Several hours later, Shayna was in the kitchen preparing for the next day when Lisa returned from her visit to her mother’s. After putting her things in her room, she sat down on the stool at the island counter.
Without asking her, Shayna made a ham and cheese sandwich from the bread she was using to make Timothy’s lunch for school the next day. She slid the plate across the island along with a glass of milk then returned to the lunch bag she was filling.
“How was your day?” Lisa asked after she’d taken a couple of bites.
“Same as usual,” Shayna said as she cut Timothy’s jam sandwich in half. “Mostly.”
“Mostly?”
Shayna glanced at her before turning to grab a juice box from the fridge and granola bar from the cupboard. After a moment’s hesitation, she told Lisa about the conversation she’d had with Tristan.
“Are you going to let him go?”
Shayna shrugged. “Not sure yet. I don’t really know him.”
“What did you say his name was again?” Lisa asked as she opened her laptop where she’d set it on the island earlier.
“Tristan Callaghan.” Shayna fished his business card out of her pocket and slid it toward Lisa. “He gave me that, so I suppose that’s where he works.”
Lisa picked up the card then typed something on her laptop. As Shayna watched her, she drank the cup of tea she’d prepared for herself earlier. Lisa’s brow furrowed for a bit then her eyes widened.
“What is it?” Shayna asked as she walked around the island to look at the laptop.
Lisa pointed at the screen. “This is where Tristan works, but it’s not just that. His family owns the business. C&M Builders stands for Callaghan and McFadden. So I’m guessing Tristan Callaghan is more than just an employee.” Lisa gave her a sideways glance. “Does that change your mind about him?”
Shayna sighed as she stared at Tristan’s picture on the screen. “I don’t know. It shouldn’t.”
She moved back to Timothy’s backpack to make sure everything he needed was inside. The clothes he’d chosen for the day were draped over a chair at the dining room table, ready for him the next day. He liked his mornings to go smoothly, and Shayna aided that as much as possible by organizing what she could the night before.
“Maybe you should go with them,” Lisa suggested. “It might do you well to get out for an evening.”
“I wasn’t invited.” But Shayna wondered how Tristan would respond if she said that Timothy could go as long as she could come too. She shook her head. “No, I don’t think that would be a good idea.”
“But if you won’t let him go alone, maybe Tristan would be happy to have you join them.”
Shayna returned to her cup of tea, wincing at its tepid temperature. She dumped it down the drain and rinsed out the cup before putting it in the dishwasher. “I’m not sure Timothy would even want to go.”
Lisa laughed as she returned to her sandwich. “Yeah, Timothy might not have much interest in hockey, but he has a lot of interest in Tristan.”
“Maybe too much,” Shayna said without thinking. She paused as she considered her words. “I’m not sure I want Timothy to get any ideas.”
“Are you going to pull him from the Sunday School class?” Lisa asked. “Because that’s where his fascination with the man is growing.”
Shayna leaned a hip against the counter as she crossed her arms. “Maybe I should.”
“No. You shouldn’t.” Lisa leaned forward, her gray eyes serious as she looked at Shayna. “Haven’t you seen the change in Timothy since he started going to that Sunday School class? I mean, I haven’t seen him so excited about someone since he discovered that science channel he likes so much.”
Did Lisa not see the danger in what she was suggesting? While initially, Shayna had been grateful to see Timothy so happy to interact with Tristan, now she wasn’t so sure. For the first time, there was a threat of him becoming too attached to someone. To a man. It would be okay as long as he only viewed Tristan as a teacher and friend.
But what if Timothy started to picture Tristan in another role?
Tristan held out hope that Shayna would agree to let Timothy accompany him to the hockey game, but realistically, he knew that it was unlikely. And though he understood why, that didn’t stop him from hoping.
When the call came Thursday evening, he stared at the number on his display, knowing it was Shayna’s. When she’d called him the previous Sunday, he’d added her to his contacts. There was no picture to go along with the number, though, just her name.
Knowing he couldn’t put off the inevitable, Tristan answered the call.
