Chapter 46: Chapter 46
“Well, technically, it was Michael who wanted to ask you first,” he said, as if she had hurt his feelings. “So if you said no, you’d really be saying no to him.”
“You know I want to go,” she said, swatting at him, though she didn’t reach anywhere near far enough across the table to actually hit him. “What do you think he’s going to ask Santa for?”
Reid became slightly more serious, and Melody remembered the conversation they’d had in the hallway when she’d been helping them decorate the Christmas tree. “Hopefully it will be something I can buy at a store. I have gotten him some things I know he’ll like, and some stuff he needs, like pajamas and socks, but I’m honestly not sure what his big request might be.”
Melody nodded and took a drink of her coffee which was almost cool enough not to be scalding now. She much preferred Delaney’s cocoa, but there was no substitute for it, and she wasn’t about to ask for hot chocolate here. “I’ve been thinking about what to get him myself, and I have no idea.”
“You don’t have to get him anything,” Reid said quickly.
“I know I don’t have to,” she replied, emphasizing the “have.” She shrugged again. “I want to, though.”
“You’ve given him the best gift of all—the gift of time. He loves spending time with you more than he could ever enjoy a toy or some other present he’ll just toss under his bed or in the toy box.”
“If it goes under his bed, it will be lost at sea,” she reminded him, trying to keep her expression serious. “I will continue to give him as much time as I can, as much as he wants or needs. But it would be nice to be able to get him something he can unwrap, too.”
“I guess that rules out a puppy,” he said exhaling sharply.
Melody laughed. “Maybe if I wrapped it right before I gave it to him….”
“Hopefully, he’ll tell Santa what he wants, and we can get some ideas from that,” Reid suggested. He glanced at his watch, and Melody realized they’d probably need to get going soon. He had to be wondering what Michael was up to.
She wasn’t ready to let him go just yet, though. With a deep breath, she said, “Can I ask you something?”
His expression showed her that he was concerned about what she might be about to say, but he replied, “Sure.”
Attempting to keep her voice as carefree as possible, Melody asked, “Did Michael’s mom really leave when he was only a few weeks old?”
As if he could tell the question would have something to do with his ex-wife, he seemed to have been bracing himself. He said, “Yes. He was a little over a month old when she decided she’d had enough of being a mom.”
Melody couldn’t believe her ears. How could anyone walk out on Michael? On either one of them? “I’m sorry,” she said quietly. “That must have been very hard on you.”
“It was,” he replied, nodding. “Taking care of a newborn is never easy, especially when you’re trying to do it by yourself. My parents helped. We’re very close. They’d be visiting for Christmas if my sister hadn’t given them a cruise as a gift. But… you know, we made it work. I managed.”
Melody smiled in sympathy and wished she could say more; it always bothered her when people gave her that look, but what else was there to say? She couldn’t say she understood because she didn’t. Finally, she managed, “He’s very lucky to have you.”
Reid scoffed. “I guess,” he said. “I mean, there are probably better parents out there. People who have a better understanding of how to properly raise a child. But I’m doing the best I can, and he’s not a criminal—yet. So I guess I’m doing okay.”
Melody laughed. “He’s a great kid. And you’re an amazing dad. I honestly don’t have any idea how anyone could walk out on… on you… on either one of you.”
He held her gaze for a long while, and Melody felt the hair on her arms stand up as if there was actual electricity in the air. Breaking the tension, he looked down at the table. “Rebecca and I had our issues long before Michael was born. She wanted me to make more money—but she also wanted me to travel with her. She wanted financial security and freedom at the same time, which is impossible when you’re young, unless your parents are independently wealthy, I guess. I think we were too young when we got married. She didn’t know what she wanted to do with her life, and eventually she realized, whatever it was, she couldn’t do it with me. That was before Michael, though. I guess we thought if we had a baby we’d figure it out. But clearly we didn’t, and by the time she was in her last trimester, she was already voicing that she thought we’d made a mistake. I was hopeful that, when the baby arrived, she’d change her mind. She’d see his face and instantly fall in love with him. And that’s exactly what happened to me. I mean, I loved him even before he was born, but the second I held him in my arms, I knew my life would never be the same. Rebecca knew that, too, I guess. The idea that brought me unimaginable joy made her feel trapped and hopeless. So she left.”
Melody felt tears in her eyes threatening to run down her cheeks. She willed them away. Shaking her head, she said, “I can’t imagine….”
“She called frequently at first, even made arrangements to visit off and on for the first two years. But then she met some rich television producer and moved to California, hoping to make it as an actress, I guess. She stopped calling then. And one day I dialed her number and someone else answered. I knew then that she was gone for good. She hasn’t called since.”
“How could she do that?” Melody asked, angry for Michael.
“I have no idea,” he replied, clearly meaning it. “I’ve had the same cell phone number since college, so it’s not like she couldn’t call if she wanted to. I’m not going to try and force her to be a mother.”
“It’s no wonder Michael feels the way he does about her,” Melody said, slowly.
“I know he’s confused. He blames himself sometimes, I think. I hate that more than anything. It’s like nothing I say can convince him that this wasn’t his fault. How do you explain such grown up problems to little minds who shouldn’t ever have to worry about things like that?”
“I don’t know,” Melody replied, meeting his eyes. “That’s why I didn’t know what to say when he brought it up the other day. I hope my answer didn’t confuse him.”
“No, your answer was great,” he assured her, managing a smile. “He hasn’t said another word about her since.”
“I’m glad to hear that,” Melody replied, “I mean, that you think my answer was okay.”
“It was. He really cares a lot about you, Melody. I know I’ve said it before, but thank you so much for taking time to get to know him. I’ve had women sort of attempt to warm up to him before in a failed attempt to get my attention, but I knew from the very beginning things were definitely different with you. Clearly, Michael knew that, too.”
Unfortunately, Melody could imagine there would be women with the tenacity to do that. “Knowing Michael has definitely made me a better—happier—person,” she said.
“Me, too,” he nodded. “I don’t know what I’d do without that kid. And… Michael knowing you has made me a happier person, too. Better—maybe not…. But definitely happier.”