More than Exist(33)

“No, I didn’t know that,” I responded as we went into the kitchen. “Yes, I’ve been to the ocean. California isn’t always sunny, but it usually is, and no I wasn’t named after that Belle. My full name is Mirabelle, which was my great-grandmother’s name.”

“Oh,” Matty replied, then yelled, “Cookies!” and proceeded to shove one almost entirely in his mouth.

“Matty, get a plate,” Luke admonished, but he was wearing a big smile, and I could tell he was as charmed by his son as I was.

“Kay, dad,” Matty said, then reached into the cupboard and pulled a paper plate down.

He put four cookies on it, then looked up at his dad, who said, “Two. You haven’t had dinner yet.”

Matty put two of the cookies back, finished off his second cookie, then asked, “What’s for dinner?”

Dinner was easy and fun, with Matty asking a million questions and talking a mile a minute. I loved it and felt foolish for allowing myself to get so worked up over something that ended up being fine.

“He’s great,” I told Luke when he and I were sitting in the living room. I’d cleaned up the kitchen, and Matty was off getting showered and ready for bed.

“Thanks,” Luke replied, his face showing obvious pride for his son. “He keeps us on our toes.”

“I bet,” I said with a chuckle, then I admitted, “I was really worried about meeting him.”

“Why?”

I shrugged, not wanting to let all of my insecurities show.

“Well, you didn’t have to be. Matty is pretty easy to get along with.”

We were sitting back, watching the news, when Matty came running in, his hair damp and curing around his ears.

“Ready, Dad?” he asked his father eagerly as he hopped on one foot and put his shoes on.

Luke stood, ruffled his son’s hair, and replied, “You bet,” then he turned to me and offered, “Would you like to join us?’

“Yeah, could ya?” Matty asked so enthusiastically that I didn’t have the heart to say no.

“I’d love to,” I said, my smile genuine as I joined father and son on their nightly walk. I was thinking how much I enjoyed being here, and how great Luke was with Matty, when I felt Matty’s hand slip in to mine.

Joy filled me at that innocent touch, and I wondered how I ended up in this place.





Chapter 24





The next morning I made Matty pancakes for breakfast, made sure his bag was ready by the door, and went to wake him up.

“Matty, it’s time to get up and get ready for school,” I said softly, shaking his shoulder gently to rouse him.

There was no response.

“Hey,” I tried getting a little louder. “It’s time to get up.”

Nothing.

I turned the light on and looked down at the sleeping boy, worrying my lip as I wondered how I could get him up without scaring him to death.

I pulled the covers back and tried to shake him awake again.

Finally I said in a louder-than-normal voice, “Matty, get up, your shower’s ready.”

His hand twitched by his side, and his eyes fluttered open.

“Whaaa?” he mumbled.

“Time to get up,” I said forcefully. “Get in the shower, then come have your breakfast.”

“Kay,” Matty said as he rose slowly, stretching as he swung his legs over the side of the bed and let them dangle.

“Okay,” I said with a smile, proud of myself for finally getting him up. I wondered if I’d missed something in the notes that Ms. Lucille left, or if he wasn’t normally so hard to wake.

I left Matty to do his business and went to make sure his jacket and shoes were by the door along with his backpack. I had a feeling he was going to be running behind, and I didn’t want him to be late for the bus.

I went back down the hall a few minutes later to check on his progress, and let out a frustrated grunt when I saw he was back in bed, sound asleep.

“Matty!” I yelled, not bothering to try and whisper him awake this time. “You have to get up.”

He sat straight up in bed, his hair adorably tousled, and replied, “I’m up.”

This time I went to the bed and helped him stand, then led him down the hall to the waiting shower.

“You’ll be lucky if there’s any hot water left,” I muttered as I nudged him into the bathroom and shut the door behind him.

Fifteen minutes later when Luke came to collect him, Matty was sitting at the counter finishing up his breakfast.

“You not ready yet, buddy?” Luke asked, walking right for the coffee maker and filling up his travel mug.

“I had a hard time waking him,” I admitted, not wanting Matty to get in trouble.