“This is Shayna Coran. Timothy’s mom.”
“Hi, Shayna. How are you doing?”
She hesitated then said, “I’m fine. And you?”
“Can’t complain.”
“I’m calling about the invitation for Timothy,” Shayna said.
“He’s not going to be able to come,” Tristan stated. He wasn’t sure why he felt the need to jump ahead of her. “I understand.”
“You do?” she asked.
“Of course. I realize that I’m a stranger to you and that I’m asking you to trust me with your son. It wasn’t fair of me to make such a request of you so soon.”
He heard Shayna give a little huff of laughter. “Well, that was easier than I imagined it would be.”
“I’m not trying to make your life more difficult, Shayna. I actually thought I might be helping you out, giving you an evening to yourself.” Tristan hesitated, contemplating an idea that had come to him when he realized how Shayna might feel about a strange man asking to spend time with her son. If he’d thought it through before asking, he might have presented it differently. It wasn’t often he spoke before thinking.
“I appreciate the thought, but yes, I’m afraid I must decline,” Shayna said.
“How about if you come with him?” Tristan suggested. “There’s always room for more people in the box.”
“Tomorrow night?”
Tristan was encouraged that she didn’t turn him down right away. He’d kind of anticipated an immediate rejection. “Yes. The game starts at seven o’clock. I could pick you two up, so you wouldn’t have to worry about parking and such.”
“I’m sorry, but I have to work.”
“No need to apologize,” Tristan said as he tried to ignore the disappointment her words brought on. “Maybe next time.”
“Sure. Maybe next time.”
“I’ll see you two on Sunday?”
“Yes. We’ll be there,” Shayna said. “Thanks for understanding about tomorrow night.”
“Of course. Always.” Even though she couldn’t see him, Tristan smiled, wishing the call could last longer, but she just said goodnight, and the call was over.
You’re muted, bro!
Tristan read the message on his screen as he picked up his headset and clicked to unmute his mic. “I’m back. Sorry. I got a phone call I had to take.”
“From a girl?” Jackson asked, laughter lacing his words. “Are you holding out on me?”
“It was a lady, FYI, but not how you mean. I had invited her son to a hockey game.”
“Ooooh. Even better. Is she a single mom? You know the way to their heart is through their kids.”
“Shut it, Jax. You sound like an idiot spouting stuff like that, and I know you’re anything but.”
“You need help in the female department. When was the last time you went on a date?”
It had been longer than Tristan would ever confess to Jackson. He and Jackson were on opposite ends of the spectrum from each other when it came to dating and women. Jackson embraced his nerdiness, and women ate up his confidence. Tristan wasn’t as outgoing as his business partner, and he was kind of glad they didn’t live in the same city. Their friendship probably wouldn’t have lasted very long.
“This is supposed to be a business meeting, Jax.” Tristan sighed. “Can we focus?”
“You’re no fun,” Jackson replied, but he allowed Tristan to redirect their conversation back to the reason for the call without any further objection.
Despite not having Timothy—or his mother—for company at the Jets’ game, Tristan had a good time with the others in the box on Friday night, and Saturday was even better when he and Holly sold another tiny home. The guy who bought it had been there the previous week and had left saying he would think it over.
Not every interested person went on to purchase, but this guy seemed to be determined to make some changes to his life. In fact, from what he’d said and the car he drove, he’d already begun to make those changes. Tristan had been hopeful, and in the end, the guy was back with financing in place, and it didn’t take long for him to choose a floor plan.
On Sunday morning, he once again took the outside seat of the row where his boys usually joined him. When Timothy sat down next to him a short time later, he was fidgeting with excitement.
“How’s it going, Timothy?” Tristan asked. He lifted his hand for a high five.
Timothy smacked his hand as he grinned then he leaned toward Tristan and cupped his hand around his mouth. In a loud whisper, he said, “It’s my birthday this week. I’m going to be eight.”
“Really?” Tristan smiled at the young boy. “Do you have any plans?”
