There was plenty of playtime as well. Noah loved his huge sandbox and was quite the little builder, making tunnels to drive his trucks through and shoring them up with big cardboard tubes. He built sand skyscrapers and roads and stuck in red, green, and yellow lollipops for signal lights. Someday, he told her, he wanted to build real skyscrapers, and she encouraged him to dream big. After all, look at what his father had accomplished.
Noah was interested in everything. When Cookie was baking one afternoon, he wanted to help. The three of them had a wonderful time, even if there was cake batter all over the backsplash because Noah lifted the beaters before they were turned off. And he’d learned another lesson by helping to clean up the mess.
They kept up their swimming too, but when Ari mentioned the water wings to Matt, his answer was, “When he’s a little older. Maybe next summer.” She had to bite her tongue to keep herself from saying, Next summer? He’s a strong enough swimmer now.
The trampoline still remained, though Irene hadn’t called Noah or texted. She’d flown off to Paris and disappeared. Ari’s heart ached every time Noah asked when his mom would be back.
When Ari suggested a net would make the trampoline safe, Matt’s answer was, “I’m getting rid of it. The removal company said they’d be here within the week.” There would be no bouncing in Noah’s future. The only thing she could do was wean Noah off his training wheels and hope Matt saw the light, finally understanding his son was capable of so much more.
That was life with Noah. But there were also her evenings with Matt when he was in town. They talked about Noah and Ari’s favorite parts of the day and after dinner, the three of them would play a game or go for a walk. After story time, when Noah was asleep, Matt would give her an update from his private investigator, Rafe Sullivan, who was tracing Gideon’s military record. The information Matt relayed to her each night made her feel as if they were actually getting closer to finding her brother.
And every single moment they were together—and most of the moments they weren’t—Ari dreamed of Matt kissing her. Touching her. Whispering sensual commands like, Go to my room, strip off your clothes, and be waiting naked for me when I get there.
Alas, he always said a polite good night and went to his room alone. There were no intimate evening conversations. No glasses of wine. No more baring of souls and confidences.
But she did catch him watching her when he thought she didn’t notice. With a very male get-her-down-to-her-bare-skin look that made her whole body tingle with awareness. It was just enough to help keep hope alive that he might someday stop looking at being with her as a mistake.
She’d dreamed about those looks every one of the three nights he’d been gone on his latest business trip and was impatiently waiting for his return tonight. She and Noah were spending the afternoon at Rosie’s so the kids could play. Chi had dropped by too, and they all sat on Rosie’s tiny patio, drinking lemonade and watching the boys.
“Is Jorge still using training wheels on his bike?” Ari asked.
With her Latino heritage, Rosie was a beauty, with thick, curly dark hair and cocoa eyes. “He’s been off them since he started kindergarten in September. But I still watch out.”
“You’re just a nervous mama,” Chi said.
Chi was short for the Asian name her first foster parents refused to pronounce correctly. But Chi had liked the new name. She said it was like Tai Chi, calming yet powerful. Her silky black hair hung straight down her back, and she had smooth, flawless skin. She’d been in foster care since she was eight. Rosie lost her parents when she was eleven. They’d all found each other at Ari’s second foster home. When they’d eventually been split up, they’d sworn to stay best friends. And they had, through thick and thin.
“I’m not nervous,” Rosie huffed, smiling as she did so. “Why do you want to know about the training wheels, Ari?”
“I’m weaning Noah off his.” He was more interested in his sandbox buildings so far, though, and they hadn’t spent much time on it yet.
“He’s a smart, agile kid. He’ll be on two wheels in no time.” They all reached in with their lemonade and clinked glasses to Noah’s eventual success. Education was fabulous, but firsthand experience like Rosie’s was the best kind of backup to go along with Ari’s gut feelings.
Ari still had dreams of teaching someday, but right now there was only Noah and Matt. Maybe when Noah was in school full time…
If she was still working for Matt, that was. She couldn’t bear to think of a time when she wouldn’t be.