Chapter 97

            Indigo and Summer sat on a blanket in the park. Ethan playing in the play park near them. Indigo says “You ok, Princess?”

            Summer says “Yeah. Do you think Ethan’s happy?”

            “Of course. Look at him.”

            “I mean, is he happy being my son?”

            “Sums, he loves you. What’s this about?”

            “Just thinking.”

            Indigo strokes Summer’s hair. “You’re the best mom a kid could as for. You give him everything he needs.”

            “Except a father.”

            “That’s not your fault, and he doesn’t need a father.”

            “He’s going to ask questions. What do I tell him?”

            Indigo puts her arm around Summer’s shoulders. “If he asks, we tell him the truth. Together.”

            Summer holds Indigo’s hand and kisses it. “I don’t deserve you.”

            “You deserve so much more.” Indigo kisses Summer. “Now, eat.”

            “Mom stressing?”

            “Yep. Should she be?”

            Summer picks up a sandwich and takes a bite. “Nope.”

            Ethan runs to Summer and Indigo, jumps on Summer and says “Mommy, are you eating without me?”

            “I’ve only had one bite.”

            Indigo says “Of the sandwiches.”

            Ethan says “That’s ok then.”

            Summer says “Why’s that ok?”

            “Because if you were eating the cake we made for you, I would be upset.”

            “You made me a cake?”

            “Me, Cilla and Uncle Gaz did last night.”

            “Can I see it?”

            Indigo says “It’s with Nanna, Ethan, for Mommy’s party tonight.”

            Summer groans. “That’s stills happening?”

            “Yep.” Indigo’s phone rings. “Excuse me.” Indigo answers her phone. “Yeah?... What is it?... Is everything ok?... Gaz, what is it?... You’re kidding, right?... Do you know what day it is?... Ask someone else… Argh. Hang on.” Indigo moves her phone away from her ear. “Sums, my idiot brother needs our help.”

            “With what?”

            “A sports thing.”

            “When?”

            “Now.”

            “Does he realize how big he’ll owe us?”

            “Not yet.”

            “We’re eating first.”

            Indigo puts her phone back to her ear. “Where?... Give us about an hour… We are in the middle of lunch with Ethan… You’re lucky we’re doing it at all. Stall it… Bye.”

            Indigo hangs up. Ethan says “Are we going to see Uncle Gaz?”

            Summer says “When we’ve finished eating we are.”

            “I’m not hungry.”

            Indigo says “Nice try, Ethan, but we’re going nowhere until all this food is gone. And no throwing in the trash before it’s finished.”

            Summer says “Please, remember that voice later.”

            Ethan says “How did you know?”

            Indigo says “Gaz is my brother, I know his tricks and he shouldn’t be teaching you them.”

            “I wouldn’t have done it. We worked hard for this picnic. I’m sorry, Momma.”

            “You didn’t do it, so you don’t need to be sorry, buddy.”

            Ethan hugs Indigo. “Love you, Momma. You don’t have to say it back. It’s ok.”

            Summer smiles, leans into Indigo and whispers “You’re right. He doesn’t need a father.”