The rain on Sunday left Anna feeling disappointed. There’d be no going to the park that day. After breakfast, she stood at the window for a little while, watching the water trace down the pane. It wasn’t a quick shower that’d end soon. She’d wanted to take Zack to the park.
And run into Myles.
Sighing softly, she turned and went to gather the laundry. It was a chore she never relished. The dark basement that housed the two washing machines for their building gave her the creeps. She wished it could be painted and more lights added. At least she didn’t have to go to a public laundry and wait. So far, no one had taken her clothes when she’d left them in the apartment laundry.
It was early afternoon when the phone rang. Anna answered quickly. Zack was sleeping, and she didn’t want him to waken.
“Hi, darling,” her mother greeted her.
“Hi, Mom.”
“Your father’s napping, so I thought I’d call.”
Her mother usually called once every week. Anna missed her parents and relished their chats on the phone.
“Zack’s sleeping, too,” Anna said, settling down on the sofa.
“How are things?” her mother asked.
“Okay. Zack scared me to death on Friday.”
Quickly Anna gave her mother a recap.
“I don’t know what to do with his chasing after men, thinking they’re Tom.”
“He’ll grow out of it eventually,” her mom said.
“But in the meantime, I could die of fright if he disappears again. Or he could seriously get lost or abducted.”
“What he needs is a father figure. That’s what he’s missing. I wished we lived closer. Your father loves the time he spends with Zack.”
The image of Myles Riker rose.
Anna frowned. Why had he sprung to mind when her mother spoke of a father figure? He was the last person who’d be interested in children. He said he hadn’t been around them. His job wasn’t good for any kind of family life.
But she could fantasize. That he’d ask her out. That he’d like to spend time with Zack.
The bubble burst. The only dates she’d had in the last twelve months hadn’t ended well.
She resigned herself to her single status—at least for another ten years or so.
“I worry about you two living in that neighborhood,” her mother was saying.
“We’ve been through this, Mom. It’s the best I can do.”
“You could move down here. It’s less expensive.”
“And do what?”
“Teach.”
“I love my job. It’s exciting and keeps me up on all the world events.”
“But you’re so far away, and we miss seeing Zack.”
Anna refrained from reminding her mother they had moved away three years ago, not her. Florida offered a better climate for her father. She missed them even more after Tom died. But she didn’t want to move there herself. She’d miss New York too much. Besides, she was managing fine.
“I’ll send more pictures,” she offered.
“It’s not the same. I’ll call back later and talk with Zack,” her mother said.
“He’d like that, Mom.”
They chatted a few more minutes.
Anna hung up and leaned back on the sofa. It was still raining. She might have chanced the park if it was warmer. Just to walk over in case Myles had walked there for exercise. She could tell he’d been in pain yesterday sitting on the bench. She wished she knew more about his injuries and if he’d completely recover. She hoped so. He looked too virile and active to be satisfied with a desk job when he could be out building mammoth structures.
The rainy weather continued all week and by Saturday morning, Anna was eager to get to the park. She’d asked around about a place to sublet and a woman at work knew of one.
That was the only reason she wanted to see Myles, she told herself. To tell him about the apartment before it was taken.
Zack was delighted to be heading to the park after so many days inside. He’d tried Edith Wade’s patience by Thursday and she’d been glad for preschool on Friday.
When they reached the park, Zack dashed to the playground. Anna looked at each bench. No sign of Myles.
Only when she felt the sweep of disappointment did she realize how much she’d hoped to see him again.
She sat on the bench they’d shared last week and watched Zack play. The usual group of children gathered. She waved at a couple of mothers she knew but didn’t walk over to talk with them.
Maybe Myles would still show up.
It was getting close to lunchtime. She hoped Zack wouldn’t put up a fuss about returning home. She had chores to do and wanted to call one of her friends and discuss dinner one night next week. Laura had a son a year older than Zack, and the two boys loved to play together.
She glanced around as a sixth sense kicked in. Myles was crossing the grass, a white bag held in one hand. His gaze was focused on her as he walked swiftly. No sign of a limp today.
“Hi,” he said when he was close.
“Hi.”
Anna felt fluttery inside. She’d hoped to see him, but now that he was here, she felt positively shy. That was so not like her.
He lifted the bag a couple of inches.
“I took a chance and brought coffee. If you don’t want any, that’s okay. I even brought some apple juice for Zack.”
“I’d love a cup of coffee. I’ve only had one so far today, and sitting here in the sun was making me sleepy.”
He nodded and sat beside her. In seconds, she was sipping the heavenly brew.
“I brought cream in case,” he said, rummaging around in the bag.
“No, I like it black.”
“Me, too.”
He lifted a box of apple juice that came with its own straw, setting them on the bench between them.
