Outside Medford’s, Tylan dashed toward the parking lot, about to run in front of a car.
Tammy’s heart lurched. “Tylan!”
Nick made a guttural cry and lunged in front of her. He seized her son by the wrist. Glancing from Tylan’s wide-eyed expression to his white-knuckled hand, Nick blinked and released his grip. He trembled slightly, and the color had drained from his face. “I’m sorry. I . . .”
“No need to apologize.” She grabbed Tylan’s other arm and yanked him to the curb. “You could’ve been hit.”
Nick followed with slumped shoulders, his eyes moist.
Poor Nick. She touched his elbow. “You all right?” She’d received more information on Payton’s recipients today, included it in a letter tucked inside a card. That card sat in her purse, waiting. But now wasn’t the time.
His torso rose and fell as if inhaling a fortifying breath. “I’m fine.” He offered Tylan a weak smile. “Sorry if I roughed you up.”
Thin lines stretched across Tylan’s brow. With mouth pressed shut and hands fisted at his sides, he stared at Nick as if deciding between remorse and defiance.
Tammy lowered to her son’s eye level and gripped his arms. “This is a parking lot. What are the rules?”
Pink flooded his cheeks. “No running,” he mumbled.
She nodded and took his hand. He tried to tug away, but she tightened her grip and shot him a warning glare. Releasing a heavy sigh, he moaned and complied.
“Tammy?”
She turned to see Jenson approaching Medford’s with two other businessmen, all in suits.
“Hi.” Still gripping Tylan’s sweaty hand, she pivoted and offered a smile.
Jenson’s narrowed gaze swept over Nick before shifting back to Tammy. He said something to his colleagues. They nodded and headed toward the restaurant while he strolled toward her.
“Hello.” A tendon in his jaw twitched as he turned to Nick with an extended hand. “I’m Jenson Poynter, a close friend of Tammy’s. And you are?”
“Nick Zimmerman.” He accepted Jenson’s handshake.
Tammy noted Jenson’s tight-lipped smile. He looked between the two. “You know one another how?”
“High school.” Tammy released her death grip on Tylan and wrapped an arm around his shoulder instead. They stood awkwardly for a moment longer, couples strolling past them, Tylan fidgeting, until Becky released one of her characteristic diva-sighs.
“Can we go already? I’m starving.”
“Me, too.” Tylan poked his bottom lip out, dimples forming on his chin.
Tammy laughed and ran a hand across his sweaty head. “All right. I hear you.” She smiled at Jenson, surprised to see his scowl had deepened. “I better feed the kiddos. It was good seeing you.”
They said their good-byes, Tammy released her death-grip on Tylan, and she and Nick continued down the walk. Becky walking a few feet ahead of them.
A warm gust swept over her, tickling her nose with the faint scent of Nick’s cologne. Citrusy with a hint of cedar.
She fingered the strap on her purse, thinking of the card tucked inside. Watching Nick from the corner of her eye, she prayed for God’s comforting words, His perfect timing.
An old house converted into a fast-food joint, Hungry Man’s sat in front of a long wooden fence separating East Street apartments from downtown Oak Park Blossoms. The building was a forest green, the paint peeling, the roof made from corrugated metal sheets. A handful of rusted tables and chairs dotted a circular patch of pavement, checkered pop-tents blocking out spheres of the setting sun.
A gentle breeze stirred, carrying the scent of greasy French fries and onion rings. A pack of teenagers sat against the brick wall, knees pulled up. The largest of them all, a muscular teen dressed in a white mesh tank, eyed Becky.
Tammy tensed. Nudging her daughter out of the kid’s sight, she made her way to the sliding window cut into the aluminum siding.
Nick muscled in front of her, flashing a smile. “I got this.”
She moved aside. “Thanks, Nick. I owe you.”
She stole a glance at Becky, her momma bear simmering near the surface. For once, Becky didn’t make fluttery eyes.
Nick shot Tylan a lopsided smile. “Extra onions and tomatoes, right?”
“No.” Tylan bolted to the window. “Just a burger with ketchup. Nothing else.” He rose on his toes, forearms planted on the counter, neck craned forward as if afraid the worker might miss his request.
Tammy smiled as Nick continued to rib her son, suggesting everything from shoofly pie to fries dipped in whale lard.
That one got a raised eyebrow from Tylan. “Do they really make those?”
Becky rolled her eyes, and Nick chuckled. “Maybe in Alaska. After we order, remind me to tell you about my time with the Eskimos.”
