Chapter 5

Five

L uther

Luther couldn’t help but bask in the gratitude he felt, watching his foster daughter walk around his booth with a little extra confidence. He’d rested the large mirror against the pole so she could still see herself. She’d move to the tables and straighten the items that hadn’t yet sold, which weren’t many, and then she’d sneak a peek in the mirror.

Doug had gone back to his booth to put his makeup away, and Luther was frustrated that he needed to stay put. There were still customers coming by, and he really hoped to sell as much as possible so he would have less to lug home, but he wanted to talk to Doug.

Violet had poked him as Doug carefully applied makeup to Mila’s face.

“You need to, at the absolute very least, get this man’s number. I don’t think he could be any clearer that he’s feeling you, LuLu.”

He crossed his arms over his chest and sighed.“He’s…fun. I don’t know. What do I know about fun?”

She snorted. “You used to be fun. You could be fun again.”

“What about Mila?” he asked quietly.

Violet gave him a look as if Luther hadn’t a clue whatsoever.

“You know as well as I do what your foster parent training said. ‘It’s important to maintain friendships and a robust support network when taking a child into your home. Set a good example for them by modeling healthy relationships with peers and family.’ You know how to model healthy relationships, Luther.”

“But when? I can’t ask you to watch her any more than you already do.”

Violet rolled her eyes. “You definitely can, but also, she’s going to summer camp this week, right? Meet him after you drop her off. See what happens when you can actually have a conversation without interruptions. He seems like a good guy.”

Luther grunted in agreement. “I’ll think about it.”

And then he was slammed for the rest of the afternoon, as if a huge wave of afternoon shoppers had just been admitted to the market. Violet took Mila to check out the other vendors when he became too busy to talk to them.

By the time he’d finished with the last of the customers, his neighbors already had their booth packed up and were leading the dogs out of the area.

Luther didn’t want to embarrass himself by running after him—not that he could move that fast—but he walked to the end of his booth, hoping to catch Doug’s eye.

They’d already made it halfway down the aisle.

He let out a big sigh as he felt a buzz from his phone. It was a new email from?—

“Doug at CrossCyber dot com?”

Luther opened the email, and his lips quirked as he read.

Dear Luther,

Thank you for placing your email address on your receipts from the payment app. Pardon my intrusion, but I’d planned on communicating with you prior to my departure, however, transportation demanded that I leave without achieving my objective.

I would like to schedule an appointment with you as your schedule permits to discuss our shared interests. I can be reached by replying to this email, or you can find additional contact information in the signature.

I hope you had a successful venture today, and I look forward to hearing from you.

Warmest Regards,

Douglas D. Cross – B.S. M.A. Cybersecurity

So Doug was a consummate professional in addition to being a phenomenal artist and great with kids and dogs alike. He was beginning to look like the whole package.

Luther, however, wasn’t great with pretty words, and typing out an email would have taken him fifteen minutes. He wanted to hear Doug’s voice.

He touched the phone number at the bottom of the email and tapped the pop up to put the call through.

“Doug Cross, can I help you?” he answered.

“I think you might be able to. What exactly would you like to discuss regarding our shared interests?” Luther didn’t have much time. Violet and Mila could be back at any minute, but this was fun. There it was again, that concept of fun that Luther thought he’d forgotten how to experience.

“Oh, hello , Mr. Sorenson. Thank you for your speedy reply.” Doug’s voice was dripping with playfulness. “I really had hoped to discuss those interests in person. Do you have any availability?—”

“What does your Monday look like?” Luther was already getting impatient. This was fun and all, but he was ready to take things up a notch.

“Hmmm. Monday. I have a client meeting at eight, which should last around an hour. The rest of my day is…flexible.”

The word flexible coming through the line had Luther’s insides shifting. They were having an innocent enough conversation, but his imagination had kicked into gear and was moving into certain territories sooner than he should allow.

“I drop Mila off at camp at nine.”

“Where? I mean, what city?”

“Union City. We’re in South Hayward, but she goes to school in Union City. They have a good summer program.”

“Excellent. Tell me where you want me. To meet me. Um…” Doug chuckled, which covered Luther’s startled gasp.

“Oh, there’s a good breakfast place by me. Amy’s?”

“Sounds great.”

“Nine-thirty?”

“Absolutely,” Doug breathed into the phone. “I don’t think I’ve looked forward to a meal this much in a very long time.”

Luther knew exactly what he meant.

He was still running through their conversation back in the truck. He caught Violet looking at him funny when he glanced at her in the passenger seat.

“What? ”

She tapped her hot-pink nails on her knee. She couldn’t wear the acrylics she loved because of work, but she always had her nails painted bright colors.

