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Lincoln laughed as Theo stomped and wriggled in front of a group of buskers. He laughed harder as he was pulled into the group. Kali watched, the feeling from this afternoon easing back over her. It would be nice having a man in Theo's life.
They'd gotten weird looks all evening. A few nasty looks from black women who, probably, were thinking she should have known better, that she should stick with her own, and if she didn't, to choose better. But Lincoln was better than most, if you looked past the surface, at least. He was dressed half decently tonight, but his hair and beard still made him look like he couldn't afford a decent cut, let alone a home. One woman actually shook her head and kissed her teeth at the trio.
That woman and all the rest could go to hell—or at least back to the eras that raised them.
Kali hadn't chosen Lincoln to be in their lives, not in any sense of the word. But for now, for tonight, she was glad he was with them, dancing with her son, making Theo laugh. Theo spun, his grin so big she wondered if it hurt. He waved her toward the dancers. She shook her head. Not that she didn't want to dance. She did, but she wanted more to watch him, see her boy smiling, standing in a flock of people, unafraid. She hadn't known he was capable of it, to be in a crowd and not stand out. To just be a boy—happy.
Kali’s eyes darted to Lincoln. She bit her lip. The beard wasn't so bad. It suited him—with those dark eyes, thick lashes, large, almost feminine lips. If he tidied the beard up a bit, trimmed his hair, he'd be ... well, he'd be gorgeous—in a rugged, woodsy kind of way.
Theo waved his arms again. When she didn't budge, he ran over. Feigning resistance that made him giggle, Kali let Theo pull her into the crowd.
Giggling and exhausted, they stopped in front of a kiosk that sold fish and chips. Despite her protests, Lincoln treated. They sat behind the small restaurant, away from the streams of people on the boardwalk, and shooed the seagulls away.
“Stop feeding them.” Kali shook her finger at Theo. “I see you under the table.”
He opened his eyes wide and shook his head.
“You are.”
He shook his head again.
“It might make them sick. Fries aren't good for them. Fries are people food.”
Theo twisted his lips. He picked up a fry and planted it in his mouth. After several angry squawks, the seagulls plagued another table.
Lincoln tensed, his bite of fish halfway to his mouth.
Kali glanced around. “What?”
“Nothing.” He stood, his shoulders hunched. “Switch with me.”
“What?”
“Just—” He slid onto the bench beside her. She slid out and kept her mouth shut, wanting to ask but not wanting to anger him, ruin the night. Several more times it happened throughout the night—tensing, shifting out of the way or keeping his head down. She looked for cops. She looked for people who looked shady, but Lincoln was the shadiest person in view.
Darkness crept upon them. And Theo smiled. He laughed his silent laugh. He kept close, a hand constantly clinging to either Kali's or Lincoln's as they walked. Sometimes both. When they reached a volleyball court converted to a massive sandbox, they decided it'd be the perfect spot to wait for the fireworks. Theo played apart from the other children but looked at them, shared some smiles. Every twenty to thirty seconds he'd turn his head to Kali and Lincoln. That was normal, though. Children checked to make sure their parents were there. That's what they did. She rubbed her arms as darkness settled, then waved Theo over and slipped him into his jacket. They found a better spot to wait for the show, though about five rows of people had beaten them to it. At least it meant they'd be sheltered from the wind. She rubbed her hands over the thin sleeves of her cardigan. Typical. She'd thought to bring Theo a jacket, but not one for herself.
Kali jumped as hands touched her shoulders. She turned to see Lincoln's coat draped over her. “I don't need—”
He shrugged. “Neither do I.”
Theo looked up at them and made his fireworks symbol. “Soon.” She pulled out her phone. “Fifteen minutes.”
Theo settled onto Lincoln's lap, his head snuggled against Lincoln's chest. Kali started to reach for him, not liking Lincoln and Theo's closeness, but stopped. Theo would be okay when they moved. He'd be fine.
They stood a minute before the fireworks were scheduled to start. Theo made his hand motions, again and again. The sky lit, the first boom reverberated through the air. Theo screamed.
