“Can I leave them here? You don’t use the space anyway.”
She forced a smile. Matt knew she wasn’t too pleased about him and Elijah moving out. It was only natural. They had lived with her for quite a while now since Elijah’s mom died, and she had taken care of the boy. But now it was time for Matt to take matters into his own hands. He had never managed to forge a good relationship with the boy since he blamed him for his mother’s death, and if Matt was honest, he hadn’t tried very hard. He had barely known the boy when his mother was still alive, and he had no idea how to go about it. Not until now, that was. Now, he wanted to. He wanted to be the dad he knew he could be, and it was time for him to take care of the stuff, the day-to-day things that his mom had done for him up until now. He wanted to be the one who packed Elijah’s lunches and picked him up after school. If other dads could do it, then so could he. He was a detective at the local police station, and Chief Annie was fine with him taking care of his own hours as long as he was there for the important meetings and solved his cases in a timely manner. Plus, he didn’t want to be a burden to his mother anymore, either. She shouldn’t spend her life taking care of her grandchild. It was his job. He wanted to move on with his life and take his relationship with Eva Rae to the next level.
It was time he grew up.
Elijah came out to him, holding his backpack in his hand. The boy was angry that he was going to move and hadn’t spoken a word to Matt since he announced it. It didn’t make that big of a change since he hardly ever spoke a word to Matt before either.
“You ready, buddy?” he asked, smiling.
The boy didn’t say anything. He just stared at him, holding his backpack tightly. If Matt knew him at all, he knew that it probably contained only his iPad and Xbox…maybe a shirt and a toothbrush, but that was probably all. Matt had packed the rest of his things earlier, and they were already in the truck.
Matt grabbed a box and walked it out to the driveway, then placed it in the back of the truck where there was still a little room. He had borrowed his mother’s truck for the move, and it could fit almost all their stuff, except for two boxes. Elijah got into the front and slammed the door shut. Matt kissed his mother’s cheek.
“I’ll be back tomorrow for the rest.”
His mother answered with a sniffle, then tightened her lips.
“Take good care of our boy, will you?”
Matt sighed, then nodded. “It’s not like you won’t see him.”
“I just don’t like the idea of him being in aftercare now when he could be with his grandmother.”
“I know, Mom, but I’m trying to take care of him myself now. If he’s with you all the time, there’s no need for him to attach himself to me. I think this will be good for us, Mom. I really do.”
She nodded and kissed him back. “All right, kiddo. Just remember that I’m right here in case you need anything.”
Matt nodded and stifled his tears. It felt like he was moving away for the first time. He waved at his mom, then got into the truck and drove off, Elijah playing the music in his air buds so loud that Matt could hear every beat of it.
Chapter 7
I couldn’t sit still. I was pacing back and forth in my hotel room in Philadelphia, flipping through the TV channels for news broadcasts, only stopping to bite my nails. Still, there was no breaking news about the son of a famous TV chef being killed, but I knew it was only a matter of time.
And it was about to destroy me.
I had tried to call his publicist to get the man to listen to me. I had even called the local police and told them to be aware, but they wouldn’t give me the time of day. And since I didn’t really know exactly where Liam Berkeley lived, and since he kept his address very private as most celebrities did, I couldn’t drive there and try to stop it from happening.
At seven, Matt called me. I picked it up, heart in my throat.
“I thought you were coming home tonight?” he asked.
“I wanted to; I really did, but…well, the meeting took longer than planned and…”
Matt exhaled. “I’m here at the house. Your house, or rather our house. I moved most of our stuff today, and you weren’t even there when we got here. Your mom and Olivia had to help us carry the stuff inside. I thought you’d be here, and we could celebrate that we are officially moved in together? I bought champagne?”
I closed my eyes. I had completely forgotten. I was supposed to drive home this afternoon and be there when he and Elijah arrived.
“I…I’m so sorry, Matt.”
“You forgot, didn’t you?” he asked, sounding more than disappointed.
“I…I…”
What could I say? There was no excuse. Yes, I had forgotten it completely. I had been so immersed in getting to Liam Berkeley to warn him, and for what? It didn’t make any difference. He wouldn’t even hear me out. And now Matt was mad at me?
I felt embarrassed.
“I’m coming home tomorrow,” I said. “I promise.”
“Okay. But you better keep that promise. It’s kind of lonely here without you.”
“Did my family at least treat you well?” I asked. “Did the kids behave?”
Matt sighed. “They did. Your mom made cauliflower steaks with Chimichurri sauce. It was quite good.”
“How’s Elijah coping?” I asked.
“Well, he didn’t eat any of the food tonight. He normally likes a burger or hot dog, but I’m sure he’ll come around.”
Matt, the eternal optimist. He refused to give up on the boy even though he had barely said five words to his father since his mother died. He didn’t even look at him when he spoke to him. Still, Matt believed he’d come around. Eventually, he would.
I could only be impressed with his will to constantly remain optimistic.
“How’s he doing with my kids?” I asked.
“Well, so far, they haven’t really spoken or had any interaction. Elijah stayed in his room all afternoon and evening. I don’t think he and Alex are talking yet, though.”
Alex had been thrilled by the idea of sharing a bedroom with Elijah since he thought the boy was so cool. I wasn’t sure Elijah shared the enthusiasm to have to share a bedroom with a seven-year-old boy when he was nine. But it would have to do for now, at least while my mom was still living with us. I had asked her about it cautiously, suggesting that she at least sell the old house, but she wouldn’t hear talk of it. Every time I as much as mentioned it, she’d just turn her back on me and walk away. I guess I just had to give her the time she needed, and I didn’t want her to feel like I wanted her out of the house, so I had stopped bringing it up.
“So, when are you going to tell me what you’re up to?” Matt asked. “Why you had to leave so suddenly?”
I sighed and stared at the TV screen in front of me, my stomach in knots when thinking about Liam Berkeley and his son.
“You wouldn’t believe me.”
“Try me,” he said.
“It’s something I’ve been working on for a few months now. I’ll tell you everything when I get back.”
Chapter 8