He nodded. “Me, Maman, and Lisa are going to have my favorite supper. Pancakes with whipped cream and bacon. Then we’re going to a movie.” His grin grew wider. “And then ice cream afterward.”
“Sounds like a great way to celebrate a birthday,” Tristan said, his mind already turning with what he could give Timothy, even though he wasn’t sure he should get him anything. After all, he wasn’t getting gifts for any of the other boys in the class.
Still, the thought stayed with him, popping up at varying moments throughout his week. He’d determined that the gift had to meet two criteria. First, it had to be something Timothy would enjoy. Second, the gift had to be something Shayna would allow her son to keep.
As it turned out, an ad popped up on his social media during the week that gave him the perfect gift idea. And all he had to do was make a quick stop one day to pick it up and then find a card guaranteed to make a young boy smile.
When Shayna appeared to pick Timothy up from Sunday school, Tristan said a quick prayer that she’d be open to what he had to suggest.
“Can I speak with you for a minute?” Tristan asked before she could claim Timothy from where he stood talking with a couple of other boys. They were among the less rowdy boys from the class, so it was no surprise that Timothy had gravitated to them.
Shayna glanced at her son before giving a quick nod. “Is there something wrong?”
“Not at all.” Tristan was a bit concerned that her immediate assumption was always that there was something wrong when he wanted to speak with her. Hopefully, in time, that would no longer be her default response. He stepped a bit closer and then lowered his voice as he said, “A little birdie told me that Timothy had a birthday this past week.”
The corners of her mouth quirked up in a small smile. “A little birdie, eh?”
“Yep, and I’d like to take that little birdie and his mother out for a birthday lunch. I hear that the favorite is pancakes with whipped cream and bacon.”
Her eyes widened slightly. “He’s been a chatty little birdie.”
“Yes, he has,” Tristan agreed. “So what do you say? Breakfast for lunch, or supper if that’s more convenient for you.”
Her brows drew together as she glanced over to where Timothy stood, still oblivious to their conversation. “I’m not sure…”
“Please. It’s just a meal, and with you there, maybe it will give us a chance to get to know each other.” Realizing how his words might sound, Tristan hurried on to say, “So next time you might feel more comfortable letting him join me at a Jets’ game.”
She crossed her arms, her purse swinging against her hip. Tristan could see the battle going on within her, but denying her son something so simple as a birthday meal of pancakes and bacon seemed to be beyond Shayna.
“Okay. Sure.”
“Lunch then?” Tristan asked. “I was thinking of the one and only place to go for someone who loves pancakes so much. We can take my car and then return here to pick yours up afterward.”
Not surprisingly, she hesitated again, but this time she didn’t argue before nodding. When she called his name, Timothy turned immediately and came to where they stood.
“Tristan has asked if he can take us out for a birthday lunch today.”
Timothy’s eyes widened as he glanced between them. “Did you say yes, Maman?”
“I did.” She ran her hand through his dark brown hair. “Just for you. For your birthday.”
He flung his arms around her waist. “Thank you!”
“Be sure to thank Tristan as well.”
Timothy did just that, and then the three of them left the church together. After swinging by Shayna’s car to grab the booster seat Timothy needed, Tristan led the way to his SUV. At the car, he opened the rear driver’s side door and put Timothy’s booster in place, then he stepped back so that the young boy could climb up into the seat.
Once he was buckled in, Tristan walked around the car with Shayna and opened the passenger door for her. She grabbed the handle on the frame along the door and pulled herself up into the passenger seat. After she was settled, Tristan shut the door and went to climb behind the wheel.
“This car is awesome,” Timothy said as Tristan pressed the button that would start the engine. “I’ve never been in such a cool car.”
Tristan glanced up in the rear-view mirror and smiled at Timothy. Nice as it was, he could have bought an even more expensive car, but this one met his needs.
Timothy kept up a running commentary as Tristan guided the vehicle out of the church’s parking lot and onto the street leading in the direction of the restaurant he’d chosen. They were about halfway to the restaurant when his phone rang.
