Page 61 of Welcome to Forever
Micah shook his head. “Not hungry.”
“Too worried about your big night out,” Lawson asked, knowing good and well that wasn’t it. “How do you feel about that, little buddy?” he asked Ben. “Your dad taking your principal to the ball? Kind of gross, huh?”
Ben shook his head with a large, heart-gripping grin. “All I want is for my dad to find someone who makes him happy.”
Well, damn if the kid doesn’t sound like a little adult.
“You make me happy,” Micah said, getting up and clearing the plates. “And we’re just friends,” he protested. “She’s my boss.”
His objections were ignored.
“Well, what if they make each other miserable?” Lawson asked, passing his dish up to Micah.
Ben shook his head. “Scientifically impossible.”
“There’s science behind this, huh?” Lawson asked.
Ben grinned. “Just like magnets. Dad and Principal Chandler are polar opposites of each other. I have a list. Wanna see it?”
Lawson glanced in Micah’s direction. “Sure, buddy. I’d love to see your list.”
Micah dried his hands on a dishtowel and headed toward the table. He wanted to see this scientific evidence, too.
Ben walked slowly to his room, returning in his wheelchair with a handwritten list a few minutes later. He placed it in front of Lawson, who held it up and read it aloud.
“Dad likes trucks. Principal Chandler likes cars.” Lawson’s gaze slid toward Ben beside him. “That’s a huge polar opposite.”
“It gets better.” Ben tapped the paper with his right arm.
“Dad is tall. Principal Chandler is short. Dad has black hair. Principal Chandler has blond hair. Dad is a Marine. Principal Chandler is a teacher. Kind of.” Lawson chuckled under his breath. “Dad’s wife left. Principal Chandler is alone, too.”
Ben pointed at the list. “That’s not really opposite, but it’s important. They’re both lonely for different reasons. Principal Chandler used to wear a ring, but now she doesn’t. I’m not sure why, but it means she’s available. And they both love me. So they have to love each other, too. Right?”
Micah swallowed. He could almost see the logic behind his son’s rationale. “Why does it matter if I ever fall in love again, son?”
Ben took the list out of Lawson’s hand. “It just does. It’s my wish.”
Micah stared at him.
“I know I can’t make you fall in love by wishing, but if you spend time with Principal Chandler, it’s going to happen. I know it will.”
“Because of science,” Lawson said, nodding his head agreeably.
Ben’s smile was back, revealing a crooked top tooth. “Exactly.”
—
Micah stood at the entrance of the school’s courtyard and watched Kat with the group of after-school kids a few days later. He’d been running late today due to some smart-ass Marine who needed to understand the value of doing a job right the first time.
Unfortunately, that added work to his own plate, and subtracted time from his son. And the Friendship Club.
Ben was at the picnic table with Kimberly again. They’d sat together a lot lately and, as much as he didn’t want to, Micah liked her. She had spunk. And it wasn’t her fault that her father was a complete jackass of a mayor.
Kat turned and caught his eye, giving him a quizzical look.
“Sorry I’m late. Work ran over,” he said.
She nodded and looked away. Kat never wanted to talk about his day job. He knew she didn’t like the fact that he was a Marine. She hadn’t said as much, but he knew it. He’d connected the pieces of information he’d been allowed about her ex and understood. Marines went to war. Some didn’t come home. He knew that all too well. Getting involved with a Marine was a risk that cost too many wives, or in Kat’s case, fiancées, their happily ever after.
