Love Always (NG4)

37 - A cloud

The train sped under the city towards northwest. Finn sat between her and his father with a big smile on his face. Rory was jealous and relieved the boy could find joy. She made eye contact with Dan who looked less tired.

She pointed her head toward the boy. "He's happy."

"It's you. He had been talking about you and the zoo nonstop."

Rory frowned. Maybe it was because he was younger than she was when her mother died or because he had only lived with his mother half the time.

"How long have you been divorced?"

He frowned. "Five years, longer than the marriage."

She had been with Sam longer. "Sorry. So you weren't together long."

He looked faraway. "High school. Classic married too young."

His words caused a sour turn in Rory's stomach. Another young couple and another divorce. Was Dan better off because they hadn't been married? She couldn't think of losing Sam to death.

"It must be hard for you even though."

He nodded and forced a smile. "Another time. We have a fun day planned, don't we, Finny?"

The boy looked lovingly at his dad. "How much longer?"

"Next stop."

Letting a young child direct her movements was not new for Rory. She happily followed along.

"Rory, what do you want to see?"

Beaming, she pointed to a sign. "The pandas."

The boy frowned. "Mommy likes the pandas."

Rory felt a stabbing in her heart. "We don't have to see them."

While he thought for a moment, she and Dan made eye contact. Was he holding his breath too?

"No, she'll like me to say hi for her."

Rory felt her eyeballs ache. The first sign of tears. She willed them away. Finn walked ahead and Rory fell in step behind with Dan next to her. She asked if he was okay. When he nodded, she released her breath. Her job was to support both in their grief, but all she felt was the raw emotion of their loss.

After seeing lots of aminals, they stopped to eat and Dan insisted on buying Rory's lunch just as he had her park admission.

He argued. "We asked you."

Rory winked. "Finn should be paying. I'm his date."

Dan frowned, but recovered. "I remember my leaner student days."

"I'm guessing you had a wife and baby." She nodded towards Finn who was looking at the pictures on the menu board. "I'm not ashamed to say my dad supports me, my goal and my expenses."

Finn said, "I want those."

He pointed to chicken nuggets. Dan teased. "I already guessed."

Rory laughed. "I know a lot of chicken nugget eaters. I remember they were on the list of the few things my dad could cook."

"Let me guess. Mac and cheese and tacos?"

Rory shook her head. "Lots and lots of pasta and jarred sauce. Just thinking about it makes me want to call my stepmom and thank her for saving us."

Dan didn't respond because they had reached the ordering window. He ordered chicken tenders and a burger before turning to Rory to give her choice of grilled cheese.

"Thank you. I'll buy you ice cream later with my own money, not my dad's."

She thought of the ice cream she'd be missing over the summer. While she was eating, she received a text from Sam. He was on his way to Florida.