He contemplated sending it to voice mail, but knowing Gabe the way he did, the guy would just keep calling. He reached out and tapped the screen to take the call.
“Where are you, Tris?” Gabe asked as soon as he’d greeted him.
“I already told Mom that I was going out for lunch with friends.”
“What friends? You have friends?” Gabe asked. “When did this happen?”
“Shut it, Gabe,” Tristan said with a shake of his head.
Timothy snickered from the back seat.
“I will not,” Gabe retorted. “It is my duty in life to rile you up. So tell me, where are you going?”
“None of your business,” Tristan told him.
“I guess I’ll just have to track you using my phone.”
“You could always try, bro, but when it comes to stuff like that, I’ve forgotten more than you’ll ever know. You couldn’t track me if your life depended on it.”
“No need to be insulting,” Gabe said with a huff. “I guess I’ll just have to get the details out of you later.”
Tristan laughed as the call ended. He glanced over to find Shayna watching him, a curious expression on her face. “That was one of my older brothers. He likes to give me a hard time.”
“How many siblings do you have?” Shayna asked.
Since this was her first interest in anything about him—though he was aware it might be just polite conversation—Tristan was happy to answer. “There are ten of us.”
After a beat of silence, Shayna said, “Your mom must be amazing to have had that many children.”
“Well, yes, she is,” Tristan said with a laugh. “But she only gave birth to six of us. When she and my dad married, they each had four kids, then they went on to have two more.”
“Do you all get along?” Shayna asked.
“Yep, for the most part. Gabe—the guy that just called—likes to rile us up on occasion, but it’s nothing too serious.”
“Are you closer to your biological siblings than your step-siblings?”
Tristan wasn’t sure what was prompting her questions, but it sounded like perhaps her own family situation wasn’t that great. “The one I’m probably closest to is my oldest brother, Kenton, and he is my biological brother, but I’m also close to Bennett since we work together. And Sammi and I are almost the same age, so we were in all the same classes in school. Honestly, I have a unique relationship with each of them.”
He waited for her next question, but when it didn’t come, Tristan decided to pose one or two of his own. “Do you have brothers or sisters?”
Though he was sure that Erin or Noella, or even Tennyson, might have told him the details of Shayna’s life, he found that he wanted to learn about it from her. Sometimes hearing the details shared starkly from an outsider did nothing to explain the depths of emotion—good or bad—attached to the information or memories.
“Yes. A stepsister and two half-siblings, but they’re much younger than I am.”
“Do you spend time with them?”
“No. I left home when they were still quite young.” She paused before adding, “I haven’t been back since.”
Tristan waited for her to continue, not wanting to pressure her for more, though his curiosity was greater than it usually would have been for someone who was barely an acquaintance. When she didn’t continue on, Timothy piped up to comment on something he’d noticed about the car. And then he just kept talking.
Given how quiet he was in the Sunday School class, Tristan never would have guessed that the boy had so much to say. Of course, Tristan had been known to talk more around people he was comfortable with, even though he was sure that most people thought he was either mute or unbearably shy. Tristan was neither, he just chose to only speak when he felt that what he had to say was necessary or important.
When Timothy fell silent, Shayna said, “I didn’t see eye to eye with my step-mother, and my dad usually sided with her. It was better for all involved that I removed myself from the situation.”
“That must have been hard,” Tristan said, certain that he was understating the situation since he suspected she meant she had run away. No child wanted to feel that they weren’t worth the effort of their parent or parents. In his case, it had been his mother who had removed herself from their situation.
“I’m not sure that it was any worse than what I was dealing with at home, to be honest.”
And with her statement, Tristan knew that regardless of where she was now in her life, the road that had brought her to this point had been paved in hurt and pain. And it sounded like it had started well before she’d lost her husband and, from the details he remembered hearing from Erin and Noella, her unborn daughter.
He wanted to know more, but right then wasn’t the time or place. They were off to celebrate the birthday of a special boy with pancakes and whipped cream. It wasn’t Tristan’s usual choice for Sunday dinner, but, regardless, he planned to indulge himself along with the boy.