THEA
Iinhaled the cool night air. It was a little chilly, but the gas firepit burning alongside the table cast off just enough heat to keep us warm. The food was amazing, as was the wine. It all felt like a fairytale. This was the kind of thing a girl dreamed about. Not me necessarily, but it was a nice dream.
I liked the idea of being spoiled on occasion. I liked dressing up and feeling pretty. I liked hanging out with a very handsome man who was looking at me like I mattered. Like I was special.
“What?” I asked when I realized he was openly staring at me.
“Nothing,” he said. “I was just thinking you got prettier with age.”
“That’s a very smooth line,” I said.
“It’s not a line, it’s true,” he said.
“Thank you.”
“How did it go with your new helper?” he asked.
“Lucas?”
“Yes,” he said. “Did you scare him straight? Scare him with dogshit.”
I had to laugh. “I don’t know if I would say scared, but I think I helped him realize there was a better way to do life. Turns out, he really does love animals. He has a natural affinity for them. I think he truly might have a future as a veterinarian or maybe even doing what I do.”
“You can hand him the reins,” he suggested.
“I’m not exactly retiring,” I quipped.
“A partner then,” he said.
“Maybe. For now, he’s going to come in two nights a week to help out. Ally and I have convinced him to make one of those nights Fridays. We’re hoping it will keep him out of trouble. Friday nights he tends to go out with the friends Ally does not approve of.”
“You’re babysitting him,” he said.
“I guess in a way I am,” I said. “But I don’t mind. He is a big help and I like hanging out with him. I realized the other night I barely knew the kid. I used to be so close to him. He could tell me anything. I kind of feel bad he lost his way. I should have been paying more attention. Maybe if I was more involved in his life, I could have been the intermediary. I might have noticed something was going on. I just hope it isn’t too late.”
“Has he broken any laws?” he asked.
“No. I mean, technically yes, but nothing that he’s been busted for,” I clarified. “We had a good conversation on his last night working with me. I hope it was enough. I would like to believe he knows he isn’t alone and can count on us to help him through this situation.”
“You’re good to him,” he said.
“He’s like my own,” I replied.
“Wasn’t Ally with some loser boyfriend? He was Lucas’s father, right?”
“Yes,” I said with a grimace. “He’s an asshole.”
“He’s not in the kid’s life?” he asked.
“Nope,” I said with a shake of my head. “He was gone before Lucas was born. He came around a few times after Lucas was born, but it was just more drama. It only made it harder for Ally. She finally gave him an ultimatum. He could either stick around and see his son or he had to get lost.”
“Does he pay child support?”
I threw my head back and laughed. “No. Not a penny.”
“Why doesn’t she go after him?” he asked. “Legally speaking.”
“Because it would give him rights and she has decided it’s better he’s completely out of his life. She doesn’t want to force him to have a relationship he doesn’t want. He would mistreat Lucas and there is no way in hell she or I would ever let that happen. He’s never reached out again. Ally is in the same place she’s always been. If he wanted to find her, he could have. He doesn’t.”