Page 51 of Broken Vows

I can’t help but laugh. He really is clueless about the most basic things. “Yes, Levi.”

“And where do I get them?”

“A store. You know…the same place you get your own clothes.”

He nods slowly, like I’ve just revealed some great secret.

“How about I pick him up after school and take him?” I offer. “You’re paying, obviously.”

He pulls out his wallet without hesitation. When he opens it, there’s a thick stack of cash—far more than most people carry casually. I reach over and pluck two hundred-dollar bills from the pile.

“This should cover a couple of outfits.”

“Thanks, Carmen. Really,” he says. There’s a softness in his voice I’m not used to hearing.

An awkward silence stretches between us. Levi shifts his weight, looking almost boyish and unsure of himself. I glance past him to Theo, who’s watching us with open curiosity.

“I’m picking you up from school today,” I tell him, giving him a warm smile.

His little grin is so sweet it melts something in my chest.

I look back at Levi. “Bye.”

I climb into my car and pull out of the driveway, glancing once in the rearview mirror. He seems different today—quieter, less sarcastic, almost gentle.

But he’s probably just embarrassed about last night. Not that he has anything to be embarrassed about. I was the one who kissed him. I was the one who climbed into his lap. And I was the one who stopped it.

I’m sure he’ll be back to his usual self soon enough.

After school, I pick Theo up and take him to the mall. Kids’ clothes are far more expensive than I remembered, and I end up going slightly over budget. Not that I mind. We turn the trip into a proper shopping adventure, taking our time and making a game of it.

We find some good basics on the discount rack—soft hoodies, well-fitting jeans, and a few simple shirts. Theo is thrilled with everything until he spots something on a nearby rack.

“What about this one?” he asks, holding up a truly hideous yellow and blue striped shirt with clashing orange accents.

“How about something like this instead?” I say gently, steering him toward a rack of plain tees and holding up a simple white one. “It’ll go with everything.”

I hold it up against his chest to check the fit. Theo catches his reflection in the mirror and his whole face lights up.

“I look like Levi!” he says, grinning wide as he turns side to side.

My heart squeezes. I hadn’t planned that, but with the t-shirt held against him, he really does look like a smaller, softer version of his brother.

We finish the trip with ice cream. Theo chooses chocolate with sprinkles and ends up with half of it smeared across his cheek. I laugh softly as I wipe it off with a napkin, my chest warm with affection.

Spending time with him feels easy and joyful in a way I haven’t experienced in a long time. With my own kids, the years flew by so quickly—one minute they were little and covered in ice cream, and the next they were grown and busy with lives of their own.

My phone buzzes in my purse. I pull it out and see Finn’s name on the screen. I send a quick reply saying I’ll call him later. He messages back almost immediately.

Finn: Someone steal your card? Kid Zone???

Carmen: No, it’s me. I’ll explain later.

I feel a pang of guilt that Finn is still helping fund my life but I’ll pay him back every cent once the divorce settlement comes through.

Theo suddenly jumps up, spotting something that catches his interest. I grab my bag and follow before he can get too far ahead. He stops in front of the sports store, eyes wide as he stares at a freestanding basketball hoop.

“Can we get it?” he asks hopefully.