Page 83 of Husband of the Year
“I’m coming home soon.” Olan slides his sweats on, his dick disappearing behind the fabric. “Liam is rounding a corner. He’s going to need a few more weeks of rehab, but I don’t need to stay until he’s out. And I can fly back. Once we have the hearing this week and I make sure my parents are settled with everything they need, I’ll be in a better place to return.”
The important conversation we were supposed to be having. How did I forget that? Oh, right. Olan in a tank top is like that device inMen in Blackthat wipes your memory.
I take a deep breath.
“That’s what I wanted to ask you about.”
“Coming home?”
“No. I mean, sort of. Not really. I know it’s all decided and your parents are on board, but have you considered, well… you? Us. I mean, as his uncle, you’d be the legal guardian, but you’re with me, so it would beus. I think. Right? I’m not sure how all that works. But is it something you’ve thought about? Or talked about with Liam? Or your parents? Wait, do you even want that?” My face pinches with the realization I’ve gone too far. “Is that out of line for me to ask? Sorry, I’m rambling…”
“You’d do that?” A light sparkles in Olan’s eyes. He’s put his left arm behind his head and I do my best to focus on his face and not his sexy, lickable armpit.
“Of course. Olan, I’d do anything for you.”
“But do you understand what that means? To have a six-month-old in the house? Full time.”
“No. Not really. Jill says at that age they’re not much different than a cat. They take two to three naps a day and then sleep ten to twelve hours a night.”
“Greggie still gets up in the middle of the night. Sometimes he’s hungry, but other times he simply wants to cuddle. Otherwise, that’s about right. But he’s not going to stay this age for long. Soon he’ll be a toddler. His tiny hands will be on everything. We’d have to figure out daycare. And it would be a big adjustment for Illona. And Gonzo. He wouldn’t be the only baby in the house.”
“We can figure all that out… if this is what you want. Is it?”
“Marvin, I know it’s only been a few weeks, but I’ve been praying about this and I know all this suffering my family is experiencing, the way addiction has challenged us, it’s not an accident. There’s a reason my parents begged me to come home. Liam’s path to recovery differs from mine and if this is something I can do to help him, and my parents, it seems it would be wise to make that decision. But only if you’re all in because you come first. Us. And it’s crucial we’re on the same page.”
“Olan, when it comes to you, I’m always all in. Always.”
I lean over my knees, getting my face as close to the screen as possible.
A noise interrupts us. It’s the baby monitor.
“He’s babbling,” Olan says. “I think we know his opinion on the matter.”
“So is that a yes? You want this?” I cock an eyebrow.
“Marvin, I’m not sure I’ve ever wanted anything more.”
“Then please bring your nephew home.”
A serene tranquility washes over me, and I experience weightlessness as if I could effortlessly float. I’m not accustomed to this sensation—all the anxiety and worry magically vanishes from my body. I take it as a sign. The universe is whispering its approval.
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
Sitting on the carpet Monday morning, surrounded by my students, I’m not sure I’ve been this at ease since Olan left. He’s coming home. With his nephew. Our nephew. Gregory. They’ll be here soon. With a deep sigh, my soul settles, knowing we’ll all be together. Our home will be complete.
“I have another fun book to share with you,” I say, holding it up. “This one is about a rhino and a porcupine who want to play outside, but there’s a problem. Let’s read it and see what happens.”
The children are attentive, eager even, as I do my best to infuse the story with emotion and humor. The characters make plans for a glorious day of outdoor fun, but then it rains. As animals, they have no house to play in, although they can stand upright and speak (thank you, children’s books).
“Look at the porcupine’s face.” I point to the somber creature on the page. “How do you think she’s feeling?”
“Sad!” Eddie shouts.
“Yeah, definitely sad,” Amanda agrees.
One of the biggest reading comprehension hurdles kindergarten students face is understanding emotions beyond happy and sad. If youread something and ask them how a character is feeling, ninety percent of the time it’s going to be “happy” or “sad.” To tackle this, we analyze intricate emotions and record them on a chart for better understanding.
“Well, I can see why you’d say sad. Look at her face. She’s looking down at the ground. What else about her face and body makes you think she’s sad?”
