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  It’s not professional to run a personal errand outside of my lunch hour, but it’s the first time I’ve had to since I started working for her. If anything, Chrissy tends to overwork herself. Although it took a while for Chrissy to notice, Reggie makes sure Chrissy has time to eat lunch, and she often urges her to leave work as soon as five rolls around.

  The four stops outbound to the Prudential are quick, and Chrissy makes the short walk to Titus Sparrow Park. It’s a straight shot on the Green Line to reach his school, Boston Science Academy, tucked away on the edge of Rutland Square. Several students are indulging in a pick-up game at the basketball court, while groups of chatting teens sit under maple trees in the park, the dense green leaves providing shade. It’s a beautiful sunny day with a slight breeze, and Chrissy wishes she could be one of those carefree students. The brick edifice exudes a gravitas borne of age and history. It’s a large building, sectioned off by an enclosed hallway connecting the kindergarten through eighth grade school to the high school.

  The school boasts famous alumni who’ve donated money, time, and mentoring to the fortunate students attending. Ben is one of the lucky recipients of such generosity. Chrissy met the school guidance counselor while taking a criminal law class at the community college three years ago. Delilah was taking the class as an elective for her master’s degree and offered to help Ben not only enroll in the private school but also secure a scholarship for him. It was an unexpected kindness and changed their lives.

  Walking toward the front entrance, Chrissy spots Ben slouched on the school steps, speaking to one of his friends—Leroy—who’s a tall kid, already taller than her, and lanky. Chrissy’s about five feet seven inches, and she can’t help but think Ben will bypass her within the next few years.

  She watches her son’s body language change when she gets closer. He stands up, hands gesticulating and mouth moving fast. He’s dressed in his school uniform of navy slacks, white Oxford button-down shirt, and matching navy blazer with the school’s coat of arms across his left breast pocket. His red and white striped tie hangs from his belt. There’s a shadow of a mustache on his upper lip. His shaggy, ash brown hair flops over his eyes, as he says goodbye to Leroy and jumps down the school steps to greet her.

  “Thanks for coming, Mom. Did you get in trouble?”

  “No, honey. As a matter of fact, we’re going back to work. Reggie said you can stay in the office, and that way I’ll be able to finish my work.” She leads the way to the Prudential stop, Ben’s loping gait keeping pace with her short, quick steps.

  “Cool. Hey, do you think I can hang out with Leroy on Friday? He has some new game he wants to show me, and he wants me to sleep over.”

  Chrissy swipes her subway pass, and they make their way to the platform. She glances at the digital screen to see how long until the next car arrives. One minute. “Sure. I’ll contact his parents tonight.” She loves how easily he makes friends. His social calendar is more crowded than hers. As soon as the doors open, they make their way on the train and claim seats.

  Once settled, Ben says, “You know, you can come, too. His parents are nice.”

  Biting the inside of her cheek, Chrissy sighs. He’s always trying to look out for her. “That’s all right. By the time Friday night rolls around, I’m exhausted. I’d rather get into my favorite sweats and relax.”

  “You mean sit in front of the boob tube with a tub of Ben & Jerry’s.”

  Chrissy dons an expression of mock outrage, and she slaps his arm. “Such sass. Here I thought I was raising a sweet boy. What happened to him?”

  Ben chuckles. “I’m still your sweet boy. If I weren’t, that ice cream would be long gone.”

  “Not if you wanna live to the ripe old age of fourteen.”

  They emerge from the subway station. Chrissy smiles. “You can sit in the chair across from my desk and study for your finals. No talking to me or anyone else, no wandering, and no games until you’re finished. The good news is we can pick up pizza from your favorite place on the way home.”

  “Don’t worry about me. Quiet as a mouse.” He sports an endearing smile and a sparkle in his light brown eyes.