Anna was touched he’d thought to bring something for Zack.
“Thank you.”
She caught Zack’s attention and waved him over. He ran all the way.
“Hi,” Myles said.
“Hi. Did you come to watch me play?” he asked.
Myles smiled and nodded. “I sure did.”
“Myles brought you some apple juice,” Anna said, poking the straw into the small box.
“I love apple juice.” Zack exclaimed.
He drank almost half and then stopped, gasping for breath.
“You don’t need to drink it all in one go,” his mother commented wryly. “What do you say?”
“Thank you for my apple juice,” he said to Myles.
Then he handed it back to Anna and ran back to the swings.
“Does he ever get tired?” Myles asked.
“Oh, yeah. After lunch, he’ll sleep for about two hours. Then be raring to go until bedtime. I’m glad you came today. I have a lead on a sublet, if you’re still interested.”
“I am. I spent the better part of this week looking.”
Anna reached into her backpack and pulled out the note with the information about the small apartment not too far from a subway stop. She handed it to Myles. She wished it had been closer to this neighborhood. It’d take some effort to come to the park from there.
He read the information she’d jotted down, then reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet. He extracted another business card, then put her note in its place. Taking a pen, he wrote a phone number and handed her the card.
“I bought a cell phone. Here’s my number. Just in case.”
“In case of what?” she asked, taking the card.
He shrugged. “You find another place available, or just want to talk.”
She wondered if he was lonely. Though she couldn’t imagine any woman would resist long if he showed some interest.
Including her.
“Thanks.” She hesitated a moment. “I can give you our number if you like.”
Myles nodded and in a moment had her number on his phone.
“What did you do all week?” she asked.
“Worked on the physical therapy on my shoulder and hip. Hurts like crazy. They didn’t tell me that when I started. Just some discomfort, they said. Ha, I’d like to see them try it.”
He rotated his shoulder and grimaced.
“Then I called about vacancies. Everything was taken by the time I called.”
“You aren’t trying to get back in shape in a week, are you?”
“Hey, no pain, no gain. Besides, I’ve been working on this since last November. Hardly a week. “
“You need to follow instructions exactly for maximum recovery,” she murmured.
“You a nurse?”
He glanced at her. His dark eyes held amusement.
She grinned. It was fun to banter with him.
“Better, I’m a mom. I know things. Didn’t your mother tell you not to argue back?”
His look became pensive, and he looked across the playground to where Zack and his friends were climbing the bars.
“I don’t remember my mother,” he said.
“Oh.”
Anna felt stricken. She couldn’t have known He’d lost his mother early.
“I’m sorry,” she said.
She couldn’t imagine her mother not being a part of her life, even though she lived in Florida.
He shrugged. “Things happen.”
She longed to ask some questions, but didn’t want to pry. If he wanted her to know more, he’d tell her.
Seeking a safe topic, she remembered the sublet.
“My friend said the apartment will be sublet fully furnished. They want less than six months. They’re taking an extensive tour of Europe, but not so long to tie up the place for a year. I thought it might work out.”
“The way places get rented around here, I’ll call this afternoon.”
Anna sipped her coffee, feeling happier than she’d in a long time.
The day was beautiful, a cloudless blue sky, just enough breeze to keep the temperature from climbing uncomfortably high. She was watching her son have a great time. And sitting beside one of the most gorgeous men on the planet.
She even glimpsed some other mothers staring, and then talking among themselves. She resisted the urge to glance at Myles. Did he feel awkward being the only man around?
No, wait, there were two fathers with their children playing Frisbee on the grass. But Myles wasn’t with a child.
He took the last sip of his coffee and put the cup in the bag.
“I thought about seeing the sights, showing myself New York, so to speak. Would you and your son like to go to the Bronx Zoo with me tomorrow? I’ve seen nothing but sand and more sand in the last few years. It occurs to me that kind of outing would be more fun with a child along who would really be captivated by the animals.”
Anna drew in a breath, surprised at the strong inclination to accept on the spot. She’d love to spend more time with him.
Yet, she wasn’t sure she was ready to date.
She’d tried it twice since Tom died and hated both outings.
Was this a date?
She didn’t really know the man, but they’d be in a public place. How dangerous could going to the zoo be? Zack loved the zoo. They’d gone twice last summer.
“Let me check my calendar when I get home,” she said, stalling.
She wanted to think this through before deciding.
“It is fun to visit the exhibits with a little boy who’s fascinated by everything. I warn you, he’s a bundle of energy and won’t settle for a sedate pace.”
“I checked—the zoo opens at ten, so I thought an early start to see as much as we can. I warn you, I may not have the stamina to last all day.”
“Sounds like something we could both manage. I’ll let you know. Thanks for inviting us. Zack loves animals.”
