27. Chapter Twenty-Seven

Chapter Twenty-Seven

MIA

I am having mixed feelings about Ethan and I being official.

On one hand, I'm truly happy and thrilled.

On the other, I am terrified that as great as things are now, they will all change once I tell him about the baby.

I still haven't gathered the nerve to tell him. I still haven't found the courage to bring it up. Given that he mentioned early on that he wasn't ready for another child and knowing how he struggles with change, it feels like an impossible challenge.

With a sigh, I try to focus on the ongoing event.

Now that the school year is over, the kids are around all the time. As the event planner for the Iron Huskies, I've organized a themed kids' day to celebrate, welcoming children from the local team, the Pennsylvania Wolves.

The event is set in a local park in Pittsburgh and is the largest one I've ever managed.

The Iron Huskies' mascot had to be replaced at the last minute because the mascot performer fell sick, so a local theater student made a couple hundred bucks after taking a crash course on how to be a skating husky.

There's an inflatable city for children and adults to enjoy, and I'm spread thin all throughout the park. I stop for a breather and a cup of water in front of the slide when Senna recognizes me from the top.

"Aunt Mia!" his voice rings out. "Watch me slide!"

"Okay!" I wave back at him.

He jumps down face-first into the slide, tumbling down in unintentional cartwheels and somersaults. I rush to the bottom of the slide where Amanda is. I'm worried he'll get hurt, but when his laughing face looks up at me, I'm reassured he's fine. It's just canvas and air after all.

"Wanna slide with me?" Senna runs over to me and clings to my pant leg.

"I can't, sweetie." I ruffle his hair, and he giggles. "I'm working!"

As I try to focus on my earpiece, Senna distracts me once again. "Now that you and daddy are dating, should I keep on calling you ‘aunt?'"

His question surprises me, and I stumble, trying to find the right words. I look at Amanda, who smiles at me for encouragement. After a moment, I answer, "An aunt can be a term for somebody you care about."

"So, I can still call you Aunt Mia?" His eyes are wide, clinging to my every word.

"Yes!" I toss my paper cup into the nearby bin and reach out to him for a fist bump. Then I turn to Amanda. "Where's Ethan?"

Before she can answer, Senna cuts in, "Daddy is giving autographs, and mommy said I can go play on the rides and meet her in the food court at five!" He points to his fancy wristwatch.

I look at Amanda, sensing something out of the ordinary. Leaving Senna alone seems unlike her, and I'm curious what's going on.

"Oh, she must trust you!" I say and Senna beams with pride. "Did you go on all the rides already?"

"Yup!" he nods emphatically. "Now I'm going to challenge Howler the husky mascot to a race."

I can't help it and let out a snort.

"Actually, can you keep an eye on him?" Amanda asks. "He'll be happy just to be around you."

"What are you up to?" I ask, curious.

"I'll tell you later," she pleads, joining her hands in front of her chest. "Please?"

"Alright!" I agree, then turn my attention to Senna. "Let's not race the poor mascot today. He's had a tough day." I put my hands on my knees and lean down to face Senna eye to eye. "Wanna to come work with me?"

"Sure!" he eagerly takes my hands, ready to follow me anywhere.

Senna becomes my little assistant for the afternoon. He helps me solve a leaking toy, reorder the line for the autograph session, order more food, and check the overbooked mascot areas.

It's almost five and the event will be over at six. Senna seems just as tired as I am. I guide him to the food court. "Want a corn dog and a soda?"

"Oh, I love corn dogs!" he exclaims, running ahead of me.

At the corn dog stand, I order two corns dogs and two drinks, which we take to a nearby available bench.

"So, Senna…" I take a quick bite. "You don't think I'm taking your mom's place, do you?"

"No," he says with his mouth full. "Mom explained everything to me. They're no longer together, so daddy can have another girlfriend. And I'm glad that's it's you, Aunt Mia!"

He smiles, and it fills my heart with joy. Smiling back, my eyes widen when I spot Amanda in the distance, holding hands with a handsome silver fox of a man. "You know your mom can have a boyfriend too, right?"

Senna looks extremely upset at this. "Yes," he finally says, swallowing a huge chunk of corn dog. "But I don't want that to happen."

"Why not?" I take a sip of my drink.

"If she does, she might have another baby, and then she won't have as much time for me," he says, his voice trembling a little.

"Oh, Senna," I say gently, leaning in closer to him. "I know it's scary to think about changes like that. But your mom loves you so much, and she will always make time for you, no matter what."

That seems to cheer him up. I continue, "Plus I think you'd make a great older brother. Your father may have more kids too."

"With you?" he looks at me.

I blush and go quiet for a moment, imaging him as an older brother. In that moment, I want to tell him, but I know it's a bad idea. Telling Amanda is one thing, but a six-year-old is another. Senna won't be able to keep a secret, and I have to tell Ethan first.

I decide to tease him instead. "Things sometimes take surprising turns, Senna. You wait and see."

He gives me a big smile and finishes his meal. I still have half of corndog left and I'm not feeling hungry anymore. I offer it to him, and he takes it gladly.

Amanda finds us a few minutes later. She comes alone, oblivious that I saw her. She kisses Senna on the cheek, squeezing him so hard that he squeals.

"Mom, too tight!" he complains, pushing her away.

"I just missed you," she grins, ruffling his hair.

She sits with us, an arm around her son, looking happier than I've ever seen her. "It looks like you two had a good time."

Amanda kisses the top of Senna's head, making him blush.

I know she took advantage of the event to have a quiet date with her new love interest. I won't bring it up now, especially not in front of her son, but she will have to tell me everything later.

"Everybody ready to leave?" Amanda asks.

"I have to stay until everything is disassembled to make sure everything goes back to the right place," I reply, and she nods.

"Let's go find your father, then!" She taps Senna on the shoulder, and he jumps off the bench.

Amanda turns back to me. "See you at the hotel?"

I roll my eyes and sigh, "See you who knows when… I'm going to be swamped with work for a while."

"Oof!" she fans herself. "I'll text you later then."

I say goodbye to them. Left alone, I start to entertain the idea of giving Senna a little brother.

Senna has shown he can be jealous, but he's also sweet. If it's a little sister, he'll protect her tooth and nail, that's for sure. Lost in thought, it's nearly half an hour later when I finally get off the bench and start to help take everything down.