr. Camden! I’ll do everything you ask.”
Robin had the feeling Jeff would’ve agreed to just about any terms as long as he could see Blackie. It wasn’t a dog of his own, but it was as close as he was going to get for the next few months.
Once Cole had left, Jeff joined her on the sofa, his hands folded on his lap. “I’m sorry, Mom,” he muttered, his chin buried in his chest. “I promise I’ll never run away again.”
“I should hope not,” she said. Wrapping her arms around him, she hugged him close, kissing his cheek.
“Gee whiz,” Jeff grumbled, rubbing his face. “I’d never have apologized if I’d known you were going to kiss me.”
* * *
A week passed. Jeff liked his new school and, as Robin had predicted, found his class contained an equal number of boys and girls. With his outgoing personality, he quickly collected new friends.
On Sunday afternoon, Robin was in the family room reading the paper when Jeff ambled in and sat down across from her. He took the baseball cap from his head and studied it for a moment.
“Something bothering you?” she asked, lowering the paper to get a better view of her son.
He shrugged. “Did you know Mr. Camden used to be married?”
“That’s what I heard,” Robin said absently. But other than Heather’s remarks the previous week,she hadn’t heard anything else. In fact, she’d spoken to her neighbor only when she’d gone to pick up Jeff every afternoon. The child-care arrangement with Heather was working beautifully, but there’d been little opportunity to chat.
As for Cole, Robin hadn’t seen him at all. Since he’d been so kind and helpful in the situation with Jeff, Robin had revised her opinion of him. He liked his privacy and that was fine by her; she had no intention of interrupting his serene existence. The memory of their first meeting still rankled, but she was willing to overlook that shaky beginning.
“Mr. Camden had a son who died.”
Robin’s heart constricted. It made sense: the pain she’d seen when Jeff had asked him about children, the word on the street that Cole didn’t like kids, the abandoned fort. “I… How did you find that out?”
“Jimmy Wallach. He lives two streets over and has an older brother who used to play with Bobby Camden. Jimmy told me about him.”
“I didn’t know,” Robin murmured, saddened by the information. She couldn’t imagine her life without Jeff—the mere thought of losing him was enough to tear her apart.
“Mrs. Wallach heard Jimmy talking about Bobby Camden, and she said Mr. Camden got divorced and it was real bad, and then a year later Bobby died. She said Mr. Camden’s never been the same since.”
Robin ached for Cole, and she regretted all the uncharitable thoughts she’d had that first morning.
“I feel sad,” Jeff whispered, frowning. His face was as intent as she’d ever seen it.
“I do, too,” Robin returned softly.
“Mrs. Wallach seemed real surprised when I told her Mr. Camden said I could play in Bobby’s fort someday. Ever since his son died,he hasn’t let any kids in the yard or anything. She said he hardly talks to anyone in the neighborhood anymore.”
Heather Lawrence had said basically the same thing, but hadn’t explained the reason for it. Probably because she didn’t know.
“Are you still going to barbecue hamburgers for dinner tonight?”
Robin nodded, surprised by the abrupt way Jeff had changed the subject. “If you want.” Next to macaroni and cheese, grilled burgers were Jeff’s all-time favorite food.
“Can I invite Mr. Camden over to eat with us?”
Robin hated to refuse her son, but she wasn’t sure a dinner invitation was a good idea. She didn’t know Cole very well, but she’d already learned he wasn’t one to socialize with the neighbors. In addition, Jeff might blurt out questions about Cole’s dead son that would be terribly painful for him.
“Mom,” Jeff pleaded, “I bet no one ever invites him to dinner and he’s all alone.”
