Binding Arbitration (16 page)

Suzy laughed and nodded in Aidan’s direction. “I see where Cass gets his charisma.”

“I’m not charismatic?” I folded my arms under my breasts.

“He could charm a flock of nuns out of their habits.”

“Good reminder.” Cass ran toward Max and Aidan, I thought he would plow right into Max's legs the way he normally did, but Aidan anticipated him and bent low and picked him up into his arms before brushing his hair out of his eyes.

I gasped in a strangled breath. They were beautiful together. Cass even draped his arm around Aidan’s shoulder while Max and Aidan continued to talk. Aidan’s head turned, as if he knew my exact position. He silently bid me to come to him.

“There was more between you two than what you told me.”

My immediate response was to be angry at someone I considered an ally. “You’re a flocked nun, I see.”

She chuckled. “Birds of a feather, you and me together.”

I resisted the urge to flap my arms; instead I waved them over my head goodbye. I put my arms up for Cass to fall into them, but my child refused the invitation, instead allowing Aidan to launch him into the beast of a car. The thing looked like some kind of military vehicle, especially since Cass kept calling it Tank. And I thought it a strategic move on Aidan’s part.

Aidan shook Max’s hand and steered me around to the passenger’s side. I arched a brow in question, before he opened the door. He cleared his throat. “Max says no more sleepovers.” He tossed me into the truck a little rougher than necessary. “Let me get your belt for you, babe.” When he leaned over, his face was in my chest. I tried to plaster myself to the back of the seat while he fiddled with the seatbelt.

“Aidan?”

The belt clicked. “We’ll sleep at my place from now on.”

While he meandered around the car, I gazed back at Cass quizzically. The kid never put his lap belt on without an argument or a complaint. “Mister Pole-ow-ski has strict rules about seat belts, Mom.”

I looked toward Mister Pole-ow-ski.

“He tried to talk me out of it earlier, and we came to an agreement,” Aidan said.

“I usually bribe him with candy.”

“He can drive any of my cars when he’s sixteen, as long as I never see him without a seatbelt on between now and then.”

“That’s kind of a long term commitment for you.”

He grinned. “He wants the Beemer.”

“No sixteen-year-old should be allowed to drive a BMW.”

“He should, if he wants all the prettiest girls.”

Cass giggled. I smiled, as his happiness warmed me.

My eyes returned to Aidan, he whispered. “That’s the pickup car, and this here is the make out car.”

I tried not to giggle, but it was contagious. Aidan put his hand on my thigh and squeezed. “Where to, babe?”

“Clarke’s. Go to Chicago Avenue and make a right.”

He smiled into the rear view mirror toward Cass. “Did your mom tell you about the time I waited for her outside her work at 4:30 in the morning to give her a birthday present?”

“She told me my dad stood out in the cold one day to give her a present.” Cass replied as his eyes moved between us.

“You told him we knew each other at IU?” I hissed.

“I’m not going to lie to him.”

“You do an awfully good job at lying to yourself. Feel free to spread it around.” I barked, resolutely focusing on not speaking again. I was trying to find a way to extricate myself from the situation without upsetting Cass. But before I had come up with anything, we were walking through Clarke’s doors.

Cass waved at several of the regulars, who were lingering over the counter, some with newspapers, some with menus, and some with coffee stained smiles. Clarke’s reminded me of the Waffle House, and it was Cass’ favorite place lately.

The college-aged waitress approached, her thick black eyeliner, sharp short bangs, and pair of stubby spiked ponytails, with hot pink highlights striping her head tagged her slightly right of Goth. She was wearing a short black skirt with red tights. You might think the tights out of place but they were the exact shade of her lipstick. She barely glanced at us before she smiled at Cass. “Hey, kid, how’s it going?”

Cass’ single dimple bloomed deep in his right cheek. “Lori, what are you doing here?”

Aidan looked first at Cass and then at the girl again. I had never seen her before. I would remember the dog collar necklace.

“I just started here to make extra money. What’ll it be?”

Cass’ head rested on the palm of his hand on the table, a bemused smile stretched from ear to ear. “I’ll have a plain cheeseburger and a chocolate shake.”

“Can do, little man,” she didn’t look up from her pad.

“I’ll have a turkey club and an ice tea,” I said.