  They make it back to the office in record time, and as soon as they’re seated, Chrissy focuses on her work. She finishes up the cover letter and turns her attention to the files on her desk. Reggie had added a fourth one for her to clean up. Ben does as asked. It’s quiet and comfortable, reminding her of endless nights at the kitchen table when she studied for her paralegal degree and he finished his homework. Not so long ago, but in some ways a lifetime ago. The only sounds breaking the silence are those she makes while shuffling papers and typing information into the office schedule. The clacking of the keys sounds too loud, and Chrissy slows down her typing enough to prevent it from sounding like a military march.

  “Hello.” Chrissy looks up to see Reggie focused on Ben, who also looks up.

  “Hi. I’m Ben.” He smiles while standing and shakes Reggie’s hand. Chrissy and Ben have worked on him not having a limp-fish handshake. She’s told him several times how important first impressions are. “Thank you for letting me hang out here.”

  Chrissy smiles, proud of how mature her son is.

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ben. I’m Reggie Esposito. You’re welcome to hang out here anytime.” Chrissy’s lips quirk when she hears the emphasis on the words “hang out.” She doesn’t remember Reggie ever uttering slang.

  “Thank you.” Ben sits down, and when Reggie turns her attention to Chrissy, he returns his focus to his homework. The rest of the afternoon flies by, and when five o’clock arrives, Chrissy gathers her belongings so they can leave.

  They say their goodbyes to Reggie, still hard at work. The hairs on the back of Chrissy’s neck rise. Glancing behind her, she sees Reggie watching, an inscrutable expression on her face. Chrissy smiles and waves, both quick and choppy, before speeding to the elevator. So busted.

  They make their way to the subway. It’s much more crowded, the noise of various conversations blending in with a street musician plucking at guitar strings and singing off-key. The distinctive smell of urine pervades the air, and Chrissy scrunches up her nose. Once the subway car arrives, they shuffle inside with the crowd and plop down on a bench. Ben dons his headphones to listen to music while Chrissy grabs a copy of The Boston Herald she finds on a neighboring seat. The front cover displays a picture of a corrupt politician, the sensationalistic title proclaiming what an upstanding guy he is. No surprise there. What a hack paper. Hearing their Hynes Convention Center stop announced, Chrissy throws the paper back on the seat and rises, Ben next to her. When they emerge from the subway terminal, Chrissy has to blink several times to adjust to the sun’s brightness, a contrast to the dark, underground station. The sun feels wonderful. It was a hard winter, and she looks forward to spending more time outdoors now that it’s getting warmer.

  They eat at the pizzeria instead of taking their food home. It’s a small place with only a half-dozen tables available for patrons. They place their order at the tall counter before picking out a table near the window to people-watch. Once their order’s ready, they dig in.

  “I like her.” Ben chews a slice of cheese pizza. It only costs ten bucks for two huge, cheesy slices with crunchy crusts—the size of half a pizza. That’s enough to fill her growing boy. It’s a bonus that she enjoys the food at Nicky’s, too. Ben’s eyes are bright, and his smirk warns Chrissy of where this is going.

  “Me, too.” She shoulder-bumps him.

  “Is she single?”

  “Ben.” Her voice holds a warning she knows he’ll ignore. “She’s my boss.”

  He delivers one of his specialty looks—puppy-dog eyes. I need to be clear. Otherwise, it won’t be safe to allow him in the law firm again, not with his mile-long mischievous streak.

  “You’re right. She’s beautiful and intelligent, but she’s also my employer. You know how hard I worked to get into that firm. I like working there. I can see
myself working there for a long time.” She fixes him with a serious look. “I won’t be able to work there if I make a pass at her. Even a casual date invitation could get me sacked. Or, on the off chance she’s interested, she’d be a fool not to consider the ramifications of becoming involved with her employee, someone in her division. We’re not equals at work, and if a romance went bad, sexual harassment could become an issue.”

  “You’ve thought about this.”

  “Since the day we met, so please drop it. The only relationship Reggie and I can share while I work for her is a professional one. Besides, she’s seeing that guy, Ashford.”

  Scrunching up his face, Ben scoffs. She’s mentioned him in passing a few times. Okay, maybe she’s ranted a bit. He’s a personal injury lawyer and rather smarmy. His ill-fitting suits and hardboiled charm grate on Chrissy’s nerves. Last week he showed up with a bouquet of daisies and an apologetic smile. Daisies.