Myles nodded. He’d asked. It was up to her. His gaze was drawn again to his son. The wonder was hard to accept. When Zack’s laughter rang out, Myles wanted to scoop him up and hug him. He could watch this child for hours, fascinated to know he and Tiffany had produced such a darling boy.
Anger simmered at his former lover for keeping this miracle from him. He’d have dropped everything to return to the States if she’d only told him. Now he’d missed the opportunity to be a part of his life.
When Zack got in line for the large, curved slide, he was hidden from view for a few moments. Myles glanced back at Anna. She wasn’t what he expected.
Instead of being a nebulous figure, she was a pretty woman with soft looking honey-gold hair and grave gray eyes. She wasn’t tall, reaching only to his shoulder. She kept her eyes on Zack, watching out for him, ready to spring to the rescue if needed.
She obviously loved him. That was one lucky little boy. Myles wondered how his own life might have been different if his parents had lived. If they had expressed the love he could see shining so clearly in Anna’s expression.
Looking back at the little boy, Myles watched every move, every expression that crossed his son’s face. Soon Myles would be healed and returning to the Middle East—or another project in a foreign land. For a few weeks, he might get the chance to know Zack. He wished for him a better childhood than he’d experienced.
“How long is your leave?” Anna asked.
“I have at least two more months.”
Two months to regain his strength and range of motion in his shoulder. He’d do all the exercises the PT insisted upon. And walk the entire island of Manhattan every day if it meant full recovery. He didn’t know what he’d do if he couldn’t pass the company physical. Look for a new kind of job, he supposed.
“Wow, I love it when I get two weeks off in a row,” Anna said.
“Yeah, vacation is far different from medical leave. When I had time off before, I’d visit different European countries.”
“We’ll be lucky to get to Europe once before Zack leaves home,” she said wistfully.
“Who watches Zack when you’re at work?” he asked. “I assume you work normal business hours.”
Careful, he warned himself. You shouldn’t know anything about her. She needs to tell you herself or you’ll give away the fact a detective investigated her.
“It’s nine-to-five most of the time. Sometimes if something big is going on, I’ll be on call for weekends or late night sessions. I get three weeks’ vacation, but depending on what’s going on in the world, I might not get it all at once,” Anna said.
“Does Zack go to that child care center every day?”
Myles racked his brain for what limited knowledge he had about children. Some men who rotated into the field for the chance to make extra money had families. He’d listened to their tales of woe regarding children and child care while their wives worked. Most of the time, he’d wandered away, seeking time alone. He hadn’t related before.
“That was Zack’s preschool. He attends two days a week. There is a lovely retired schoolteacher who lives in our building and watches him for me on the other days. It works out perfectly. She needs a bit of extra money to supplement her retirement pay. Zack gets to stay in our apartment with his own toys and books. She takes him for walks here in nice weather. I was so lucky to connect with her.”
“Is it hard to get good child care?” Myles asked. There was so much he didn’t know about this family.
His foster mothers had all stayed at home to be there for the children. How did a single working parent manage?
“The hard part is leaving him for so many hours. I wish I could work nights and be home with him during the day. He’s growing so fast. Edith gives me a report each day—how he liked preschool, when he napped, what he had for lunch, if any little friends from the neighborhood came to play. Things like that. It makes me feel more a part of his daily activities. But I miss the actual being there.”
Myles nodded. He originally hadn’t planned to get involved with Zack and his adoptive mother. But now that the opening had been made, Myles was intrigued with the mother of his child.
He enjoyed being with her. Would she consider expanding her circle of friends to let him in? He’d made the first step by inviting them to the zoo. He hoped Anna would accept. If not, he’d take one day at a time. He’d already attained more than he ever expected regarding his son.
Anna softly closed the door to Zack’s room. He was already asleep. Amazing how he could go from full speed to instant sleep. She felt tired enough to fall into bed herself, but still had some cleaning to do and another load of laundry.
She’d dust and vacuum the living room first to give Zack a chance to wake up if he were going to. Then she’d dash with the last basket of clothes to the laundry area. Zack usually stayed asleep all night, and she’d only be gone a few moments. She normally took him with her, but this weekend was going to be different. If they were going to spend the day at the zoo tomorrow, she needed to get a load done tonight.
When he’d been younger, she’d never left Zack alone, even to dash down to the laundry room. Now she felt better about leaving him for a few minutes. She carried a baby monitor that would alert her if he awoke before she returned. It wasn’t ideal, but working single parents made do.
As she tidied the living room, she thought about Myles Riker. How involved did she want to get with the man? He was only in New York to recover from injuries. Once he was fit again, he’d return to the Middle East, and she’d likely never see him again.
It wasn’t as if she were planning a long-term friendship. But he was at loose ends and she hadn’t been so intrigued with a man since her husband. What harm could it do to go to the zoo? Zack would love it.
