“I know. She’s way out of my league,” I said.
“Don’t sell yourself short.” Crossing the room, Hope pulled Toby from my arms. “I just meant you look too young to be married.”
“Ah … well, when you know, you know.”
“Yeah … I mean, I guess.” Hope set her son in his swing and turned it on. It swayed and chimed a nursery rhyme tune while Toby became mesmerized by the lights. “Best invention ever.” She turned to me. “You know, Josh … I thought I knew once, too. Believe me, it was never my plan to be raising this little man on my own.”
Dax pawed at my leg, anxious to continue downstairs. “All right, furball. Let’s get you to the grass.”
“Thanks, Josh. You’re my favorite neighbor.” Hope stood and held the door open for me.
“Anytime. If you guys every need anything … we’re just upstairs.”
“I just might take you up on that.” She called to me as I left her apartment.
The morning chill was beginning to subside as Dax wandered down the narrow walkway between apartment buildings to the small yard in the back. My thoughts went to Avery and the possibility of us having a child of our own. We’d need a place, something bigger with a yard where he could run, and big enough for a tree that could hold a swing. The oak in the center of the yard offered the only shade on the property.
I wasn’t certain the landlord would allow us to hang anything from the branches like the old plank swing my father had hung out back for us … us. My gut twisted and I shook away the sad memory of my sister.
My father had always tried his best to make our childhood perfect. All the hours we’d spent tearing down and rebuilding motors wasn’t to line our pockets, but to heal our souls. Still, it kept us afloat, and it was something I was good at. I blinked. Something I can easily do now and be able to spend more time with my wife.
Reaching up, I pulled a scrap of bark from the old tree. We’d need a home of our own, one with a large yard and not just a tree, lots of trees. I could already see Avery outside, soaking up the sunshine and working on her garden as our children ran around her, playing.
It sounded like Heaven. “Josh?” Hope called from the strip of grass between the apartment buildings. A plastic ivory box was in her hand, an antennae sticking out the top.
“Yeah?” I asked, dividing my attention between her and Dax.
“Toby is sleeping. I was wondering if you’d like to come in for a glass of wine, or a beer … or formula, if that’s your thing.” She giggled quietly.
Hope was an attractive woman. Before the accident, I would have led Hope to my apartment and had her flat on her back the first night she moved in. But now, I could look at her, notice she was attractive, but not feel attracted to her. It was weird, and just one more thing that assured me how in love I was with Avery.
“I can’t,” I said. “Thanks for the invite.”
Hope nodded, smiling to me before turning around. She stopped, trying one more time. “I don’t know a lot of people here. It would be nice to make a friend.”
I thought about her words. I was once the transplant, too. I knew how she felt, and loneliness was definitely not a good thing for a single mother.
“I’ll talk to Avery. Maybe we can stop by this weekend?”
Hope laughed once and looked down. “Yeah, I’ve got to work this weekend, but another time. What’s your schedule like?”
“I work nights, Tuesday through Saturday. For now.”
“And Avery works days?”
I nodded, tugging on Dax when he pulled against his leash. “Mostly.”
Hope nodded again. “See you later.”
I waved at her, turning to Dax, who was bent in a C, creating a smelly mess I was going to have to clean up.
I rolled my eyes. “Maybe Hope will let me borrow some diapers.”