“Really?” Tylan’s eyes widened, as did Tammy’s. That was one she wanted to hear. Apparently, so did Becky, because she looked up from her phone.
Bags of burgers in hand, Nick glanced around. “You know, there’s a playground half a block from here.” He pointed toward a well-trodden trail edging a wooden fence a few feet away. “What do you say?”
“Yay!” Tylan grinned.
Becky shrugged.
“Sounds good to me.” Tammy grabbed the drink tray resting on the order counter. By the time she turned around, Tylan and Becky were already heading down the trail. “Hey. Wait for us.” But either they didn’t hear her or they pretended not to.
As Tammy and Nick continued, a playground came into view, an alcove of green surrounded by lush, towering trees. A splattering of kids clamored up the jungle gym.
Tammy and Nick sat at a shaded park bench nestled beneath a dogwood. Tylan and Becky sat across from them, and Nick distributed the burgers and fries.
He glanced at Tammy. “Shall we pray?”
She nodded, and everyone bowed their heads.
“Father, thank You for this food and for special friends. More than that, thank You for Your Son and the promise of eternal life.” His voice grew husky, and he cleared his throat. “Because You gave Your Son for us, one day, I’ll be able to see my son again.” He paused, and Tammy heard him inhale a shuddered breath before closing with an amen.
The prayer had barely concluded before Tylan tore off his food wrapper and gulped his burger down. Watching Nick, Becky picked at hers, her expression unreadable.
Tammy tapped Becky’s foot with her own. “You okay?”
She shrugged. “Not hungry, I guess.”
Tammy observed her for a moment longer but didn’t press. Most likely, Becky was just tired. Or bored, spending the evening with adults and all.
When finished, Tylan swiped at his mouth with the back of his hand. “Can I go play now?”
Tammy ruffled his hair. “Sure.”
Grinning, Tylan sprang to his feet and ran toward the jungle gym. Becky trailed behind and settled into a swing, focused on her phone.
Turning to Nick, Tammy reached into her purse and pulled out her recipient information letter tucked into a Hallmark card. “I brought you something.”
His expression sobered as he took the envelope. “You received more information on the recipients?”
She nodded, holding her breath as he slid the card out.
He read her carefully crafted words aloud. “The recipient of your son’s liver was a fifteen-year-old male who had a cancerous tumor. He was on the waiting list for eleven months before receiving his life-saving transplant. He plans to try out for the football team next fall.”
The list went on, revealing the details of five young lives—their conditions and how long they’d been listed. Two of them probably wouldn’t have made it another week had Nick and Marianne said no to donation.
Tucking the letter back into the card, he looked up with moist eyes. “Thank you.”
She squeezed his hand, nodded.
He gazed toward the park. “Kids are a gift. To be cherished; held tight to.” His jaw clenched, his thick brows drawn. Then, as if shaking off his grief, he turned his crystal blue eyes toward her. “How you been? I can’t imagine it’s easy, being a single mom ’n all.”
She shrugged and picked up a fallen flower. “I’m learning. Trying.” She rubbed a silky petal between her fingers. “My kids need a dad. I just wish my ex would understand that. That he’d make Tylan and Becky more of a priority.”
He nodded and placed his hand on her knee, sending a jolt of electricity through her. “I’m standing with you, Tam. Just like you stood beside me when . . .” His face clouded, his eyes searching hers.
Her heart stirred, then stilled. They were friends. Nothing more. And the man had just lost his son. Romance was the last thing on his mind.
Footsteps crunched behind them. Tammy turned to see a sweaty-faced Tylan standing behind her. “Will you push me on the merry-go-round? Please?”
“Sure.” She started to stand but Nick placed a warm hand on her shoulder.
“You relax. Allow me.” He turned to Tylan. “That okay with you?”
Tylan’s grin widened, his head bobbing.
“But be forewarned, I work up a pretty fierce whirl.” He shot Tammy a wink and followed her scampering son to the playground.
Spending time with her kids seemed to do Nick good, bring him comfort.
Becky sauntered over with a frown. Plopping down beside Tammy, she crossed her arms. “What’re you doing?”
“I’m thirteen, Mom. What’s with you and that guy? Do you like him?”
Heat flooded Tammy’s face, and she struggled to look her daughter in the eye. “Of course not. Not in that way. We’re just friends.”
Maybe saying that enough times would make it so, except her heart wasn’t listening any more than it had twenty years ago.