And she’d love to spend the day with Myles.
Guess that meant she’d accepted the invitation to the zoo. Zack would be thrilled when she told him. And it would be more fun for her to see it with another adult. Not that she didn’t delight in her child. But sometimes she wanted adult conversation.
When she returned from the laundry room, she’d call Myles and let him know they’d be happy to join him.
Glancing at Tom’s picture, she almost apologized.
“It’s not a date,” she explained. “Just an outing with Zack. He seems nice.”
She wasn’t telling her husband how she’d felt a surprising attraction to Myles. She wasn’t interested in remarrying. How could she when Tom had been the love of her life? They’d made such grand plans—all dust now that he was gone. She couldn’t risk that kind of heartache again. Love made a person hostage to all the bad things that could happen.
“He’s a new acquaintance.”
Was she trying to convince herself or Tom?
“Maybe he’ll become a friend. But he’s only here for a short time. Once his convalescence is up, he’ll move on, and I’ll probably never see him again.”
The thought disappointed her.
As Anna was inserting her key into the lock upon her return from the laundry room, she heard the phone ringing. She rushed to answer it, hoping it hadn’t wakened Zack.
“Anna? This is Myles.”
“Hi.” She suddenly felt as shy as a schoolgirl when a boy called. “I was going to call you later.” She took a breath. “Zack and I would love to go to the zoo with you. We can be ready whenever you say for that early start.”
“Sounds good. I’ll swing by your apartment about nine, if that suits. Thought we’d take an Uber rather than public transit. I could have rented a car for my stay, but the traffic is too much to deal with. And I’m not sure I could find parking anywhere.”
She laughed. “That’s one reason I don’t have one. Nine o’clock is perfect.”
Anna felt oddly nervous about the outing. It wasn’t a date. She was merely going to the zoo with a new friend. And Zack would love it.
“Is Zack asleep?” Myles asked.
“Yes. We have a schedule. He does better with routines for things. So we’re up every morning before seven. He eats lunch at noon and we usually eat dinner at the same time every evening. Then it’s bath and bed by eight. Kids do well with routine.”
She’d admit to a rampant curiosity about the man. If she was planning to spend the day with him tomorrow, she could devote a bit of time tonight to get to know him better.
“So, tell me about working in the Middle East. What happened with the land mine?” Anna said, settling in on the sofa.
Myles began telling her about the land mine accident that had killed one construction worker and injured him. The heavy earth mover shielded the other workers from harm.
Glossing over his time in the hospital, he soon turned the topic to heavy construction projects outside of the U.S. He told her about the heat and dryness of the desert. How mostly the people were grateful for the improvements made—especially when dams afforded water to heretofore barren land.
A buzzer sounded. Anna jumped.
“My clothes are ready for the dryer,” she explained. “I’ll need to put them in.”
She hated to end the conversation. But if she waited too much longer, she’d have to stay up later than normal waiting for the clothes to dry. With a full day planned for Sunday, she wanted to get a good night’s rest.
“How long does it take to do that? I can call back.”
“Great. Give me ten minutes.”
Myles hung up. The last forty minutes with Anna on the phone had been unexpectedly nice. His friends were still on the job site. He knew no one else in New York except the private detective he’d hired.
She was easy to talk with, but he wished he’d learned more about Anna. She’d kept the conversation focused on him, which made sense. She wanted to know more about him if she was seeing him in the morning.
He liked that. When he called her back, though, he’d make sure to ask her questions. He considered the complications of getting to know them while he was in the States.
Would he develop a bond with his son? Or just know him these few weeks, and keep the knowledge of his paternity a secret? He wasn’t sure how things would play out. But for the time being, he was content just to get to know Anna and Zack.
Ten minutes later, he called again. She answered on the first ring. He pictured her rushing back to be there when he phoned. It was a nice. He wanted to hold on to those feelings.
“So tell me a bit about you. I dominated the conversation before,” he said.
“That’s because your life is more exciting. I fight the crowds to go to work. Come home and spend time with my son until he goes to bed. Stay up as long as I can keep awake, then go to bed myself.”
Myles tried to think like a man who knew nothing about this woman, instead of knowing most of the facts of her life, thanks to the detective.
“What do you do on weekends?”
“In nice weather we always go to the park. It’s our only grassy area. During the winter, we often visit museums so he can run around without getting cold. Sometimes in the summer, we take a ride to the beach. Must sound pretty boring to a man who vacations in Europe.”
“It depends on whom I’m doing it with. One appealing part of your lifestyle is the stability you have. I’m a nomad.”
“By choice.”
“Maybe.”
“So by that, do you mean you might be interested in settling down at some point?”
“I hadn’t considered it. First, I was going to make my mark on the world.”
