“I read something about that. I could see how a dog would help. There’s a connection that sometimes only a furry animal can make with a person to get them out of their shell.”
I placed my hands in my pockets and watched the kids and dogs play off in the distance.
Yoshiro glanced back at me. “Have you thought about my offer?”
I smiled at him. “Have you thought about your offer?”
He quirked his brows. “What does that mean?”
“Loud kids racing around.”
“Your kids aren’t loud.”
“What about their depressing mother?”
He gave me an intense stare. “This place needs your beauty and there’s nothing depressing about you. If anything, you add something special to this property.”
It had been a long time since I’d blushed in the presence of a man. Usually, I ran or avoided them.
“You should stay.” Yoshiro shrugged. “I don’t know when the place would be ready. I could start on it soon.”
I sighed. “We could help. I don’t have a bunch of construction skills, but. . .we have tons of hands.”
“Is that a yes?”
I turned back to the kids as they laughed and raced after the dogs. “Uh. . .y-yes. I. . .don’t know how long it would be.”
“Of course. I understand.”
“If there’s some danger or—”
“Don’t run because of danger. Get me.” His expression hardened. “If you go, let it be because you’ve got a new opportunity somewhere—school, a job, a dream to live in a certain place. But if it’s due to Wyatt, then we deal with him together.”
I shook my head.
“That’s my Christmas present.”
“What is?”
He gave me a wicked smile. “Dealing with Wyatt. I would love for you to give me that for Christmas.”
“I don’t think I can joke about that.”
He looked back at the kids. “Trust me, Ebony. It’s not a joke. Nothing would make my day more.”
“I don’t know about that part, but I will take you up on renting the house.” I had to run it by the kids. We’d become a team. But they appeared to be having a joyous time with those dogs. I couldn’t see them not wanting to stay. And the kids were comfortable around him too.
“Okay.” Yoshiro nodded. “Then, tomorrow I’ll look over the place. Maybe you can come with me. We’ll figure out together what you’ll need.”
I tapped my foot on the ground, nervous with how fast things were going.
At least, we’re not running.
“Okay, Yoshiro.” I extended my hand. “That’s a deal. Let’s see, if this will work.”
He rose from the stump, towered over me, and shook my hand. “That’s a deal.”
Yoshiro didn’t let go of my hand right away, and I found that I didn’t move mine either. For me, it had been a long time since I’d shaken a man’s hand. A long time since I’d found a bond. A long time since I’d made a new friend. Warmth came from the connection.
My voice went low. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” For some reason, he backed up, when he let go. “I should leave.”
Why?
I opened my mouth about to ask, if I’d done something.
“I have to check on. . .everything.” He left without another word.
I watched him walk away, and it wasn’t a bad sight at all. I had to force myself to turn in the other direction.
Off in the distance, the kids continued to play with the dogs. I considered calling them back for dinner, but it had been so long since they’d simply had fun.
So, I sat on the stump where Yoshiro had been.
It was warm from his body heat.
I turned my attention to the sky as it continued to darken. Far from the city, it looked bigger. Vast. Never-ending. Huge. Infinite. Within the peace, it transformed from royal blue to inky blue and then almost black but peppered with millions of bright stars.
As the day ended, I realized that this had been a record for me. I’d barely hovered around the kids today like I tended to do. I’d slept more than I ever did in these years.
God, please don’t let this be a mistake. For now, he seems kind. Is this where you wanted us? Is this where you were leading us to the whole time?
When the sky darkened and the moon rose, we came into the house. The kids were too exhausted to eat, practically yawning as I attempted to find out what they wanted for dinner. I gave up, when Poppy passed out next to the dogs.
I sent them to bed. The big kids dragged themselves upstairs as I carried Poppy. After they brushed their teeth, Kia and Jalen collapsed onto their bed on the floor—no I love you’s or goodnights—just loud snores.
I grinned and stared at them for far too long, almost feeling like a stalker.
Now what?
My stomach growled.
I decided to grab the sandwich that Kia had made and put in the microwave. When I went downstairs, Yoshiro and the dogs were gone. I wasn’t sure where they’d gone. It was weird, but I kind of wanted to talk to him. Once I finished my sandwich, I yawned, realized I was still tired, and headed to bed.