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What if they don’t like me?
Ed, you need to stop worrying. They’re going to love you.
I thought I was the one with crippling anxiety ;-)
Very funny, Stede. I’m serious. What if your kids hate me?
Ed, we’re taking them to the beach, not force-feeding them vegetables.
We’re leaving now. Be there in 10. Love you x
Love you too x
Ed was mentally reviewing everything he had packed for Bonnet Beach Day for the fortieth time when he heard Stede honk from the driveway. He grabbed the bags and stepped out onto his front porch as Stede shut the driver’s door and started up the walk toward the house.
“You could’ve stayed in the car, love. I can carry these by myself.”
“I know. I just wanted to check in with you,” Stede took Ed’s hands in his, gently rubbing his thumbs across Ed’s knuckles. “Are you ready for this?”
“Not even a little bit.” Ed took a deep breath. “Okay, let’s do this.”
Stede leaned in and rested his forehead against Ed’s. “It’s gonna be fine,” he whispered. He gave Ed a peck on the lips and pulled back with a smile.
“Ewww! Gross!”
“Yeah, get a room! You’re worse than mom and Doug!”
Stede turned to look at the two young faces peering out the back window of the car, “That’s it! You’re both getting gruel for dinner! Gruel and stale bread!”
Louis and Alma dissolved into giggles as Stede picked up one of the bags from the front porch and started toward the car. Ed followed behind with the other bag. They stowed the bags in the trunk with the rest of the beach day necessities, and Stede got back behind the wheel while Ed slid into the front passenger seat.
“Alma, Louis, this is Ed. Ed, these are my kids.”
“Hi, Alma. Hi, Louis. Are you two having a good time visiting your dad so far?”
They both nodded.
“I’d be having more fun if dad would let me drive though.” Alma sighed loudly.
“Alma, I’m not letting you drive. You’ve only had your license for a few months, and they drive on the other side of the road here.”
“Dad,” Louis piped up, “Is Ed your Doug?”
Stede cut his eyes to Ed, who was laughing silently, “Yeah, buddy. Ed is my Doug.” He glanced in the rearview mirror in time to see Alma’s eyes light up with a look of mischief.
She leaned forward and gave Ed an intense look, “So, Ed. Dad says you’re his Doug. Louis and I would like to know what your intentions are.”
Ed was gobsmacked. He looked at Stede, who rolled his eyes and said, “Alma, put your seatbelt back on. I think Ed’s immediate intentions are to have a pleasant day at the beach with the three of us. And, oh look, we’re here.”
Stede had barely put the car in park before Alma and Louis jumped out and made a beeline for the shore. “Ed,” Stede put a hand on his thigh, “Alma’s messing with you. That’s a good thing, means she feels comfortable around you. You’re doing great, darling.”
“How are you so calm about this?”
“Well, only one of us can be a disaster at a time. You’re usually the one tethering me. It’s past time I returned the favor.” He smiled, “Now, come on, we have to haul an entire trunk’s worth of stuff across the sand.”
Ed was building sandcastles with Louis when Alma approached. “Dad says you know how to surf.”
He looked up at her, “Mhm. Sure do.”
“Will you teach me?”
“Uh, yeah, as long as it’s okay with your dad.” Ed turned to Louis, “You okay with me taking a construction break?”
Louis nodded absently, too engrossed in expanding his sandy empire.
It turned out that Alma was a quick learner, and before long she and Ed were celebrating her riding her first baby wave without falling. After that, Ed pulled snorkeling gear from one of the bags. Alma said she was tired from surfing and Stede begged off, claiming to be at a “really exciting part” of his book. Louis decided to join him, however. They spent a good hour lazily swimming around the bay, while Ed pointed out various sea animals to Louis and Louis told him all about how coral reefs were made. Soon after that, they packed up and headed home, stopping for a quick dinner on the way.
The drive back to Ed’s was quiet. “I think you wore them out,” Stede said softly, “The car has never been so silent.”
Ed smiled, “I thought today went well. What do you think?”
“Ed, I don’t think today could have gone any better. You’re a natural with them.”
“Well, they’re good kids.”
Stede pulled into Ed’s driveway and put the car in park. “Alright, you two, I’m going to help Ed carry his stuff to the house. I’ll be back in a minute.”
Louis yawned and rubbed his eyes, “Bye, Ed. I had fun today. I think my new favorite animal is that octopus you showed me. Can we go back and look for him again?”
“I’d love that, Lou. I had a lot of fun today too.”
“Bye, Ed. Thanks for teaching me to surf.”
“Anytime, Alma. Next time we’ll work up to a bigger wave, yeah?”
Ed and Stede got out of the car and pulled the bags from the trunk. They were turning toward the house when Alma pushed open the car door and launched herself at Ed, hugging him tightly. “I’m glad my dad found you. You make him so happy,” she whispered.
“He makes me happy too,” Ed whispered back, “And I’m so glad you and Louis are part of the deal.”
Alma let go of Ed and got back in the car, “Goodnight, Ed.”
“Night, Alma.”
Stede held Ed’s hand as they walked up to the front door. “See? You were worried for nothing. I told you they’d love you.”
“Yeah. But you forgot to warn me that I’d fall in love with them so fast too.”