  “Still?”

  “Still.”

  Nodding, Ben snags another piece of pizza. “Maybe you can see if there are any openings in another division.”

  Chrissy peers at Ben, but he’s staring out the window with an affected nonchalance. Chrissy groans. Reluctant to admit she has watched the job boards for months, she presses her lips together and taps her fingers on her knee. She settles with humming in a noncommittal way before changing the subject.

  “How about I cut your hair tonight?”

  “Yeah. Okay. Thanks, Mom.”

  “Sure thing.”

  He finishes his second slice. “So, can we talk about my taking the T?”

  Although she wants to shut down the conversation, she knows it’s not the best way to handle her fear for his safety. “Yep. Let’s hear it.”

  “How about starting tomorrow I take the T right after school to the law firm, and I can study there? It’s only for a week, and once I’m out of school, I’ll be working for Parks and Rec. Reggie said I’m welcome, and I’ll be on my best behavior. Promise.”

  Chrissy thinks about it. It’s a good solution, a way to give him some independence, and it will be a good trial for his taking the T home from school during the next school year. If she’s being honest with herself, he’s old enough to be commuting home without supervision. He’s never given her any reason to distrust him.

  “Okay. We’ll try it.” At his triumphant smile she shakes a finger. “While you’re at my work, you’ll need to be on your best behavior.”

  “Best behavior, I promise.”

  “That means no matchmaking. No hinting about dating. No inviting her to come anywhere with us. Not only could it get me in trouble, it could make Reggie uncomfortable around me.”

  “Mom, I’d never embarrass you that way.”

  “Good.”

  “If I invite her to anything, it’ll be up to you whether you want to go, too.”

  Rolling her eyes, Chrissy drops her head in her hands. “What did I ever do to deserve such a sarcastic boy?” His chuckle fills her heart.

  After finishing their food, they walk to the corner of Commonwealth and Mass Ave. Their apartment is in a building converted in the early 1980s into ten condominiums. Walking up the stairs to the third floor, Chrissy resists the automatic self-castigation she feels every time she gets out of breath. Thirty-two is not old. Ben takes off his shoes at the door, and Chrissy looks around the immediate area while removing her off-white leather flats. The front door opens up to the kitchen. One wall is the original brick, while the rest of the kitchen is painted soft yellow. Linoleum floors and light-colored wooden cabinets give the kitchen an airy feel. To the left are the refrigerator and a door leading to Ben’s bedroom.

  Chrissy walks through the kitchen and into the living room, picking up stray articles of clothing and placing them in the hamper. When they bring their clothes to the basement each Saturday morning, she finds half of the socks missing if she hasn’t completed a thorough sweep through the apartment beforehand. A welcome breeze is coming through the three bay windows, the traffic noise fading away as she walks into her bedroom. When she looks at the light green walls, she imagines sipping mint juleps at an outdoor café, something she’s never done. I bet Reggie has. A large burgundy armoire is against the far wall, and her bed is to the left of the door. To the right two large windows face the street.

  Placing her purse on the end of her bed, Chrissy changes into jeans and a T-shirt before returning to the living room. Ben is set up at the dining table behind the couch near the windows. He’s decided to review his English notes for tomorrow’s final exam. As she sits down next to him with her laptop, Chrissy sighs. Her boy is getting older, and she needs to figure out what she wants in her life. Be honest. Staring at the computer, Chrissy knows exactly what she wants. Or rather, who. But she doesn’t have a chance of ever gaining Reggie’s love. That woman is too good for her in countless ways.

  “I think Reggie likes you, too,” Ben says, not looking up from his notes. “Don’t lose hope.”

  Shaking her head, Chrissy can’t help but smile. “Thanks, sweetie.”

  Chapter Three

  “Mom, are you ready?”

