Midnight Caller Read Online Free PDF Page B

continued. “Pranksters won’t call for long if their calls are never answered. I don’t think they have as much fun heavy breathing into a recorder.”
    Tess chuckled.
    “I think I’m going to change my number and let the answering machine screen the calls,” Erin said.
    “Wow, hitting them with heavy artillery. They must have scared you a little more than you’re willing to admit,” Tony said.
    She stared into his eyes. Her silence communicated how right he was.
    A young boy’s voice filled the air. “I’m ready for my hot chocolate and cookies.”
    All three adults turned when Jack entered the room. Erin and Tony stood to greet him.
    The boy, his wet hair plastered to his skull and still dripping on his blue and green dinosaur pajamas, scooted his walker up to the table. “Hi. You’re the man from the park. What are you doing here?”
    Erin’s eyes met Tony’s and a grateful smile graced her lips. “He’s giving you your wish, Jack. He’s going to be your dad-for-a-day.”

THREE
    E rin’s breath caught in her throat. Her eyes burned. I will not cry. I won’t . She watched from across the parking lot as Tony and Jack inched their way toward the front of the bus line. It had never been more evident to her than now that she couldn’t be everything her son needed. He needed a dad in his life. A dad she had been unable and unwilling to provide. Sadness threatened to overwhelm her. A lone tear escaped and slid down her cheek.
    Tony paused before boarding the bus and looked over his shoulder. His eyes locked with hers. He winked, just as he had when they met, sending her a silent assurance that he understood and everything was going to be okay. Then, he lifted Jack to carry him up the steps.
    Erin shook her head when she looked at Jack. His cowlicks stood at attention no matter how hard she had tried to gel, mousse and spray them into place. But it was Jack’s grin, so wide it barely fit his face, that clenched her heart.
    “Bye, Mom,” he yelled, waving furiously. His contagious excitement made Erin bounce and wave in return despite the tears that stung her eyes. Her baby was growing up.
     
    From the second they had passed through the turnstiles, Erin had understood why they named it the Magic Kingdom—from the quaint gift shops, the incomparable anima-tronic rides, the fireworks behind Cinderella’s castle and the parade down Main Street. The day had been long but exciting and memorable. Tony had been great with Jack. Never losing his patience with the ever-talking, constantly-in-motion boy as they waited in lines or made their way through the crowds. It had been more than Erin expected, much more. For just today, she had allowed herself to pretend they were a family and realized that Jack wasn’t the only one who missed having a male figure in their lives.
    Tony elbowed his way through the restaurant. “Where do kids get their energy?” he asked as he placed their trays on the table.
    Erin helped Jack position his wheelchair and then slid on the bench beside Tony. “He doesn’t look energetic now.”
    Jack, stuffing chicken fingers and fries into his mouth, looked like he could fall asleep chewing. His eyes were heavy and even the din of people talking and bustling past their table didn’t faze him.
    Erin’s legs throbbed and muscles she didn’t even know she owned screamed in protest from the hours they had spent racing from one side of the park to the other, not wanting to miss a single thing. She leaned down and rubbed the painful knot in the back of her calf.
    “You okay?” Tony asked, nodding his head at her calf. “I can get rid of that cramp for you.”
    “No, thanks. It’s okay.”
    “Look, trust me.”
    Trust him? He had no idea how impossible that would be .
    “Pull your toes toward your nose. It releases the cramp. When you get home, massage your calf and put a warm compress on the muscles. It should help.”
    She pulled her toes upward and the seizing pain subsided.
    He