My throat dried out and every cell in my body stopped whatever cell things they were doing. I sat up and lowered my sunglasses at him. “You’re just telling me this now?”
“I don’t know! I thought I was just being paranoid.”
“What did she look like?” I asked.
“I don’t know. She had a hoodie pulled up and a ballcap on.”
I nodded. “Please tell me if you see anything like that again.”
Liam’s voice was a little more frantic. “Are we safe, Mom? Are you safe?”
“I think so,” I said, but I wasn’t fully convinced.
This was the first time I felt like I really needed Harlan. All this time he had been a nice addition, an augmentation to my already-existing life. I loved the times when he was there, but I didn’t feel like I particularly needed his comfort.
Now, I did.
I wanted him to hold me and tell me everything would be okay. I wanted the security of his arms and his laugh. I needed one of his jokes to calm me down. I wished I had a picture of him to look at, or a Harlan-coded worry stone in my pocket to rub. But there was no way to get a hold of him while he was flying.
The Reds got their third out on a swing and a miss, leading to the top of the fourth inning. Liam took a deep breath and scanned the Cincinnati skyline. “I think maybe I don’t want to move away from you. I think I’ll keep playing juniors.”
I studied him, trying to figure out what was really going on there. “You’re sure that’s what you want?”
He lifted a shoulder. “Just seems like a waste. If I keep playing hockey, I might get a scholarship.”
“Li, I’ve been getting paid well to teach Harlan.”
He rubbed his hands over his hair, his agitated tell. “Yeah, well, look what that did. No one was stalking you before Royce came around.”
“Honey, if someone is stalking us because of Harlan, it’s not Harlan’s fault.”
My phone rang. “Hey, speak of the devil.” I silenced the call.
“You can answer,” Liam said.
“Nah, this is my time with you.”
“Mom. Your job is at risk. More importantly, someone was taking creepy pictures of you from the bushes after the game last night. You don’t think he’s at all concerned about that? I am.”
He ripped my phone out of my hand and answered. “Hey.”
Liam’s face softened after Harlan spoke for a few seconds. “Yeah, we’re just roasting in the sun. Reds are losing. What’s new.”
Why did my son sound like a middle-aged office worker?
“Did you find out who’s stalking my mom?”
I couldn’t hear what Harlan was saying, but his voice turned more serious.
“Tell her to leave my mom alone. And to stay away from our house.”
Harlan’s tone sounded more panicked.
“Yeah, some lady was sitting in a car outside our house, staring at our porch. Yes, you can talk to her.” Liam held the phone out to me. “Yourboyfriendwants to talk to you.”
“Hey,” Harlan said. “Did you hear what I said to Liam?”
“No, fill me in.”