Echoes of Summer (18 page)

What do you want?
She asked after a moment.

I have a commitment to keep with Milo. I’d like to take him to the zoo today if he’s available.
He paused then sent a follow-up message.
You don’t have to come if you don’t want. I can handle being the parent.

The bubbles indicating she was texting him stopped, and he waited for her response.

The bubbles started again and she replied.
We’ll be back in an hour. You can either wait there, or I could drop him off at the zoo, and you can meet him at the front gate.

The zoo would be great. See you there.

Stephen tucked his phone in his pocket and headed to his car. It would take him probably thirty minutes or more to get to the zoo. If they met there, it would allow him more time with Milo. This wasn’t the perfect solution, but it would work for now.

He made his way to the front gate, debating on buying two or three admittance tickets. He didn’t want to force Madison to come, and it would make for an awkward date if she didn’t want to be there. He decided to wait and see how things went when they arrived. As he waited, he pulled out his phone and did a few business things and was happy to see the new client wasn’t hounding him with frivolous emails.

“Dad!” Milo’s little voice called out, and Stephen lifted his head. Milo ran toward him wearing the little backpack he always had with him and grabbed Stephen in a big hug. He gripped the kid tightly and lifted him off the ground.

“Hey, kiddo.” Stephen looked up to see Madison standing near the curb on the sidewalk by her car. She hadn’t parked and walked over, but had just dropped him off, indicating she didn’t want to be with them.

He waved at her. “Thanks.”

Milo looked at her then back to him. “She said she wants me home by seven.”

“Seven.” Stephen nodded, looking into Milo’s face. “Got it.” He turned his attention back to Madison. “Seven, it is.”

She nodded then walked around her car without another word to him. Is this where they were now? Communicating through their child? How did he let it get to this?

“Thanks for coming back. I didn’t think we’d be able to do it. I can’t wait to go see the lions. Can we go in now?”

Stephen set him down and took his hand as they walked over to the ticket counter.

***

Madison pulled away, and as she took the turn around the parking lot toward the exit, she couldn’t help watching the two dark heads leaning toward each other as they talked. Milo looked small in Stephen’s arms, just like a little boy should when being held by the father he adored.

As angry as she was at Stephen for abandoning her again, she couldn’t keep the two of them apart. Milo had been so disappointed that Stephen had called to postpone again. When she’d told him about the text from Stephen earlier that day, he’d shouted with excitement and begged to leave right away to go meet him. Part of her wished she could have gone with them to watch them together and see how good they were for each other.

But she’d over reacted again when he’d canceled. She didn’t blame him for just ignoring her and spending his attention on Milo. It was how it should be. Milo needed his dad more than she needed a man.

***

Stephen had a blast. He couldn’t remember ever enjoying the zoo more than he did with Milo. They’d seen everything there was to see and had returned to the lion exhibit twice. Milo had been so enamored with the animal that Stephen bought one of the stuffed lions at the little gift shop next to the enclosure.

Milo named it Claw, and Stephen smiled. At least it wasn’t Liony like he would have done at that age.

As they drove home, Milo fell asleep in the back seat, holding the stuffed lion close. Hopefully, it would help him remember his dad while they were apart for now. He wished he could have talked to Milo about Madison but didn’t think it was the right time to pester the boy for details about his mother. Besides, he didn’t want to hear about what she’d said to Milo about him.

When he pulled up at her house, the front porch light was on, and though it wasn’t dark, the sun would be setting before long. He was late and wondered how much trouble he’d be in for not getting Milo home by seven. The traffic had been bad for a Sunday evening, and they’d gone to get something for dinner after the zoo closed at six.

But if he was in trouble with her, at least he’d scored some points with Milo. He opened the door, poked his head into the back seat, and gently shook Milo awake. “Hey, kiddo, we’re home.”

Milo struggled to wake up but leaned his head back against the seat. He must have overdone it. Stephen made sure Milo had ahold of Claw and his backpack, picked the boy up out of the car, then kicked the door closed with his foot.

When he reached the front door, Madison opened it without him even needing to knock. She raised her eyebrow.

“Sorry, guess we just didn’t know when to quit.” Stephen adjusted Milo over his shoulder a little better. She stepped back, and Stephen entered the house. “Should I just take him to his room?” Stephen asked.

She nodded, so Stephen carried him into the room. Madison’s phone rang, and Stephen watched as she turned around and answered the call.

“Hey, Momma. How are you?”

Stephen’s gut clenched. She was talking to her mother. Did Lorna know he was back in her daughter’s life? He stood frozen in Milo’s room after laying the boy on his bed. His hope for a moment of privacy with Madison wouldn’t go over well tonight. He stepped out of the room and walked down the hallway to see Madison’s back turned to him as she stood in her kitchen talking to her mother.

He let himself out, not wanting to interrupt. He would have to figure out another way to get her alone.

***

Madison took a slow breath. She loved her mother, she really did, but the woman had called at the wrong time. She needed to talk to Stephen. She had to set things right.

“Mom, I don’t have a lot of time to talk right now. Can I call you back?”

“Oh, right. Sorry dear. Yeah, you can call back, but I did want to let you know Dad and I were thinking of taking a trip to see you guys.”

“You’re coming here?”

“Yes. Dad’s done the last of the bailing this season, and he wanted to make a trip to the coast then head up and see the Redwoods. We wanted to know if you and Milo wanted to take a trip with us.”

Madison pinched the bridge of her nose. “That sounds fun, but I just got promoted at work, and I’ve got a lot on my plate right now. I’d love for you to stop and see us, of course, but I don’t think I can take the time off work right now.”

