Page 33 of Lovesick

Tim looked at him. “You do care, don’t you, Dad?”

They all laughed. So much for talking in front of the kid.

“Sure I do, we all do. Louise is a very nice person.”

“She is nice. And pretty,” Tim said. He paused and screwed up his face. “You should go on a date with her, Dad.” His son looked up at him with his big brown eyes earnest and serious, expecting an answer. His heart beat loud. The room was quiet, waiting for him to capitulate.

“What do you know about women?” Max messed his son’s hair and gave him a smile, though he knew it was a sad one.

“I know that Mom says you should find one, that you need to bite the bullet and get a new wife.”

They all laughed. Tim shrugged. “I know you like Lou and I know she likes you. No use pretending.”

“You’re right about that.” Eight-year-old wisdom boiled his problem down to the simplest, basic, underlying truth of the matter. With one adjustment. He didn’t like Louise. He was damn well in love with her.

It was no wonder he had such a hard time having an affair with her. He wanted so much more.

“She can’t stay home alone,” he said. “They’re releasing her in the morning and she’ll need someone to take care of her.”

“We—” George began, then gave a little jerk of surprise. Max suspected Margo had kicked him under the table, judging by the grimace.

“It’s too bad George and I will be tied up completely with preparations for the vote.”

Max knew they had every loose end tied up. There was nothing left to do but vote.

“I’ll pick her up and take her home.” He turned to his son. “If you don’t mind?”

“I’m staying at Mom’s tomorrow, remember?”

Max shook his head. He should remember. But like everything else in his life, even his son’s schedule was lost in the whirlwind of his emotions since he’d fallen for Lou. Louise Regal, of all people. He nodded.

“Then it’s a plan. I’ll pick her up as early as I can and take her home. She won’t be able to make the meeting for the vote, but could she vote by proxy?”

“Yes. In the case of an emergency, the board allows proxy votes. All we need is an affidavit from the treating physician.” George raised a brow, suppressing his grin.

“You got it.”

He and Tim left.

“I’m so proud of you for being such a kind and loving boy, Tim.”

“Like father, like son,” he said.

Max shook his head. His son was scary mature for his age. Max had been a serious young man, but Tim was outdoing him in every respect. Especially in the charm category. He’d have to take notes from now on.