“I didn’t say a word. I definitely didn’t say ‘I told you.’”

He turned his gaze back on the road and took the exit off the Bay Bridge and onto Interstate 880 South. He allowed himself to contemplate what a date with Doug to discuss “shared interests” would consist of. By the time they pulled into their driveway, he was worrying about what to wear. It was a nice worry to have.

The rest of the weekend was spent watching movies with Mila, making to-do lists to prepare for the next market, meal prepping, and finally, asking Violet for help picking out clothes Sunday evening.

“Oh, honey, we really need to take you shopping. I know this is a casual breakfast, but I want you to feel comfortable. Clothes make the man, don’t you know?”

“You’re talking to a man who wore a uniform for most of twelve years and who hasn’t bought clothes since before that. I’ve got those clothes Ayana gave me when Hector passed. Maybe there’s something nicer in there?”

Violet gave him a sad smile. Hector Barrera had been one of the guys in his unit. He’d been in the same accident with Luther, but he hadn’t survived his injuries.

Out of the five soldiers in their vehicle, two had died, one had been able to return to active duty, and two had been permanently disabled. Luther’s buddy Carter had been in the passenger seat and he’d lost his right arm in the accident. They’d pushed each other to make it through rehab and had come out the other side functioning humans but no longer working Marines. Carter was doing great. He’d gotten married and was a personal trainer now back in his hometown in Minnesota. He’d been awesome about sending Luther workouts and checking in on him about his progress .

Most of the guys struggled with how to treat their wounded friends, and Luther understood. For the same reason he hadn’t allowed himself to think about the sacrifices he might have to make, they didn’t want to have their mortality shoved in their faces.

“Let’s go through them together on my next day off. I know she said there were suits in there. Maybe we get stuff dry cleaned so it’s ready, you know, for a follow-up appointment.” Luther showed her Doug’s email, and she cracked up over his formality.

“This seems out of character for the guy who wears a kilt and painted rainbows on Mila’s face,” she said with a laugh.

She promised to clear out of the house for the day in case their “brunch business meeting” needed to continue at another location. Luther appreciated her cooperation.

He didn’t mention it, but there was a part of him that hoped their meeting would extend beyond brunch. Mila’s camp went until three. She was excited to spend the week making art, going swimming at the high school pool, and watching movies, She’d been thrilled when she found out they were going to be showing Encanto at some point. Her full day of fun gave Luther several hours to…meet.

Thankfully ED hadn’t been one of the side effects of his injury as the doctors had warned him might happen.

Thank the lord for average-sized mercies.

The next morning, Mila had her hands on her tummy when she came out of her room and was quiet over breakfast.

“What’s up, sweetheart?” Luther asked her, tapping the hand on her tummy. Most of the time all she needed was to voice her worries and then the ache went away.

“What if I don’t know how to do the projects? ”

“You do the best you can and forget the rest. This isn’t school, sweetheart. You aren’t being graded.”

She nodded, looking down at her lap. “What about swimming?”

They’d talked about it, and he’d reassured her that the camp was for kids of all abilities.

“You can just dip your feet if that’s all you want to do. I’ll look into swim lessons, too, okay?”

She nodded again.“What if I need help?”

He squeezed her shoulder. “You can talk to any of the counselors. They have my number if there’s an accident, and I will be there before you’re released, understand? Your friend Angela will be there, remember her mommy called me? The two of you can hang out. The day is going to go by super-fast.” He was almost more nervous than her, but he had to trust in the camp director’s promise that the staff had several kids who came from vulnerable situations and there was extra staff on for the first day to help the kids who were struggling. Miss Vanessa hadn’t been worried.

She nodded once more and then took a few more hearty bites of her oatmeal, finished her milk, and ate her sausage patty in two bites.

The drive didn’t take long and they were early. He walked her inside the community center, reminded her where the bathrooms were, and helped her stash her lunch in her cubby. It had been such a foreign thing to do—getting a little girl ready for school in the morning—when she first came to live with him, but Luther thrived on routines and soon had it all figured out.

He bent down as much as he could, breathing through the twinge in his back.

“You got this, Mila. I can’t wait to hear all about it when I pick you up. ”

She looked him straight in the eye, furrowed her brow just a little, and gave him a curt nod.“I got this, Daddy.”

She threw her arms around his neck, squeezed really hard for about three seconds, and then she let go. Angela and her mom came in at that moment and Mila ran over to her friend. They immediately went over to the toy section and got busy. Luther called out goodbye and got a faint wave in response.

Good. This was good.