Myles didn’t go into how he’d wanted to leave something behind to mark his being alive. He’d no family, so he built structures that would endure for decades and beyond. Now things had changed. Whether he ever let Anna and Zack know who he was, he knew. He had a son.
“Settling down in one place would be a change. But at some point, surely you want a family?” she said.
“And if I die and they had to go into foster care? Too risky.”
“Whoa, where did that come from?” she asked.
“It happened to my parents. I was raised in the foster care system in Chicago.”
“Oh.”
Anna felt surprised. She remembered he said he didn’t remember his mother. For some reason, she’d thought his father was still alive.
“Hey, it’s not a recent thing. I never knew either of my parents. I’m still in touch with one foster family,” he said.
“That must have been tough.”
Anna wondered what would happen to Zack if something happened to her. She knew her mother would step in, but with her father in frail health, it would mean total turmoil for a long time.
She couldn’t bear the thought of not being there to see her son grow up.
“But what if you didn’t die? What if you lived to be an old man and then had no children, no grandchildren? Wouldn’t that be worse?” she asked.
Myles tried to envision himself old, with lots of little children racing around yelling and laughing while he sat on some nebulous porch and watched. They’d play in a big yard with old trees shading the grass. He’d have his wife of many years beside him.
For a moment, Myles wondered if he was losing it. The image popped, and he was back in the small hotel room.
“I’ll keep that under consideration,” he said. “I called about the apartment sublet. It’s still available and I’m going over on Monday to look at it,” he said. “It’s far from your place.”
“True, but a much better section of town. If they were subletting for longer, I might be tempted. But they want a short-term tenant. It sounds nice.”
“I’ll let you know if it works out.”
They talked for another half hour. Anna finally said she had to get her laundry now that it was dry and gave Myles her address for the morning.
He said goodnight. After replacing the phone, he gazed out into the dark night. He’d see her again in a few hours. How did he feel about that?
Anna hadn’t opened up to someone like Myles in years. She regretted that their companionable conversation had ended before she was ready. Riding down the small elevator, she wondered if she was being wise about going out with Myles.
What if she grew attached—or worse, what if Zack did? He still searched for his father everywhere. She didn’t want him doing the same for Myles if the man became part of their lives for the weeks he was recovering and then left. Little children didn’t understand.
She and Tom had known from the first they were meant for each other. To think about another man felt odd. But she’d done it. She’d accepted a date for Sunday. She and Zack would spend several hours with Myles.
Her heart gave an unexpected skip. It was just for the day. Neither she nor Zack would grow too attached in such a short time.
When Myles rang the bell the next morning, Zack ran to the door. His mother had told him about the visit to the zoo at breakfast and he was raring to go. Flinging open the door, he beamed up at Myles.
Anna entered the living room in time to see her son open the door without even asking who was there. She was trying to instill some common sense in him, but he was too excited today to pay attention.
“Hey there, Zack,” Myles said, stooping down to smile at the small boy at his level. “Ready to go?”
“Yes.”
Zack flung himself at Myles, his arms going around his neck. “The zoo is my bestest place. I love the elephants.”
Anna smiled at the stunned look on Myles’s face. He hadn’t planned on her exuberant son.
“Zack, you’re probably strangling Myles. Let go.”
“No. It’s fine.”
Tentatively, Myles’s arms came around the child, and he hugged him gently. “He’s okay, just excited, I think.”
“You’ve nailed that. We’re about ready.”
She put another bottle of water in the backpack and zipped it shut. By the time she donned her jacket and put Zack’s on him, Myles had straightened to his full height and reached for the backpack.
“What do you have in here, bricks?” he asked, hefting it.
“Just essentials.” She raised her hand and began counting on her fingers. “Water, sunscreen, wet towelettes, snacks, cuddle blanket, dark glasses, wallet—”
“Cuddle blanket?” Myles asked, dumbfounded.
She grinned.
“Zack’s still comforted by a certain blanket when he gets tired or cranky. Usually he keeps it on his bed, but we take it with us on longer trips, just in case. He likes to put it against his cheek and rub against it. I call it his cuddle blanket. Hopefully, we’ll leave the zoo before he gets tired. He can get really cranky.”
“I expect I’ll get tired long before he does,” Myles said, slinging the backpack over one shoulder.
“I can carry it,” Anna said.
She remembered his brief recount of the land mine. She didn’t expect him to carry her things.
“I’m okay with it. I didn’t realize you had to tote so much on an outing,” he said.
“This is nothing. When Zack was smaller, we had blankets and bottles and changes of clothes and diapers, in addition to everything else. You can’t imagine how much a small baby needs to travel.”
Myles shook his head.
“I’m learning every second.”
“Zack, what did I tell you about this trip?” Anna asked.