“That’s great, honey. You deserve a promotion. You’re so good at what you do.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

“What about Milo? Maybe we could take him with us. Give you a break. Being a single parent has to be tough. I don’t know how you do it.”

Madison took a slow breath. Her mother had often remarked on how brave she’d been to do this alone, but now, it just reminded her of how much she’d lost because of listening to her parents’ advice. “We can talk about it later, Mom. I’ve got to go. Text me the dates so I can see if there’s anything Milo can’t miss.”

“Will do. Have a good night, Beatrice.” Her mother still refused to call her Madison, but since she was the one who’d named her, she got a few more privileges than others would.

“Night, Mom.” Madison hung up the phone and turned around to go find Stephen. When she entered Milo’s room, she wasn’t surprised Stephen wasn’t there, but as she entered the front room, she realized he had left without a word. Was it really only about Milo for him, or was she blowing her chance?

Madison sank into the couch and stared at the black screen of her television, empty and just as dark as the cloud that had settled over her soul.

Chapter Twenty-nine

Stephen returned to Oregon on Monday, though he had planned to stay in California for the first part of the week. He didn’t dare press his luck and ask for a few more days with Milo. Not after having returned him home late on their first outing, the same night her mom had called. Madison had probably told her mom all about his irresponsibility, making a mountain out of a molehill.

And with the call he’d gotten from his client, he knew he could get their project wrapped up quicker if he returned in person. Fast enough that he could probably be back home by Friday. Then he’d take some time off work to make his case to Madison.

He worked like mad during the day, calling Milo in the evenings, not surprised anymore when he answered Madison’s phone. At least the calls went through and she hadn’t blocked him.

“How was your day, Milo?” Stephen asked on their Wednesday call.

“Good.”

“Do anything fun?”

“Yeah, played with Legos.”

They talked about the Legos for a few minutes, then Stephen asked what his plans were for the last couple weeks of summer. He’d be starting school soon, and Stephen hoped to be settled in the area so he could be a part of it.

“Grandma and Grandpa Perry are going to take me on a trip to the Redwoods.”

Stephen stopped chewing the food in his mouth. He rearranged it to the side and asked. “How long? Is your mom going too?”

“No, Mom said she had to work.”

Stephen considered that for a moment. Were Milo’s grandparents trying to keep him from Stephen? Had it been their idea, or had Madison done this? “How long is the trip for?” he asked again.

“I think it’s for a week. Not sure. Should I go ask Mom?”

“No, that’s okay. I hope you have a fun trip. When do you leave?”

“Next week.”

Stephen nodded, though Milo couldn’t see him. He wouldn’t have Milo there as an excuse to see Madison, but maybe it would give him a chance to show her that he wasn’t just in it for the kid. But she wouldn’t see him without Milo. He needed a way to talk to her where she couldn’t get away.

“I’ll be coming back tomorrow night. Would you like to go do something?”

“Yeah. We could go to the park. Mom doesn’t have much time lately.”

“Is she still really busy at work?” Stephen asked.

“Yeah.” A few noises in the background made Stephen think Milo was playing with Legos as they talked. “It must be really hard ’cause sometimes she cries at night after dinner.”

Stephen held the phone tighter to his ear. “Is she there in the room with you?” He paused, not thinking he should ask Milo if he thought she was sad because of something different.

“No, she’s watching a movie.”

“I’m sorry your mom is sad. I think I might know something to help her feel better. Do you think you might help me cheer her up?” Stephen asked. He hesitated for a moment, not sure if this idea would backfire or not, but he was desperate enough to enlist the help of a seven-year-old.

***

Madison stared at Milo Thursday night as she tried to tuck him into bed. “You’ve got to be kidding me. You left it in the car?”

“Sorry, Mom. I forgot Claw when we came in. And I can’t sleep without him. Please.”

Milo’s eyes were huge, and she didn’t understand what was so important about the stupid stuffed animal anyway. It wasn’t as if he’d had it long. Stephen had bought it for him at the zoo last week. She dropped her shoulders in defeat and sighed.

“Fine. I’ll go get it.”

“I’ll come help you find him.” Milo threw the covers off and shot past her into the hallway. She was half-tempted to just let him run out to the car himself, but he was still pretty young, and though her neighborhood was relatively safe, she still didn’t feel comfortable letting him go alone.

He’d left the front door open in his rush out there. She grabbed the keys from her purse and hurried down the driveway after him.

Milo ran back to her. “Can I open it?”

Madison passed the keys over to him, and he pressed the button, running closer to the back door. He kept the keys in his hand, opened his door, and peered in. “I can’t see it.”

Madison rolled her eyes. “It’s on the floor against the other door.”

“Where?” Milo said, not even looking in the car.

Madison shook her head, not wanting to argue with him. It was easier to just do it herself. She stepped into the car so she could reach it and felt Milo push her from behind.

“Hey!” she hollered. “What are you—” The door closed behind her, and Madison turned to glare at her son. She tried opening the door, but with the child-locks on, it wouldn’t open and she wasn’t in the mood to climb into the front seat. She pointed her finger at him. “Open this door, Milo.”

Milo wasn’t even looking at her, but was waving to someone behind the car. Madison looked through the back windshield and frowned when she saw Stephen approaching her car.

He opened the front door and climbed in then turned to face her. Madison glared at him then back to her son who lifted the car keys and pressed the lock button. He waved at Stephen, gave him a thumbs up, and ran into the house, closing the door behind him.

“What the heck is this all about?” Madison asked. “Did you put him up to this?”