Should she seriously consider it? Shanan did it all the time and claimed it was fun. Could she bust out of her good-girl box and break her own rules? Her husband’s early passing always brought home the importance of living each day to its fullest. Maybe if Jason seemed like a nice guy, someone who could turn out to be datable for more than one night, she’d do it!
Deek was so deep into his programming in his study that when his computer beeped with a call Monday evening, it startled him. He blinked at the screen for a moment and then realized it was Annie.
His e-mail had apparently worked. As he pressed the icon to connect, he called out for Asher to join him.
“Hi, Annie. How are you?”
She smiled weakly. “Better after I got your e-mail about the funding. It’d be nice to have a little more help. It’s been a long day. How are you?”
“Good. But I miss you.”
“I’m sorry, Deek. I know I’ve stayed away too long.”
“Asher will be here in a second, so please don’t mention the funding for the dig. We can talk about that later. He’s feeling a little neglected by you.” And so was Deek, but the call needed to be about Asher first.
“It’s just for a few years.” Annie sighed. “We’re doing great work here.”
A few years in a child’s life was a major thing, but Annie could never seem to understand that. “He misses his mom. Have you thought about it? Can you make it home for his birthday? He’d love that.”
“I’m rearranging the schedule tonight. Don’t make him any promises, though. I have to see when exactly I can be away. It might not be on Asher’s birthday exactly.”
Deek wanted to fist pump at his almost-victory but held back because Asher walked in the room. “Hey, bud. Mom called to talk to you.”
Asher’s eyes lit up. “She called? Really?” He trotted up and sat in the chair Deek had just vacated. “Hi, Mom! How’s the dig going?”
Deek glanced at his empty water glass and took the opportunity to go to the kitchen for a refill. Once he filled his glass, he decided he was hungry. He spotted the basket of apples his housekeeper had left out for Asher, and grabbed one to eat. By the time he got back to the study, Asher was saying goodbye to Annie.
The conversation hadn’t been long, but it’d put a smile on Asher’s face. It was late in Peru, so he couldn’t blame Annie for being brief.
Annie’s face disappeared, and Asher spun around in the desk chair. “Dad, could you drive me to Emily’s house?”
“It’s after eight? Why?”
“I have to get a book from her. I forgot mine at school, and I need it to finish my homework. It’s due in the morning.”
“We’ve talked about this, Asher. I’m tired of having to rush around because you don’t manage your time well.” Deek hated when Asher left things till the last minute because homework was so easy for him. “It’s late. And Lori’s new cell won’t get in until tomorrow. I can’t ask permission to drop by. We can’t barge in on them two nights in a row.”
Asher’s face morphed into the innocent puppy look. “I’m sorry, Dad. I forgot the book because I was hurrying to find you after school today in case Mom called.”
Probably not true, but the thought of seeing Lori again made the decision an easy one. “Okay. This is the last time, though. Got it?”
“Thanks, Dad.”
Deek shut down what he was working on and then grabbed his keys. They really shouldn’t just show up at Lori’s house so late. “Did you happen to get Emily’s cell phone number last night?”
He nodded. “Yeah. I called already and asked if I could borrow her book. She said she’d leave it out front for me. She and her aunt went to the movies.”
“On a school night? I’m surprised Lori would let Emily do that.”
“Well, um.” Asher’s eyes darted around the study. “It’s supposed to be a secret. You can’t tell Mrs. Went. Please, Dad?”
Asher wasn’t making any sense. “Why wouldn’t Lori know they went to the movies?”
“Because she went on a date.” Asher chewed on his bottom lip. “And Emily’s aunt sometimes breaks the rules. Mrs. Went doesn’t like that.”
“Lori is on a date?” Warning bells went off in Deek’s head. “With Jason? Come on. Let’s go.”
As they jogged to the garage, Asher said, “I don’t know what his name is. Do you want me to call Emily back?”
“No. I don’t know. Let me think. Just hop in.” Deek didn’t know what they should do. Lori didn’t have a cell, so he couldn’t call and warn her.