He scrunched up his face for a moment, then beamed at his mother.
“Hold your hand in mine.”
“Excellent memory,” she said, and they exchanged a high-five.
As they walked down to the elevator, she said softly to Myles.
“I tell him that every time we leave the house. He ought to remember. But watch and see if I don’t have to remind him at least a half dozen times.”
“He seems to be a happy kid,” Myles said.
“I hope so. I’m doing my best. It’s hard being a single parent. My husband and I always planned that I would stay at home when we had children. His death makes that impossible.”
“Didn’t he leave any insurance? Sorry, that’s none of my business.”
“That’s okay. Tom left some, but I want that for fallback, or for college. Do you know how expensive college is these days?”
Once at the street level, Anna insisted Zack hold her hand. The Uber car was waiting, and they climbed in the back, Zack in the middle.
“Are we at the zoo yet?” Zack asked at the first traffic light.
“No, it’ll take a little longer to get there,” Anna said. “We’ll tell you when we arrive.”
“Do you have zoos at your home?” Zack asked Myles.
“No. I haven’t been to the zoo since I was a little boy like you.”
“I’m glad we can go today,” Zack said with a happy smile.
Anna smiled at Myles. He looked bemused. She’d have to remember he wasn’t used to being around kids and keep Zack from pestering him as he could do sometimes.
“My daddy goes to the zoo. Maybe he will be there today,” Zack said, bouncing on the seat.
“No, Zack. Daddy’s gone to heaven. He won’t be at the zoo.”
“I want my Daddy.” he said, kicking the back of the seat in front of him.
“You miss him so much, sweetie. I do, too. But he won’t be at the zoo,” she said softly. She glanced at Myles. “We’ll really have to make sure he doesn’t take off after some guy with light brown hair.”
Myles nodded, realizing more and more each day how much he’d missed. He hated the fact his son ached for another man. How could Tiffany have kept this child from him? It hurt to think she’d given him away rather than tell Myles he was a father. He’d have been home before the baby was born, and loved him from the first moment.
He’d accomplished his initial goal—discovered that his son was happy and healthy. Somewhere, the goal had changed. Now he wanted to get to know the woman who was raising his son. See if he could help in some way without being intrusive in their lives.
The car arrived at the zoo, and they joined the line waiting to enter. It had been years since Myles had been. One of his foster families had lived near the zoo in Chicago and they’d gone each summer for the three years he’d lived with them. He’d often wondered what the zoo looked like in winter, especially for African veldt animals in the snow of Chicago. Today the Bronx Zoo was warm and green. Families with children running were everywhere, once the gates opened.
Anna stepped closer to Myles and held Zack’s hand.
“I didn’t expect such a crowd,” she said. “It’s only April.”
“I didn’t know what to expect. But after the rain, it’s beautiful weather. I’m glad we came early. What do you want to see first?”
“Monkeys.” She gave Zack’s hand a swing. “I know he’s descended from them.”
The morning passed swiftly. Myles watched as Zack hung on every word his mother read about the animals. The child delighted in the Children’s Zoo, exploring all the exhibits, and feeding the pygmy goats by hand.
“I’ll pass,” Myles said when Zack offered him a turn after a goat licked the boy’s palm.
Anna laughed.
“Definitely a wet wipes time. Before we eat, he needs to get his hands washed properly.”
She pulled out a wet towelette and wiped Zack’s hands. She offered one to Myles and took one herself.
“No telling what we’ve touched so far,” she said with a laugh. “Thanks for inviting us. We’re having fun.”
By the time they found a table at one of the eating concessions, Anna was feeling more comfortable around Myles. He kept the conversation going without filling every moment of silence. Sometimes he just seemed to enjoy being in the day, looking around at the exhibits, studying the people. Probably a result of a near miss with the land mine. Had he always been like this, or had that event changed him in some ways? Curious, she watched him as they ate, wishing she knew more about him, but afraid to ask too much. She didn’t want to give the wrong impression.
It was after one when they started lunch and by two o’clock, Zack was showing definite signs of flagging.
“I think we need to head for home,” Anna said when Zack asked to be picked up for the third time. “You don’t have to come with us. It’ll be out of your way, I’m sure. Thanks for a great day. We’ve both enjoyed it.”
“Actually, I was thinking of returning myself. Here, let me carry him,” Myles said, reaching out to take Zack. The boy weighed so little, but for Anna it would have been a greater burden.
The minute Zack put his arm around Myles’s neck and lay his head against his shoulder, Myles wondered if he could ever let this child go.
“Thanks. He’s getting heavier by the day. I love him dearly, but he’s almost too big to carry anymore.”
She looked sad at the thought.
Myles wanted to erase the sadness from her eyes, but he hadn’t a clue how. He wanted her to be happy, to have that love for her son be the only emotion he could detect.
