Page 37 of Broken Vows

My eye twitches. I decide, for everyone’s sake, to ignore him and focus on Theo instead. I ask about his day, and he chatters happily about his friends, recess, and some science fact that sails straight over my head.

We’re almost home when Theo leans forward and sticks his head between the seats.

“Can I come to your house for dinner tonight?” he asks.

“We have dinner at home,” Levi says.

Theo sinks back into his seat. “But it’s cereal night.”

My eyes slide to Levi. “Cereal night?”

“It’s food.”

“He’s a growing boy.”

Levi’s voice stays even. “I had cereal for dinner growing up. Most nights. I grew just fine.”

That takes some of the wind out of my sails. He doesn’t sound defensive. Just mildly confused that we’re debating it at all.

“You can come over,” I tell Theo warmly. “I’ll make chicken pie. My son, Finn, used to love it.”

Then I glance at Levi. “It’ll give you some free time to look up some recipes, maybe.”

“I’m not invited, then?” Levi asks.

“I think it’s best you stay home.”

“Right.”

“Maybe work on your attitude.”

Levi gives me a slow once-over. “Got it. Pick the kid up on time. Don’t swear. Make dinner. Fix attitude.” His gaze lingers. “Anything else?”

“You could maybe get him a haircut and some new⁠—”

Levi shoots me a sharp look. I decide I’ve pushed my luck far enough.

Theo, blissfully unaware of the tension, perks up again. “What time can I come over?”

Dinner is nice. Theo devours two helpings of chicken pie and peppers me with questions about everything: why the roots of my hair are gray, why I live alone, how old my son is, and what it’s like living in a big house.

I don’t tell him I used to live in one several times the size.

The only topic that makes him go quiet is Grace. When I mention her, he looks down at his plate and simply nods. No questions. Nothing.

Later, while he sits with me as I give Fifi her medication, Theo tells me Levi promised to play catch with him but never followed through.

It irritates me more than it should.

“What’s that?” Theo asks, pointing at the books and folders spread across the table.

“My homework.”

“I get that too.”

“Do you know anything about math?” I ask, feeling slightly ridiculous asking a ten-year-old for help.

Theo makes a face. “Not really. Levi helps me.”