I went home early, to spend some time with Kelly.
Jules wasn’t the only kid who needed me.
Peter was there. His T-shirt said: ‘I may look funny, but I’d kick your ass at Jeopardy.’
Hey Dad, he said.
Peter liked to call me Dad. He thought it was funny. It probably wasn’t, really. It was all in the way he said it. Like an eager toddler when Daddy comes home from work. So I laughed. Like I always did.
Dad, he said loudly, and took me by the elbow. I’ve got something to show you.
He winked at Kelly as he steered me to the kitchen. She smiled.
It was nice to see she could.
I’m staying here, Peter said once we were out of earshot.
It wasn’t a request. It was a statement.
Okay, I said.
She needs distraction, he said. Entertainment. It goes against my nature, but I’ll do my best.
Sure, I said, missing the joke.
Til she gets over the worst of it, anyway, he said with a suddenly serious air.
Back in the living room, Peter asked Kelly for a pair of scissors.
Why? she asked.
My shoelaces are uneven, he said, pointing at his feet. They must be punished.
Kelly brought the scissors. She hadn’t laughed yet, but the smile was back.
Peter sat on the floor, fumbled about with his shoes for a moment.
Phew, he said. That’s better. Kelly, come tie my shoes.
What? said Kelly. Why should I?
You untied them.
I did not.
Okay, I lied. But haven’t I told you my theory about shoe-tying?
No.
It’s the most intimate thing a man and woman can do together.
Kelly laughed.
There was a poker game that night. I didn’t want to go. Peter talked me into it. We should try to be as normal as possible, he said. I couldn’t argue with that. And, I suspected, he was probably thinking that it would be better for Kelly if my gloomy face was out of the house for a while.
And he was probably right.