Jake looked like he had gotten the message. He nodded once and then he looked towards his son. “Hey, buddy, looks like you’re going to be spending the evening with Kristen.”
“Yea,” Noah screamed, in his high pitched little voice. “Will you read to me again, Krissie?” he asked.
“Of course, buddy,” I nodded.
“And, will you cook for me again?”
“I sure will.”
“Can we leave now?” Noah asked.
I smiled and looked towards Jake.
“Go ahead,” he nodded. “Let me give you some cash first.”
“Don’t be silly; that’s not necessary.”
“Here,” Jake said, ignoring me as he held out some money. “Just in case you need to buy anything for Noah…food or books or…anything.”
I refused to take the money. “Like I said, that not’s necessary,” I said coldly. Then I walked over to Noah. “Come on, buddy, let me help you clear up.”
The whole time I was helping Noah, I could feel Jake’s eyes on me. I was doing this for Noah, but a part of me had to admit that, despite everything, I was doing it for Jake, too.
Chapter Seventeen
Jake
It had been an exhausting day, and I was grateful that Kristen had offered to look after Noah. I couldn’t imagine sitting through all those meetings with a four-year-old in tow. I arrived at my apartment building and pulled into my usual spot. I had just unbuckled my seatbelt when a call came in. I looked down and saw that it was my aunt. It had been awhile since I’d last spoken to her, and I didn’t want to miss her call.
“Hey, Aunt Margo,” I said.
“Jacob,” she said, using my full name as she always did. “You’ve forgotten me.”
I smiled. “I’m sorry, Aunt Margo,” I said apologetically. “I should have called you.”
“I haven’t seen you and your boy in over a year.”
“That can’t be,” I said, frowning to remember when we’d last visited her.
“One year and three months exactly,” she continued. “Noah wasn’t even three at the time.”
“Wow,” I said, amazed by how much time had passed. “Has it really been that long?”
“When are you coming to visit me?”
I sighed. “I don’t know, Aunt Margo… I can’t make any promises.”
“That boy needs family, Jacob,” she said. “And unfortunately, I’m the only family left.”
“How about we Skype?”
“It’s not the same thing.”
“I know,” I said, feeling drained.
“Jacob?” Aunt Margo’s tone was low and concerned. “Are you alright, my boy?”
I used to spend my weekends at Aunt Margo’s house. My parents and I lived on the next lane, and I used to ride my bicycle over to her place and spend Saturday night there before heading back to my own house on Sunday night. I remembered how different things had been back then. Aunt Margo had been a beautiful blonde with long, curly hair and a laughing smile; Uncle Ashton had been quick-witted and friendly, and Henry… Henry… It was hard to think about Henry.