Totlandia: Spring by Josie Brown Read Free Book Online

nowadays?”
    Hera laughed. “Peter? Oh my goddess, he could be anywhere! Last I heard, he was down in Costa Rica. No, wait…Venice Beach. If you still feel the need to find the weakest link, your father certainly fits the bill. We both know it.” Hera shrugged. “Lorna, Fate has played its hand. As for blame, there’s always enough of it to go around.”
     
    ***
     
    Lorna made it back to the house just a few minutes before noon. She was frantic. If Matt hadn’t gotten her text or hadn’t heeded it, she’d be rushing to get Dante into something decent. Having been gone for two days, she was sure the laundry was sky high with his dirty toddler togs.
    As it turned out, Matt was sitting on the front stoop with Dante in his lap. Their toddler was dressed in the little tuxedo she’d bought for him back before Labor Day when she’d received the notice of her probationary acceptance to the PHM&T.
    When she got out of the car, Matt stood up. “We’re glad you’re home,” was all he said, but he wasn’t smiling as he handed Dante over to her.
    Seeing the astonished look on her face, Matt said, “Now that he’s officially in the club, he should dress the part.”
    She nodded gratefully. “I appreciate you doing all this. I’m not saying that your suggestion last time of the track suit was off base or anything—”
    “You didn’t have to say it. I overheard Bettina’s sarcastic jokes about it at Mother’s house.” He shrugged. “His future will be filled with people looking to poke holes in his happiness. He doesn’t need any help from his idiot father.”
    Tenderly, she touched Matt’s cheek. “Matt, please don’t call yourself an idiot. You’re one of the smartest men I know. And one of the sweetest.”
    He took her in his arms and kissed her, long and hard.
    When, finally, they parted, they were both crying. He raised his eyes so they’d meet hers. “I’ll always be right here for you, Lorna. And I’ll be here for Dante, too.” His smile was bittersweet. “Did you find what you were looking for?”
    She nodded. “I owed it to my mother to ask her to meet my family—you and Dante—in person. Hera is looking forward to it. She’ll be here next Thursday. I’m sure she’ll be open to answering any questions you may have about me. And also about her and…my father. Of course, Hera doesn’t know where he is. For now, that may be for the best.”
    She buried her head in Dante’s back. The sweet scent of baby powder and lotion revived her and gave her the resolve she needed to add, “Matt, I started out by asking her for a DNA sample. But I didn’t press the issue. What’s the point? Do we need to have someone to blame? It won’t change anything.”
    He shrugged. “I know. I was acting like a jerk. It’s just that I feel so—so hopeless .”
    “I do too. We just have to take this one day at a time.”
    “I'm glad you feel that way. In fact, I’m hoping you’ll agree to go with me to a marriage counselor. We both need reassurance that…that we’re in this together.”
    She nodded slowly. “Yes, of course.”
    “Good.” He seemed relieved. “And I want to be with Dante during all his tests. I’ve also set up bi-weekly appointments with a physical therapist whose specialty is autistic infants—of course, on the days he’s not hanging with his PHM&T buds.”
    She rewarded his declaration with a teary smile.
    Matt looked away. “Lorna, I haven’t mentioned Dante’s condition yet, to anyone.”
    Lorna knew he was referring to Eleanor and Bettina. “I understand. In fact, I’m glad you’ll be meeting Hera without any other family distractions.”
    He laughed. “Yeah, in this case, the more does not equal ‘the merrier.’” He kissed her forehead. “You’d better go shower and change your clothes. Whatever fresh hell Bettina has in store for you and your pals will seem less devious if you’re in one of your killer designer dresses.”
    She laughed. He was right. And he