“I swear I’m going to nap for the next five days,” Angela’s mother Felicia said with a laugh as they walked out to the parking lot together. “How about you?”

He grinned at her.“I’m meeting a friend for brunch.”

She fist bumped him and they waved to each other as they climbed into their respective cars and sped off for a kid-free day of adult activities.

Luther parked in front of Amy’s Diner and sat for a moment, taking a deep breath for courage. He didn’t see Doug yet, but he figured he could get them a table. It was a small place, only four or five tables and a counter, but Amy was a legend in the community and her food was to die for. She greeted Luther with a smile and told him to take any open spot.

He headed to the back corner and started to sit down at a table for two when he heard his name. He turned and frowned at the guy who spoke to him. He was brunet, had a pleasant smile, and eyes so strikingly?—

“ Doug ?”

Doug held his hands out and gave a small shrug before gesturing for Luther to sit down.

“I know, I know, it’s unsettling, isn’t it? I usually don’t wear makeup for my business meetings. As far as society has come in regards to letting folks be who they are, clients looking to me to handle their companies’ security needs don’t quite get it. ”

“You…you look so different. I’m sorry, I didn’t recognize you.”

Luther liked how Doug looked softer without the sharp angles he created with his makeup, which enhanced his cheekbones and jawline. Today, Luther was in love with the pale pink of his lips, his natural smile. Made-up Doug was drop-dead gorgeous. Softer Doug made Luther relax, feel safe. He imagined what Doug would look like fresh from sleep—or other bed-adjacent activities—and he shivered.

“It’s all good,” Doug said. “How did camp drop-off go?”

“Good,” Luther said, taking a look at the menu, although he always got the same thing. “Typical first-day nerves, but her friend is doing the camp with her. That makes it better, I think.”

“For sure. I was an only child, so I had to do all the first days by myself. It made me work hard at finding friends, entertaining people. Probably I was the class clown from about fifth grade on?”

“I can see that,” Luther said, his lip quirking up on the side. “I was all about not being noticed in school. Made it easier.”

A young man came over with an order pad and gave a very well-rehearsed introduction and asked if they were ready to order. Luther was starving. He’d been too nervous to eat that morning, though he’d tried not to show Mila.

“Waffles with fruit,” he said quietly.

“Veggie omelet, please,” Doug said. “Hold the onions?”

The kid nodded and scurried away from the table.

“So how long has Mila been with you?”

The kid brought them waters and Luther had just taken a drink when Doug asked his question. He dribbled a little bit of water onto the heather-gray t-shirt he was wearing. It was the only t-shirt he could find that didn’t have any holes or logos on it. He’d paired it with navy blue khakis and his only pair of canvas sneakers that weren’t stained or ripped. And now he had water stains down the front. Here’s hoping I don’t drop my food all over as well.

“Just about nine months now.”

Doug smiled. “She seems happy.”

Luther sighed. “She’s come a long way. There’s been a steep learning curve for both of us.”

“I think it’s awesome,” Doug said. “She’s a lucky girl.”

“I’m the lucky one.”

The server showed up and dropped off their plates, not sticking around to see if they needed anything else. The place wasn’t completely full, but he was also helping Amy behind the counter.

“This looks amazing,” Doug said. “It’s been awhile since I haven’t cooked for myself. I’m staying at Dinah’s family farm and trying to earn my keep since they won’t let me pay rent. I keep telling them I can afford it, but they won’t listen. They prefer having a cook and someone to help with barnyard chores, I guess.”

“A farm, huh? Nearby?”

“Yeah. It’s off Norris Canyon Road? You know, between Castro Valley and San Ramon?”

Luther nodded as he took a bite of strawberry. “I know the area.”

“Yeah, Dinah’s uncle left the farm to her and her sisters, and they raise goats and chickens and they’ve got the rescue dogs out there. It’s wild. Always some sort of entertainment.”

“I can imagine,” Luther said. “So Cross Cyber? That’s your company?”

“Cybersecurity, yeah.” He shrugged. “It pays the bills. Actually right now it’s funding my nest egg, since I don’t really have many bills.”

“Important work,” Luther said, and then he chuckled. “At least I’m guessing it is? I don’t know much more than basics on the computer. Sometimes I could kick myself that I went the more hands-on direction in the service. It would have been nice to have some transferable skills.”

Doug wiped his mouth and set his napkin down. “This is where I ask what’s okay to ask about. As a curious person by nature, I have a zillion questions, but I also don’t want this date to feel like an interrogation.”

Luther fought to hide his grin at Doug’s use of the word “date” to describe this encounter. Instead, he let his fork hang in the air.

“Date? I thought we were having a business meeting.”