Page 2 of An Unexpected Turn
“Jesus, Mikey.” My jaw fell open as I gaped at my son. “I went here in thenineteen nineties.”
At forty-six, I was in damn good shape and never considered myself even close to being old—until my son made me feel ancient.
“Wow,” Mikey noted, unaware of my shock and offense as his eyes swept over the main building. “Does it look the same?”
“I mean, they probably have electricity now, unlike in my day when I traveled to school in a horse and buggy. But from the outside, mostly the same.”
He leaned over to give me a tight hug. I wrapped my arms around him and pulled him to me, as I used to when I dropped him off all those Sunday nights when he was little. This time, I didn’t have to deal with the weekly crack in my chest after letting him go.
“It’s all going to be fine. You’ll see.” I clapped him on the back before I pulled away.
I’d meant it for the both of us, and as I watched him walk through the large double doors, I prayed I was right.
The unease in my stomach didn’t dissipate when I arrived at work. I was tempted to text Mikey to see how he was doing, but I didn’t want to get him in trouble. Plus, checking up on him would only add to his nerves, so I’d deal with my jitters until dismissal.
I unlocked the door to the office, thankful my office manager and the guys wouldn’t be here for the next couple of hours. Now that I had my son living with me, running my own contracting business and setting my own hours was a lucky perk. I rarely worked later than three or four in the afternoon, but my sister lived close enough if I had an occasional late night, though I hoped to keep those as infrequent as possible.
Sharing my daily life with anyone was a brand-new venture.
“Hey, Russo? Back from school yet?”
I cracked up at the gravelly voice drifting in through the door.
Keith, my best friend since high school, trudged inside and took the seat in front of my desk.
“Coffee would be nice.”
“Then go to the deli across the street. Get me one too.”
“I thought Russo’s Contracting could do any job.” He turned up his nose in mock disgust before his lips curved up. “How was Mikey’s first day?”
“He got there.” I shrugged, organizing some of the loose papers on my desk into job folders. “No clue beyond that. Hoping like hell for the best. What brings you out so early on your day off?”
“I can’t sleep in anymore, too damn used to being up early. I thought I’d give Maya a break and drive the kids to school, and I figured I’d come by on the way home and see if you were freaking out yet.”
“Thanks for the sentiment—and the confidence,” I said, quirking my brow. Keith had wanted to be a cop for as long as I could remember and joined the police department right after he completed the college credits he needed. He’d made it all the way up to chief of police, and I still had yet to see him take a real day off.
“I’m only here for moral support. No shade, I swear. I know how kids drive you crazy. Speaking of, my niece is staying with us for a while.”
“Peyton? How old is she now?”
“Thirty-two.” He shook his head and laughed. “But I guess she’ll always be a kid to me.”
“Wow, I haven’t seen her in years. What made her move here?”
“She found a job at the high school. My sister is annoyed she’s moving three hours away, but I’m glad to have her close by. These poor kids have to start school in August now, but they’re running around the streets in May, so I guess it’s all relative.” He shook his head and laughed. “Will you relax already? He’s going to be fine.”
“I wish I were as sure as you are.” I tossed the stack of folders I was trying to busy myself with onto my desk and rubbed my eyes.
“Stop worrying. I always thought Mikey would be better off with you, and he finally is. If it makes you feel any better, I’ll tell Peyton to keep an eye on him. She’s a guidance counselor.”
“Oh, really? Good for her.”
Keith shrugged and stood. “Good for her, I guess. I mean, I’m proud of her, of course, but whiny high school kids aren’t my thing. Needy new cops are plenty.”
“So, the twins will have to move out at twelve?”
“It takes someone special to want to deal with someone else’s kids all day long. That person was never me. And right now, I need some coffee. Come on, Russo.”
