Lost Read Online Free

perfect
smile.
    “Mom, Dad, this
is Jimmy, his sisters, Maggie and Jessie, and his mom.” Claudia, who looked
just like her mother, gestured to each of us in turn.
    I stuck my hand
out. “Please call me Julie. It’s nice to meet you both.”
    Her mother
warmly grasped my hand, and for just a second I saw the sympathy in her eyes.
    Please don’t
say it. Please don’t say it!
    “Julie, it’s
nice to meet you. I’m Becca, and this is my husband, Sal.”
    Claudia’s mom
was okay in my book.
    I turned to
Claudia’s father and smiled at him. He shook my hand and smiled back at me.
Then he turned to Jimmy.
    “I’ve heard a
lot about you, young man.” His tone was warm, and Jimmy returned his gaze.
    “Yes, sir. It’s
nice to meet you.”
    I was enjoying
this. Seeing Jimmy talk to Claudia’s parents. Watching him interact with
Claudia. It was a sign that Brian and I did something right. Well, maybe a bit
of Sam and Carey thrown in for good measure.
    “Mom, it’s okay
if Claudia comes with us, right?” Jimmy asked.
    “Sure, if it’s
okay with her parents.” I turned to Claudia’s parents. “We’ll probably just get
something to eat. We were thinking about a movie, but I don’t even know what’s
playing today.”
    Becca nodded
with a smile and began, “It’s fi—”
    “Mom, can we
see The Croods ?” Maggie piped up, “Please! Heather said it was so
funny!”
    “Oh, Mags. I
don’t know if Jimmy wants to see that,” I told her.
    “No, sounds
good to me. I heard it was pretty funny as well,” Jimmy replied and was
rewarded with beaming smiles from his little sisters, “Claudia? What do you
think?”
    “Works for me.
Sounds like fun!” She seemed game for anything.
    “Well, I guess
it’s dinner and The Croods ,” I relayed to Becca.
    Jimmy had his
phone out and was already checking the time, “Next one starts at 8. Since it’s
only 5, we have plenty of time to eat.”
    “Mom? I’ll text
you when the movie starts,” Claudia petitioned her mom.
    “And I can
drive her home after the movie since it may be a bit late. Of course, if that’s
okay with you both,” I added.
    “Sure! Works
for me,” Becca noted as her husband nodded in agreement. “Sounds like they’ll
all have a wonderful time. Are you sure it’s okay?”
    “Absolutely,” I
assured her and got out a pen and found a piece of scrap paper. I scribbled my
cell phone number on it and handed it to Becca. “Here is my cell number, if you
need anything.”
    She looked at
me, and again for just a second I saw the pity. But only for a second, and I
appreciated how quickly this woman seemed to grasp my desire for normalcy. I
didn’t need to constantly be reminded that I was a widow. She thanked me for
allowing Claudia to tag along, and I saw her hand some money to Claudia.
    And then it was
the five of us heading out in search of some food.

* *
*
    “Pizza! Pizza! Pizza!” The twins chanted
when I asked what everyone wanted.
    “T.G.I.
Friday’s?” Jimmy asked me.
    I shrugged.
    “Cool.” Jimmy
led the way while Claudia and the twins followed tittering and giggling. I
brought up the rear and simply enjoyed the moment.
    “Oh crap!” I
remembered what I wanted to get at the mall in the first place.
    Jimmy got off
the escalator and turned to me, “You okay, Mom?”
    “Yeah, I just
wanted to get something for Monday. Remember?”
    He nodded and
was about to say something, but I cut him off.
    “You guys just
go ahead. I’m going to run to the store real quick, and I’ll meet you there.”
    “Mom, it’s
cool. We can come.” Jimmy was trying to reassure me.
    I waved him
off. “Nope, I think I saw something in Ann Taylor that is exactly what I had in
mind. I’ll be quick. Go ahead and order an appetizer and your drinks, something
like that. I’ll be right there.”
    I was already
heading to the escalators when the kids waved and headed into the restaurant.
It didn’t look crowded, so hopefully they could get a seat