Page 20 of His Best Friend's Widow
“Um, yeah, it’s okay. I’m okay. It’s, um, just water, right?”
“Yep, just water. Well, and ice.”
“Oh yeah, I’m sensing the ice.” He began to blot at his wet pants, not sure it was going to do much good. He hadn’t been this wet since the last time he went swimming.
“They usually give the kids cups with lids. I was just about to ask if they could change it out.” She bit her lip. “Guess it was too late.”
Landon tried to laugh it off. “These things happen. I mean, I guess they do.” He’d actually never had an entire cup of water spilled in his lap at a restaurant, but he was pretty sure he wasn’t the first person in the world to experience it.
Hailey grimaced. “I told you. We don’t go out to eat very often. At least when they spill something at home, there’s a change of clothes available.”
Landon chuckled. “That would definitely help.”
“Do you want to go? It’s okay. I completely understand if you do.”
Landon looked up from the futility of trying to dry his pants. Glancing around, he saw the looks on the kids' faces, sadness and disappointment. His eyes landed on Hailey, and he saw her concern, and maybe even fear, that he would want to leave. He smiled, pushing through the discomfort of the cold. “No, no, let’s just eat. It’s just a little cold. I’ll survive it.”
Hailey gave him a sympathetic look. Then she leaned over and whispered, “You earned your dessert.”
He wanted to tell her thanks and stare into her eyes as she smiled. But Carter was talking and calling his name.
“Landon, Landon.”
“Yeah, bud,” he answered.
“Did you hear that the rodeo is coming to town?”
Landon scratched his head. “No, I didn’t know about that. I don’t keep up with rodeos much. Tell me about it.” He propped his chin in his hand and listened intently as the boy told him about the events. He described the smelly cows and the funny clowns, and how one time they had eaten nachos. “That sounds like a lot of fun,” Landon said.
“It’s the best.”
Hailey gave him a weak smile. “I don’t know when the rodeo is coming to town. He just always thinks it will be coming soon.”
“Oh,” Landon said, not really understanding.
“We only went once, and I can’t believe he remembers it so well. But Kyle wanted to take us. It was a lot of fun. I’m glad he has that memory.”
The name hit him like a ton of bricks. This was still Kyle’s family. They had memories with their husband and their father. He could never step in and fill that spot. The waitress came then to take their orders. Landon turned all his attention to the food, and to keeping an eye on the kids’ water glasses.
He had wanted to step in and help Hailey. And he knew that was the right thing to do. She could use an extra hand, and he was happy to be that.
But he had to remember that was all he was there for. He had to shut down his senses to the sweet smell of her perfume, and the way her eyes lit up when she laughed. Maybe they could be friends, but nothing more.
And maybe what he had needed was a douse of water after all.
11
Hailey chewed her fingernails as she watched the front walk from the window. How had the week flown by, and it was Thursday night again? All the days and hours seemed to run together and last forever all at once. She used to look forward to Thursday nights. “Friday-Eve” they would call it. And Friday, when everyone came home from school and work, it was officially the weekend. The best part of every week.
Weekends were for family time. Kyle worked so hard to provide for them. But when he came home Friday, he hung up his work hat and filled their home with love, laughter, and life.
For the past year, Hailey hadn’t even looked forward to the weekend. It was more work, more activities, and more time for her to be alone.
Tonight, Landon was coming to take Carter to soccer practice. Carter was already running up and down the hall in his practice gear. She had been so relieved to have Landon help with this, and Carter loved seeing him every week.
Now she stood watching nervously for him to arrive. Was she doing the right thing? Was Carter going to be disappointed one day when Landon decided not to come?
She knew he meant well, but things happened. Plans changed or problems came up. And he wasn’t really committed to them. If he had a work emergency come up, then he couldn’t say he had a family thing.