After a few moments of silence she looked up from her pad at Cass-a-nova. “Do you have any idea what your dad wants?”

Cass didn’t respond to her outrageous misnomer. “Mister Pole-ow-ski, Lori needs to know what you want.”

Aidan cleared his throat. “Same as Mrs. Palowski.”

I kicked him under the table.

Cass stared after her as she clunked off in her Doc Marten lace-up battle field boots toward the kitchen. “Who is that?” Aidan asked.

Cass gaped after her until she disappeared. “She’s a teacher’s aide at school, but she works in Madi’s class.”

I nodded in dawning realization. “That’s why he pitched a fit when he wasn’t in Madi’s class.”

“I just had a flashback of what I must have looked like the night I met you at McCreary’s.”

“I do not resemble that girl in any way.”

“You’re more sophisticated now, but once upon a time you had that same haughty attitude.” He looked me up and down. “It must be some weird genetic attraction thing,” he laughed as he said it. “Your son is quite the flirt.”

“How could you have rubbed off on him already?” I looked at my watch. “It’s only been, like what, six hours?”

Cass spoke in the direction of his love’s exodus. “It ain’t Mister Pole-ow-ski’s fault. I’ve been in love with Lori since the first day of school. Isn’t she the most beautiful girl in the world, Mister Pole-ow-ski?”

“As much as I can appreciate falling in love on the first day of school, she doesn’t come to school dressed like that I hope.”

“No Sister Mary Francis makes her wear normal stuff, jeans and a T-shirt, when she works.” He looked at Aidan for a moment. “Can I take her for a ride in the Beemer?”

“Not a moment before your sixteenth birthday.” Aidan turned on me, smiling. “Calls to mind your first crush, doesn’t it?”

“Yes, but I wasn't six years old.”

“How old were you?” He wiggled his eyebrows up and down.

“Twenty something,” I said looking away.

“I’m growing a rapid appreciation for firsts.”

Cass burst out laughing, “My mom has only loved one boy, and it was my dad. She told me so, Mister Pole-ow-ski.”

Lori reappeared with our drinks. As soon as she set them down I grabbed mine, and gurgled some down, while she grabbed one of Cass’ cheeks and gave him a sweet pinch before she shuffled away.

Aidan pointed toward Cass. “You need to go wash your hands before you eat.”

“Oh man.” He responded.

“I’m sorry was that ‘Old Man’? Or ‘Oh Man, I better get a move on it’?” A stern look that made veteran baseball players wince washed Aidan’s face. Who knew he could be adult-like?

Cass placed his napkin on the table. “Yes sir.”

What would’ve been a three minute argument or a bag of M&M’s for me was one stern look from Aidan and a ‘yes sir’. I was dragged closer to my nemesis. “I think you should explain exactly what you told Cass about his dad.”

I drew in a shuddering breath. “The only thing that Cass knows about his father is that he is dead.”

“And that you loved him.”

“He did ask if I loved his father, and I told him I did, but what was I supposed to say?”

“So, you weren’t in love with his father?”

“No, I was drunk.”

“Let me get this straight.” Stillness took hold of him. “You were an inexperienced twenty-two year old, and you spent the night with me because you wanted a one night stand?”

I dropped my head.

He pulled my chin up to look me in the eye. “Did you at least enjoy it, when I filled your body with mine?”

All of the heat of my body pooled low in my gut. “No, I did not enjoy it at all.”

“You’re lying, Libby. And to be blunt, for a lawyer you’re not very good at it.” Cass returned and our lunch arrived, saving me from further questions. I ate, choking down the turkey club.

The boys continued with a lively banter about Halloween, school, Madi Dubrowski, and baseball. Aidan refused to try to draw me back into the conversation, and Cass seemed content to have his man talk.

I heard Cass say, “Earth to Mom, earth to Mom.”

Aidan had the check in his hand. I snatched it away. The man had had the upper hand for too long, and I was going to level the playing field. “I’ll take care of this.”

“Have it your way, Libby. You always have, especially when it comes down to anything important.” I couldn’t reconcile the expression on his face. He steered Cass toward the door and made his way to Tank while I paid the bill.

Aidan was waiting with the passenger side door open for me. He didn't speak while he helped me in. When I couldn't get the belt out far enough to meet the latch, he shooed my hands away and took control of it for me. “The one thing I’ve learned about growing up is lying to yourself doesn’t hurt anyone but you.”

