“Is that for your cute son?” Mom asked, coming over and engaging him in small talk with him.
“Yes, Mrs. Tomms, it is. Anyway, I got to go. Thanks, Kylie.” He waved his hand as he took the cupcake box with him. This time, I followed my mom’s lead and let my eyes follow him out the door.
“Kylie, why are your lips smacked together? Is there some glue that kept them shut?” My mother broke my silence, pulling me back to reality. I shook my head, suddenly aware of my daydreams.
“No, it’s just that I did not know what to say to him. He leaves me flustered.”
I checked out the last customer in the line, making sure no one was within earshot to hear our conversation.
My mother laughed as her eyes filled with merriment. She knew my little secret. She had to. “Hunter has been your neighbor for years now. Yet, you have barely spoken to him. I bet you’ve never surpassed the two-word sentence to him. Have you?”
“It’s not that easy, Mom. He leaves me feeling lightheaded. It’s not a conversation I’m having with you, by the way.” I shoved her mockery off, although she was right. She was always correct. I envied her observational skills and gut feelings. She aced anything she speculated about people, especially on her kids’ emotions and thoughts.
“You need to break out of your shell, sweetheart.” She patted my back like I was a small child, not a woman approaching thirty in the next couple of years.
“You’ll see; someday I can work up the courage to speak to such a mysterious and sexy guy.”
A smile spread acro
ss her face. Damn. She had me cornered. She knew. Hell, she knew before I told her. She was intuitive like that.
“I knew it! My instincts never fail. It’s okay; he’s a good man. I’m amazed how much he loves his son. Despite his busy schedule, he is able to raise Vince as a well-mannered, clever little boy.”
“Yes, he’s amazing. He can juggle plenty of roles without any problem. He’s a perfect guy.” My thoughts drifted away. Every woman in our town thought about Hunter…even some of the married ones. It was disturbing, and yet an odd comfort all at the same time.
“True enough. Shame about Vince’s mother though.”
I nodded. “Yeah.”
Chapter Three
Hunter
Vince came out of the bathroom just before I started to go in to check on him the next morning. Despite his sleepy self, he managed to take a quick shower on his own. I could not be more proud of my little boy. While I took his school uniform from the dresser, he stood in his blue bathrobe, waiting for me to dress him up.
“Hey, buddy. I have some good news for you.” I spoke to him as I put on his polo shirt. His drowsy eyes sparkled as he bounced on the balls of his feet.
“What’s that, Dad?” He hurried to put his shorts on, though his excitement didn’t dampen.
“I guess Dad can finally take you out on the lake this Saturday. We are going fishing!” I exclaimed, being excited as well to spend the weekend with my son.
Giving him another promise was a gamble, but I couldn’t help myself. It might make or break him, being a father who promises too many things to his son that went unanswered. I could not disappoint him, but I want him to be happy, so I had to make it happen. Period.
“Oh, thanks, Dad! You made my day!” He threw his arms around my shoulders. I hugged him back, grateful for his existence in my life. He was the bundle of joy I had wished for. Being around him made me forget all of my worries, or most of them. The loneliness inside of me never really seemed to go away, but it was getting more and more easy to ignore it.
“I guess we better get going. We don’t want the school bus waiting for you.” I stood up, taking his backpack and lunch box along with me. He held my free hand, and together we walked outside the house, going to the paved sidewalk to wait for his bus.
“No way! I’m winning this year’s Most Punctual award!”
“I’m betting on that.”
Soon enough, the bus came to fetch the energetic kid. He hopped toward the door as it stopped in front of us, and I felt sorry for the bus driver. Every kid on the damn bus was hopping around and acting a fool. Vince took his seat nearby the window, and extended his arm outside and waved goodbye to me.
“Bye, Dad! See you later! I love you!” he screamed as the bus started to move slowly.
I waved my hand to him and smiled. “I love you too, buddy. Keep safe.”
As I turned to return back to our house, I noticed the scattered grass and soil rooted up on our barn’s lot. The clean green pastures we tended were ruined. Probably the domestic hogs in the neighborhood scattered while we were out working in the shop.