Page 26 of Like the Season
“How’s it going, Sir?”
Boyd sat on Ella’s couch. They’d left the cemetery with Ella raw and broken and exhausted, but Ella had wanted to take him to see the Pacific, a beach-side park, one of their favorite places they’d used to visit on the rare occasions Helen could take an afternoon off. Neither of them had felt like having lunch. Then, after a quick stop at the grocery store, they’d returned to the apartment and now Ella was taking a nap before dinner, at his suggestion.
“Today was rough. I’m not even going to try to sugar-coat it.”
“What happened?”
“She took me to Helen’s grave, for starters.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah.”
“I’m sorry I’m not there for you, Sir.”
“No apologies.” Boyd closed his eyes, rubbing his forehead and hoping the headache didn’t take off into a full-blown migraine at this rate. “It’s something she and I have to get through together. It’ll be okay.She’llbe okay.”
He’d taken a couple of pictures of the gravestone before they’d left. It was a piss-poor substitute, but he’d wanted…something.
They had also taken a few selfies at the ocean, both of them managing smiles that looked real enough, and another tourist had taken pictures of them together, the ocean in the background.
Memories he’d cherish with her.
“Is she going to move? Did she decide yet?”
“I think she will. It’s the timing I don’t know yet. I’m trying to talk her into moving now instead of waiting, but I understand her reasons. It’ll all depend on how our talk with the baby’s father goes Monday.”
“Monday?”
“Yeah. She’s off until Tuesday, and he’s not on duty until Monday. We’re going to have him meet us at a coffee shop by the hospital.”
“God, I wish I was out there with you, Sir.”
“I’ve got this.” But his heart swelled.
As much as this whole situation sucked in general, one thing shone bright and sweet and true above all else—Caleb really loved him and was all-in on their relationship.
“But I’m supposed to be there to back you up.”
“You’ll be my eyes and ears at work this week to back me up there. Unofficially.”
Caleb laughed. “I feel like a spy.”
“Kinda are, in a way.”
They talked for a few more minutes before Boyd ended the call. He was still…processing everything. He used the alone time to post pictures he’d taken of them and of the landscape to Facebook, including his favorite selfie of the two of them so far, along with a caption.
Me and my daughter!
Even staring at the pictures, it almost didn’t feel real.
When Ella emerged from her nap about an hour later, they sat and talked some more before cooking dinner together.
“If I move,” she said, not looking at him, “I probably would have to live with you, at least for a while. That wouldn’t put a crimp in your privacy? You and Caleb?”
“It doesn’t matter. He knows this is important, and he’s all-in.”
She nodded but didn’t reply, and eventually started asking him questions about his parents.
Don’t push.
Maybe once Caleb joined them next Friday she would be able to see for herself that it was the right decision, to move to be with them.
Meanwhile, all he could do was hope.
And pray.