I started to speak, but he cut me off with a knowing look. “We’ll talk about it later when were alone. Maybe you can spend the night at my house tonight.”

“Maybe the Cubs will take the pennant.”

He ducked his head past mine looking at Cass. “Hey, Cass, how about a sleepover at my house tonight, I have a game room.” Once again, he played his trump card.

“Yee haw!” was Cass’ response.

“I’ll let you decide what side of the bed you want.” He didn’t wait, before soundlessly closing the door on it.

Cass was engrossed with the DVD player. I am not sleeping with you. I chanted it in my head over and over again.

Aidan was smiling from ear to ear. He got into the war machine, and the engine roared to life. The men had assumed command once again. “I never said we’d be sleeping.”

I pulled my head out of my chant.

“I can still read your face, sometimes, Libby.”

Yeah, great, I thought, as I concentrated on masking any response, that’s fricking outstanding.

13

DOUBLEHEADERS

In the great department store of life, baseball is in the toy department.

Aidan 1 p.m.

I was angry, but I knew it wasn’t fair. Every person I had ever wanted I’d been secure in their devotion to me, before I’d ever put my emotions on the line. Except for Libby. I glanced at her defiant chin as we drove down Sheridan Road knowing she wasn’t going to engage me in conversation. “Where’s your dad?”

“Your guess is as good as mine.”

No wonder she had a spine of steel—and an aversion to men. The revelation was a new one. Even an arrogant jock should’ve figured that out in college.

I was silent for a few moments of contemplation. I’d played a significant role in the destruction of our relationship. I wasn’t the victim I’d convinced myself I was, and she wasn’t the villain. I slammed my hand into the steering wheel drawing her curious gaze. “I forgot something I need to do for work.” It was the only thing that I thought to offer up in explanation.

“If you need to work, we can go home.” She smiled as if she had found an extra surprise in a Cracker Jack box.

“I promised Cass the sporting goods store and park.”

I merged into traffic on Lake Shore Drive. I tried to gauge her response. I didn’t want to force her into my world; I wanted to smooth her into it, but if push came to shove? I wanted to know the woman she’d become. I needed to know if there was anything between us worth salvaging. And Cass deserved a chance to have his parents cordial with one another.

I parked in an underground garage off Huron. Cass walked between us holding our hands, unaware the occasional ‘Palowski’ acknowledgement. Libby came to a dead halt at a store front window and she smiled. I looked up at the sign and laughed.

Libby eyed me, while Cass tugged on my hand. “She has a thing about shoes. If she’s goes in, it could be hours.” Libby scowled at Cass, before smiling a shrug as we continued onward.

When we reached Nike Town, I said, “Go to the shoe store, we’ll come and get you when were done here.”

She hesitated for a minute. “Be good,” she kissed Cass’ cheek. I, in turn, kissed her temple before stepping into the doorway, it hit me, what I’d done, and I turned to see her blank expression frozen to the sidewalk. Then I shrugged and smiled.

Nike Town was full of sports enthusiasts hovering around the youth baseball aisle. Cass looked up at me. “Why is everyone whispering Band-Aid? Is somebody hurt?”

“My real name is Banford Aidan, Band-Aid is a nickname.” I slipped his hand into a glove. “I clean up games that other pitchers might have messed up, so they use me like a Band-Aid.”

Cass smiled a toothless grin, as he beat the palm of the glove. “Can you fix other kinds of hurts with your Band-Aids?”

I smiled at how his mind worked. “I usually put the hurt on the other team, not Band-Aids.”

“You aren’t going to put the hurt on my mommy are you?”

That’s when it hit me. This wasn’t a game, or a challenge. This was serious business, and I had the opportunity to hurt or heal them. I had to tread carefully. “I would never hurt your mommy… or you.”

We made our purchases, escaping without a single autograph. Cass carried his bat on his shoulder like he was an old pro. As soon as we entered the Ferragamo store, I located Libby; she was slipping her coat on and nodded no to the sales clerk before heading toward us. “The last thing I should be doing at a time like this is shoe shopping.”

I arched a brow and the sales girl swooped in. “Are you sure you don’t want the vintage pair? They won’t last the hour.”

Before she could say no again I said, “We’ll take them.”