  Staring at her reflection, Chrissy applies red lip gloss. She tightens the elastic band in her hair and uses a bit more spray to secure the bun. Her hair will probably fall out if the breeze picks up, but it looks neat. She likes the way her cheekbones and eyes are more prominent when she wears her hair up, and she’s hoping Reggie will appreciate her efforts. Fat chance. Chrissy wears a red satin sleeveless blouse and black linen slacks with black flats. Not the fanciest outfit, but her casual business attire is limited. She grabs her black cardigan sweater and meets Ben at the door.

  “Ready. Don’t worry, though. We have plenty of time.”

  “I know, but this way we won’t have to rush.”

  Ben isn’t fooling Chrissy. Contrary to his blasé attitude, his constant questions—when are they leaving, who else is going, and how long will take to get to the harbor—are indications of his building excitement. In the past they went to the Hatch Shell to watch the fireworks, but this year they’re attending the law firm’s Harborfest Cruise. Last year she’d been working for the firm for a mere few weeks before the annual cruise, and she’s heard from several colleagues how fun it is. The clincher was hearing how it’s family-friendly.

  They amble down the street toward the subway stop, and Ben asks, “So, Reggie’s going?”

  Chrissy sighs. “You know she is. You asked her last week. Remember?”

  “I thought something might’ve come up.”

  “Even she takes breaks.” A thrill races down her spine as she remembers how Reggie asked her yesterday whether they still planned to attend. She’s doing her best not to read into it, but her traitorous heart leaps each time Reggie asks a personal question.

  “Is what’s-his-face going to be there?”

  Chrissy can’t help chuckling. “God, I hope not.”

  “It doesn’t matter, Mom.” Ben claps a hand on her arm and squeezes before they walk through the subway turnstile, swiping their CharlieCards. They make their way down the stairs to the lower platform. “Remember how she reacted when he came by last Friday? I think she’s over him.”

  The sound of a train entering the station saves her from responding, so Chrissy flashes a quick grin and takes a position close to where the doors will open. She sets herself up the way she used to while playing basketball, ready to box out anyone who tries to get past her. Several people press into her, and she grunts while maintaining her footing. The whoosh of the subway blows warm air at Chrissy, and perspiration erupts on the back of her neck. The humidity makes her feel as if she’s standing in a sauna.

  As soon as the subway doors open, Chrissy’s pushed forward. Since she’s only able to snag one seat, Chrissy holds on to a pole above Ben’s head while he sits between two college kids. Everyone is in good spirits, their loud conversations swirling around her. She’s glad it’s starting to cool down. A packed subway ca
r and sweating commuters are a combination she hates. They hop off at the Aquarium stop since Rowe’s Wharf isn’t far and they’ve decided to walk along the harbor. The police are interspersed with wandering revelers, providing directions to those who ask. Chrissy’s stomach rumbles. She missed lunch. I’m so glad the cruise will include dinner. Although she normally isn’t comfortable attending these types of events, Reggie brought it up in front of Ben.

  “Christina, are you and Ben planning to attend the Harborfest Cruise to watch the fireworks?”

  Glancing up from the correspondence she’s sorting, Chrissy crinkles her eyebrows. She’d heard of the event, but it sells out quickly.

  “I don’t have tickets.”

  “Well, today’s your lucky day then.” Reggie holds two up, a small smile on her face. “I happen to have two extra ones.”

  “I couldn’t take those from you. Don’t they cost money?” She flashes a quick glance across her desk. Ben’s head is tilted to the side, hands still on his tablet. He’s listening instead of playing his video game. Looking back at Reggie, she sees her thoughtful expression. Chrissy’s stomach starts to hurt. She doesn’t like revealing how limited her finances are, not wanting to receive handouts from people. She does the best she can for Ben, and he understands she can’t always budget extras like Red Sox tickets and harbor cruises.

  “All partners receive several tickets each year. I‘d rather they not go to waste. Ben, what do you think? Have you ever been on a harbor cruise?”

  “No. It sounds cool.” Ben’s eyes are bright, and he’s practically vibrating in his seat.

  “Are you sure you don’t need them for someone else?” Chrissy can see she isn’t going to win this battle, not with Ben wanting to go. In truth, Chrissy wants to go, too.