His hands flew to his ears, his body collapsed on the pavement. Kali's heart constricted. She sank beside him, fear and anger coursing through her. “It's okay,” she whispered beside his covered ears, her arms wrapped around him. “You're safe. It's o—”
Hands reached between them. Theo's body lifted off the ground.
“What are you—” Kali yelled uselessly as the night exploded around them.
Lincoln pulled Theo's hands away and held him up, his little feet kicking. He yelled in the boy's face, “It's okay. You're safe. Watch,” and swung him in the air and onto his shoulders, forcing Theo's face to the sky.
Theo's hands shot back to his ears like magnets. Kali reached for him, but Lincoln stepped away. The boy's face contorted. Kali reached again, but Lincoln shook his head. Theo's eyes widened. His mouth opened. His brow softened. His hands fell away.
Kali breathed.
The sky went dark. It lit again. Sound thundered against them ... and Theo smiled. He wrapped his arms around Lincoln's forehead and bounced. He released his hands and clapped. The sky lit with a multitude of colours, the explosions coming fast, faster, one after the other, and Theo's face glowed, transfixed. Kali saw it in his eyes, the reflection of it all, and joy, relief, thankfulness shot through her.
Lincoln's hand was on her waist, drawing her near, turning her toward the lights. The opposite hand rose up to steady Theo as he leaned down to whisper in her ear. In the still between explosions, she heard him. “This is for you, too.”
Theo's body sprawled against Lincoln's chest. His arms and legs bounced as they walked the blocks back to their apartment. He whimpered and shifted as they trudged up the stairs. He settled with a smile as Lincoln lowered him into bed, pulled off his sneakers, and drew the sheet up over him. Kali stood back as Lincoln stepped away from the bed. Should she go to her boy, kiss his sleeping face, or follow the man who'd brought him in?
She turned to Lincoln. “Thank you.”
“Mmhmm.”
“No.” Kali put a hand on his arm and followed him out of the room. “I ... I would have ruined it. I would have carried him out of there, just as afraid as he was. I would—”
“You didn't.”
“I know.” Her hand still rested against his bicep. “Thanks to you.” She paused. “He's going to remember tonight.” Her voice came out raspy. “It was amazing.”
The slightest smile crossed Lincoln's face. “He deserves it.”
Kali nodded. “And you? Did you have a good night? Did you have fun?”
“Yeah.” He rocked onto his heels. “It was all right. Great, even.” He glanced toward his room.
Kali's lips pressed together. She glanced down the hall, following his gaze. “Just wait here or ... you coming to the living room?”
“I can. Give me a minute.”
Kali grabbed the wrapped box from its hiding spot, along with the gift she'd found in the time between Andrew leaving and Lincoln returning. She stood in the living room, sat on the couch, stood again, waited. Lincoln stepped into the room. “Here.” Kali stuck out the hand with Andrew's package. “Happy Birthday.”
“What?” Lincoln stared at the package like it was a piece of spoiled meat. “How?”
“Andrew was here. He left this for you.”
“Oh.” He stepped forward and took it from her then slipped it in his pocket.
“You're not going to open it?”
“I know what it is.”
Kali raised her eyebrows.
“He's been getting me the same thing since we were fifteen.”
She held out her package. “You don't know what this is.”
“From?”
“Me.”
He took the gift from her, a curious look in his eye. “When did you know?”
“Today. Open it.”
He peeled off the wrapping. “Thoreau?”
“Walden.” She stepped toward him. “See, Life in the Woods. I asked Cheryl what book would be good for someone who spent a lot of time alone.”
“Cheryl? Librarian Cheryl?”
“Yeah, and—”
“You told her I was in the woods? What did you—?”
“No. I didn't mention your name. I just asked her and this was one she suggested and I thought—perfect.”
Lincoln’s brow furrowed.
Stupid. Stupid. She should mind her own business. Stay out of his life, like they'd agreed.