“All kids grow up,” he said inadequately.
“I know, but I didn’t realize they’d grow so fast.”
Myles carried Zack to the curb and ordered an Uber, which he insisted they share. By the time they reached Anna’s apartment building, the boy had fallen asleep and Myles carried him up to his bed.
“Thanks so much,” Anna said again as she pulled off Zack’s shoes and covered him with a light blanket. “He’ll remember this day for a long time.”
“I will, too,” Myles said, with a look at his son. And then he turned to leave the room. “Maybe you’ll take pity on me another weekend and spend some time with me.”
“We’ll see,” Anna said brightly.
She’d enjoyed the day more than she’d expected. But she was wary of getting too friendly. He was merely a new acquaintance who hadn’t met many people yet. He didn’t even offer a specific activity—just a nebulous spend time together.
She wasn’t ready to date, she decided.
When she was, she wanted to meet men who lived nearby, with steady jobs that didn’t include the danger of a mine exploding half a world away.
After Myles left, Anna kept busy hoping to keep her disturbing thoughts at bay. Once she caught up on chores and checked to make sure Zack was still asleep, Anna sank into the sofa and picked up a magazine. Glancing through it, but her thoughts returned to Myles.
Somehow she needed to make it clear to him she wasn’t looking for a new man in her life. She glanced at the closest picture of Tom. She’d gotten used to being alone, though she still missed him like crazy. They should have had decades together. More children. She hated the thought of Zack being an only child. Yet she couldn’t imagine getting married again.
Unless it was to someone like Myles, the thought crept in. He could almost make her forget Tom.
She frowned. Myles was nothing like Tom. She didn’t want to even go there. He said he’d only be around for a few weeks, then he’d be off to some exotic country for another few years. The nomadic life might suit him, but it wouldn’t suit her or a family.
Monday morning, Anna received a phone call at work from Edith Wade. It was so rare, she was instantly concerned.
“Just a quick confirmation, my dear,” Edith said. “We came to the park and Zack went to talk to a young man at a nearby bench. He said Myles took him to the zoo yesterday. I wanted to check with you.”
“Myles Riker. And yes, he took us both to the zoo. Is there a problem?”
“Not at all. I just wanted to make sure he was a friend.”
“Is Zack bothering him? I think Zack’s taken a fancy to him.”
She took a deep breath and tried to think about it rationally. Their friendship wouldn’t do any harm as long as her son didn’t become too attached. She didn’t want Zack to be upset when Myles left.
“Mr. Riker doesn’t seem to mind. I’ll introduce myself and let him know he’s free to tell Zack to stop if he gets too demanding,” she said.
“Sounds like a plan. Make sure Zack knows just because Myles treated us to the zoo, it does not mean he has to spend more time with him.”
Anna hung up a moment later and shook her head. She knew Myles took long walks as part of his recuperating process. And sitting in the sunshine in a quiet park was probably just what he needed. For a moment she was envious. She wished she could sit in the park on such a nice day and enjoy the sunshine.
And spend time with Myles.
By Wednesday, Anna had managed to push thoughts of Myles to the back of her mind, mostly. Zack had been full of conversation on Monday evening about Myles and how high he’d pushed him on the swing and how he played catch with a ball.
Checking with Edith, Anna had discovered Myles had stayed at the park the entire time Zack had been there that day. But he’d not been there on Tuesday or Wednesday. Probably afraid Zack would enlist him as a playmate again, she thought.
After tucking Zack in bed, Anna debated going to bed early herself. It had been a stressful three days at work and she still had two days to go until the weekend. Maybe a long, hot soak in the tub and then an early night would be the perfect ending to a not-so-perfect day.
The phone rang.
It was Myles. Anna was suddenly swept away with anticipation at the sound of his voice. Leaning back on the sofa, she smiled.
“I heard about your big day on Monday,” she said.
“At the park with Zack?”
“I hope he wasn’t a pest.”
“Not at all. But it was humbling—he wore me out,” Myles said in his husky voice.
Anna closed her eyes to better concentrate on that timbre.
“It’s taking you days to recover?” she teased. “Zack said you’ve been conspicuously absent from the park since then.”
“Checking up on me?”
The low murmur of his voice made her think of dark rooms, intimate settings, the two of them together. She reached over and dimmed the lamp. Settling back in the cushions again, she smiled at their silly talk. It had been a long time since she’d flirted with anyone.
“Hardly, but perhaps I should warn you, if you appear in Zack’s vicinity, I’m bound to hear about it, if not from Zack, then from Edith.”
“At least you know your babysitter is conscientious.”
“Did she introduce herself?” Anna asked.
“And gave me the third degree. She knows more about me than my employer, I think. She’s not a stand-in for your parents, by any chance?”
