Chapter 4
But that Friday, things started getting weird.
I went to pick up Mike from kindergarten and saw Zack's car parked out front.
He was leaning against the car, holding a cup of coffee.
When he saw me, he walked over and handed me the coffee. "Here you go."
"What's this?" I asked.
"Coffee, light on sugar, no ice. I figured you'd like it."
"How did you know I like it that way?"
"Just a guess."
I took the coffee but didn't drink it. "Mr. Stone, what are you doing at the kindergarten?"
"Just here to see a kid."
"Whose kid?"
"Yours."
Zack looked at me, dead serious. "Mike's pretty interesting. I want to be friends with him."
"He's four, and you're thirty-one. What kind of friends could you possibly be?" I asked.
"Age doesn't matter when it comes to friendship."
I took a deep breath, telling myself to stay calm. "Mr. Stone, I don't know what you're playing at, but don't think about messing with my son."
"I'm not interested in him. I am after you," Zack replied.
I was stunned.
He looked at me, his eyes calm, like he was talking about the weather. "Tracy, I'm coming for you. Got a problem with that?"
I opened my mouth, but couldn't say a word.
Just then, Mike came running out of the kindergarten and threw himself into my arms. "Mommy, you're here so early today."
Then he spotted Zack, and his eyes lit up. "Mr. Stone, you're back again.
"Did you come to see me? I really missed you."
What did he mean by "you're back again" and "I really missed you"?
"Mike, when did you two meet?" I asked.
Mike replied, "Yesterday. Mr. Stone was here yesterday, too.
"He brought me a dinosaur book. It was super awesome."
"Mr. Stone said he would take me to see real dinosaur fossils next time."
I turned to Zack.
He replied with a straight face, "I was passing by yesterday and thought I'd pop in for a bit. Mike showed off his dinosaur toys to me.
"We really hit it off."
"Mike, you—" I started.
"Mommy, Mr. Stone said he likes you," Mike yelled.
His voice was loud enough for everyone at the kindergarten gate to hear. "He said he wants to pursue you. I told him that's fine, but he has to wait for his turn.
"I gave him a queue ticket. He's number one.
"Since nobody else was waiting, he's the very first in line."
I closed my eyes. Was Mike really my son? Or did heaven send him to mess with me?
*****
When we got home that day, I gave Mike a serious look and said, "Mike, be honest with me.
"How many times has Mr. Stone really come to see you?"
Mike counted on his little fingers. "Once, twice, three times... five times."
"Five times?"
"Yep. The first day, he gave me a lollipop, the second day, he brought me a dinosaur book, the third day, he told me stories about dinosaurs, the fourth day, he took me to see some animals, and the fifth day was yesterday."
"Has he been going to the kindergarten every day?"
"Yep. Mr. Stone said he came to see me because I'm so adorable."
I took a deep breath. What was Zack up to?
I said, "Mike, listen to me. Mr. Stone is my boss.
"We shouldn't get too close to him, okay?"
"Why not?" Mike asked, puzzled.
"Because bosses are people you need to keep a little distance from. They're in charge, so it's better not to get too friendly."
"But Mr. Stone said he's not here as your boss. He's here as Mr. Stone.
"He also said you've been working so hard all alone, and he wants to help share the load.
"He said you're the bravest mommy in the whole world, but even the bravest need someone by their side."
I was stunned.
Those words hit me right in the feels.
It had been four years since my divorce, and I'd been raising Mike all by myself. Everyone always said, "Tracy, you're so strong."
But no one had ever said, "You need someone by your side."
Not even I could admit that to myself.
"Mommy? Are you crying?" Mike asked, his voice full of concern.
"No, I am not crying," I said, trying to sound casual.
"That's not true, Mommy. Your eyes are all red."
"It's just the wind."
"But there's no wind in here."
"Mike, don't you think it's time for your bath?"
"Mommy, you are changing the subject. You're blushing."
"Go take your bath."