He stared at the cover, the frown deepening on his brow.
He hated it. He thought she was saying all he was, was some hermit. She stepped toward him. “That guy up on Gottingen who sells basically everything, he was open and—that's why it looks so ratty. It's used, but it's a holiday right, so—”
“Thank you.”
Relief washed over her.
“This is really nice. You didn't have to, but thank you.”
Kali retreated. She sank onto the couch. Lincoln's couch. He sat on the opposite end, the book in his hands.
“I've heard about this.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.” He flipped some pages, seemed to read a few lines, closed the cover. “So thoughtful.” Lincoln turned his head back to the book, gripping it with both hands. “Andrew came to drop off the present?”
“Uh huh.”
“You let him in?”
“Yup.”
“He say anything else?” His knuckles turned white.
Kali shifted toward him, her back against the armrest. “He mentioned your mother's party.”
“And?”
“He wants you to come.”
“What else? Did he talk about anything else?”
She offered a slight smile. “He said you were a prick. And that a bunch of people would be there. Over fifty. He said your dad would be there too, for a couple of hours. That he had a pass.”
Lincoln's head rose. “Really?”
“Yeah.”
His head fell again. “If he comes back, tell him I can't go.”
“Why?”
Lincoln's jaw twitched. He looked in pain. “It's complicated.”
She should shut up. Leave him alone. This was none of her business. Just like his birthday was none of her business ... but he liked the gift and, maybe just a little bit, maybe just for tonight, she could make it her business. “It's just a party, though, right? Go for a few hours. Wish your mom a happy birthday. Leave.”
He shook his head.
“What's the worst that could—?”
He started to stand. She reached forward and placed her palm on his forearm, pushed. He settled beside her, closer than before. “Okay, maybe I should shut up, leave you alone, but obviously something happened. Whether you did something, she did something, I don't know.”
Lincoln shifted so he was looking at her.
“I think of Theo. A birthday's just a birthday, that's true. But it's also, not, you know? It's a day you want the people you love around you. And there's nothing Theo could do that would make me not want him near me. If there's anything I did that made him feel that way, I'd hope he could remember the good days. You're a good man, you know how to be with a child, I imagine you got that from her.”
Lincoln opened his mouth, inhaled, and closed it again.
“So that means even if she was a shitty mom at times, or did something, she also must have done a lot of good. I just know I hope, no matter what, Theo would come if he could.”
Lincoln swallowed. He leaned back against the couch. “She wasn't a shitty mom.”
“Yeah. Exactly.”
“Andrew put you up to this.” He raised an eyebrow and grinned.
Kali leaned against the couch, a smile on her face. “Yes.”
He laughed, then let his head fall in his hands. “You don't know the situation.”
“You're right.”
“She can't see me like this.” He rubbed his beard.
Kali smiled and laid a hand on Lincoln's knee. “It's not so bad. Comb your hair. We can go get you a new outfit. Or not. Go as you are.”
“We?”
What was she doing? Coming on to him? No. She was being a friend, doing his cousin a favour. That was all. Kali pulled her hand away. “If you want. Or not.” She stood. “I've done my job.”
He reached for her hand. “Sit with me.”
Kali tensed. Things were good right now. She could be friendly, but not too friendly.
“Let me finish my birthday not thinking about this. Not talking about this. Talk to me about something else.” Lincoln pointed to the clock across the wall. “Twenty-seven minutes. Then it's done.” He let out a half smile. “Then you're free.”
Kali grinned, remembering the other part of his present. “Wait here a minute.”
She rushed to the kitchen then returned holding two cupcakes, one lit. Lincoln's eyes crinkled.
Kali sat next to him and held the lit cupcake forward. He leaned back and inhaled. “Don't forget to make a wish.”
He halted his breath. “I'm twenty-eight.”
“And I don't believe in wishes.” Kali shrugged, a weird tightness in her chest. “But I wished anyway, and you came along, and I'm not on the street with my three-year-old boy. So give it a shot.”
Lincoln closed his eyes and blew.