Authors: Michael Melville

Running Northwest (63 page)

BOOK: Running Northwest

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“Maybe some time we could all meet at the beach and take them for a walk together. That is I guess if you would be okay with hanging out with me and Shadow,” Stephanie said to the small boy. Thomas had been quiet for a while, letting his son and Stephanie feel each other out. Thomas already knew where he wanted this to go, and what he wanted to happen. However, it was not just about him, it was about his son also. He was mentally crossing his fingers and hoping for the best. This was just the start of possibly a very long process.

“I think that would be okay. Your dog Shadow is very nice, she likes my dogs, and they s
eem to like her, even moody ol
Harley. If they did not like each other, I think we would have issues but I think it will be okay. And besides my Dad’s in love with you and stuff” Daniel said drawing out the word love but still concentrating his look down at the dog.

Behind him Thomas’, face turned red with embarrassment. He was not mad and Daniel did not lie, he was just caught off guard by his son’s bluntness.

“Oh…well is he now? Are you sure?” Stephanie said with a raised eyebrow, smiling but also feeling caught off guard by the boy.

“Well, I’m pretty sure. He told me that if you love someone, you just tell them and don’t hold back or it will get lost somewhere inside and
then
it is
hard to find again
. He told me once he loved you from a long time ago,” Daniel said looking at Stephanie.

“And how are you with this Daniel”? She asked

The boy looked up from petting dogs and s
miled and said, “You seem nice.”

Stephanie smiled and looked at Thomas. She found the simple 7-year-old response hilarious but questionable.
Nevertheless,
she was on new ground now. Tom
’
s son was not around the first time they dated; it would take some getting used to
for all of them. She wanted to
however because standing there looking at Daniel with the dogs and his father
looking at his son and then
at her she felt something deep inside telling her that this was right. That this place, with these
people, this man,
and his son and their pack of dogs was always where life intended her to be.
She
was not
afraid anymore.

“Hey do you even want me to call you Daniel or is there something else you like better. If you and I are going to be friend
s
I want to call you by something you like
,
” Stephanie said as she got down on her knees face to face with the boy.

He looked at her and seemed to be thinking then said, “no one has asked me that before”.

“What do you call Dad?” the boy as
ked looking over his shoulder. His father
looked amused
.

Stephanie glanced up at Thomas, her eyes narrowed and she smiled as she and he made eye contact. “I call your dad Tommy, Daniel…I h
ave called him Tommy for years.”

“You can call me stud,” the boy said quickly making Stephanie’s eyes go wide and her face blush. To which his father began laughing hysterically and nearly falling down into the sand. Even Daniel began laughing.

“I’m not calling you stud
,
” Stephanie stammered out trying not laugh herself but eventually laughing also.

“Okay well I guess maybe Danny…I think
,
” he said smiling.

“Danny
,
huh
,
okay well I can go with that, I like that, but if you change your mind let me know Danny” she replied.

“Yeah I like the way it sounds when you say
it
, so what do I call you
?
” Daniel asked.

“What do you want to call
me?
” she asked.

“I think just Stephanie is ok,” he
replied.

The two smiled at each other then stood up and got closer to fire next
to Thomas. The dogs were stretched
out sleeping in the warm sand near the fire, lying side by side once in a while lifting a head to look around
and make sure things were the way they were supposed to be
.

“So Stephanie my dad was telling me you’re horrible at making smores on the fire,” Daniel said.

“Oh my God I am horrible at it, I burn everything” Stephanie replied.

The boy snort
ed and said, “So does Dad. Can I show you how to make them the right? It’s important thing to know if you’re going to hang out with us.
”

Stephanie looked down at the boy and then over at his father who nodded a silent gesture. She turned, grabbed the things to make smores, handed them to Daniel, and said, “I’d love for you to show me Danny
,
” then smiled at him feeling like she was going to cry. The small boy smiled back, grabbed a skewer and the bag of marshmallows. Thomas looked at Stephanie, grinned and walked over to her, kissed her softly on the lips then held her hand in his as they watched Daniel put the skewered marshmallow over the flames.

The End