“Not at all. They’ve only met once.”
“Both your parents are living?” he asked.
“Yes. In Florida. My dad isn’t doing so well. They love it there. Typical New Yorkers, flocking south for better weather.”
“You have no yearning to join them? Florida beats New York winters.”
“I’m not ready for that scene yet. There’s too much to do in the city. Besides, I love skating at Rockefeller Center in winter. Seeing everything dusted in snow. Bet you didn’t do much skating in the Middle East.”
“Not where I worked, but I took winter vacations in Switzerland. I did little skating, but the skiing’s terrific.”
“I guess you got to see a lot of Europe whenever you took leave,” she said wistfully. One of the trips she and Tom had planned had been to see London, Paris and Rome. If she saved enough, maybe she and Zack could make that trip one day.
“I’ve spent more time in European cities than I ever expected to before I took the job. Now I’ve seen enough. It’s time to explore my country, once I’m up to par again.”
“Zack wasn’t too much for you, was he?”
“No. I had to fly down to D.C. to confer with some of my colleagues at the company. And to discuss the possibility of working in the States.”
“And?”
“There’s time yet to seriously consider the future. In the meantime, I’m going to enjoy my R&R and explore New York. As a native, maybe you could act as a tour guide. What should I see first?”
There was so much to see. Her heart skipped a beat when she imagined herself showing Myles all her favorite places.
“Come by the U.N. one day and I’ll give you a tour,” she offered before she really thought about it. Immediately, she wished she could snatch back the words. Holding her breath, maybe he’d refuse. What was she doing inviting him to the place she worked?
“Wouldn’t you be working?”
“I can always take a break.”
She wanted him to come, see where she spent most of her day.
No, she didn’t.
She didn’t know what she wanted.
“How about next Tuesday? Can we time the tour so we end at lunch? You can show me one of your favorite places and I’ll treat,” he asked.
“Sure. Come around eleven. Depending on what’s going on, I’ll give you the deluxe tour.”
Anna’s heart tripped faster. She was going to see Myles again. Was she ready for this? Quickly she sought Tom’s image in a photo—like a talisman. Myles was a new acquaintance; she was simply being friendly. That’s all there was to it. Even as she silently explained to Tom, she knew she was lying.
This excitement at the thought of seeing Myles was more than being friendly.
“I’d like that,” he said.
His deep voice sounded sexy, intimate. Anna shivered, suddenly reacting to the phone call very differently. She usually spent her evenings alone. Now she had a connection with another adult. One who disturbed her senses and had her wondering more about him than she should be doing. This man made her feel more like a woman than she had in a long time.
She hadn’t died with her husband. Her emotions had been so concentrated in grief over the last fourteen months, she’d almost forgotten what other emotions felt like. This giddy anticipation set her nerves tingling.
“You didn’t tell me what happened with the sublet,” she said.
“After saying I could see it Monday, they sublet it on Sunday. I’m still at the hotel,” Myles said.
“I’m sorry. I thought that was so promising.”
“Sublets go fast, you told me. I expected them to wait until I saw it, however. Still, since the company’s paying for the room, I’ll stay here for the time being.”
“If I hear of something else, I’ll let you know. It has to be easier in a home than a hotel.”
“Not much difference to me. This beats the tent I’ve been living in for the last seven months. Hot and cold running water. Good food. Nice bed.”
“You lived in a tent? You didn’t mention that before.” Anna was intrigued.
“It was only the last temporary assignment.”
He began telling her of palatial housing, subpar housing and everything in between that they made do with when on assignment.
Anna remembered flat hunting with Tom. They’d had such fun picking out locations, arguing about floor plans, always with a future eye on a baby. The flat they’d shared had been perfect. She was glad they’d had those years together.
Glancing around, Anna knew Tom would have hated this place. It was small, dark, and not at all like the one they’d chosen.
Which drew her up short. She was on her own now. She did the best she could, and that was that. She refused to sink into a pity party—especially when there was an intriguing man on the phone.
Myles was talking again.
“After our outing on Sunday, I was hoping I could convince you and Zack to join me for dinner Friday night. I saw a pizza place close by you that has games for little kids. Does Zack like pizza?”
“I think little boys are born liking pizza. I know the restaurant you mean.” She’d rarely gone inside, but had ordered home delivery from the place several times.
“When do you get home from work?” Myles asked.
“Usually around five forty-five to six. Give me a few minutes to change. We can be ready to go around six-fifteen if that works.”
It was only pizza. Not a date. Men didn’t take little kids on dates. The three of them would have a pleasant time together and it would be one less lonely night for both adults.
She’d see him the day after tomorrow. Anna didn’t know whether to be delighted or nervous. For once, looking at Tom’s photograph didn’t help her with the answer.