adison
The drive unfolded exactly as expected. Ethan monopolized the conversation from his car seat, bouncing between topics with the attention span of someone who’d consumed pure sugar for breakfast.
“Do you have a throne?” Ethan asked suddenly.
Alexander glanced in the rearview mirror. “A throne?”
“Yeah! All kings have thrones! Big gold ones with red cushions!” His hands gestured wildly, nearly knocking Mr. Whiskers off his lap.
“I have an office chair. Does that count?”
“Does it have gold on it?”
“No.”
Ethan’s face fell. “That’s not very king–like. You should get a real throne. With jewels!”
“I’ll take that under advisement.”
“What’s advisement mean?”
“It means I’ll think about it.”
“Oh.” Ethan processed this, then moved on without missing a beat. “Do you have a crown?”
“No crown either.”
“What kind of king are you?” Ethan sounded genuinely concerned now. “You need a crown and a throne. And probably a sword. Do you have a sword?”
“Afraid not.”
“This is terrible! You’re missing all the important king stuff!” Ethan turned to me. “Mom, we need to get King Alexander a
crown. And a sword. And maybe a horse,”
“I don’t think he needs a horse in Manhattan, baby,”
“But all kings have horses! How else do they get around?”
“Cars,” Alexander said, amusement coloring his tone. “Modern kings use cars.”
Ethan considered this. “I guess that makes sense. Your car is pretty fancy. It’s almost as good as a horse,”
“High praise.”
I watched the exchange through the rearview mirror, observing how Alexander answered even Ethan’s most ridiculous questions with complete seriousness. No dismissiveness, no condescension Just genuine engagement with a kid who thought dinosaurs were the pinnacle of creation and kings needed swords.
“Can I ask you something?” Ethan’s voice dropped to what he probably thought was a whisper.
“Of course.”
“Are you friends with my mom?”
The question hung in the air. I held my breath, waiting.
Chapter 422
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Alexander’s eyes found mine in the mirror. “Yes. Your mom and I are friends.”
“Good friends or just regular friends?”
“Ethan,” I cut in. “That’s enough questions.”
“But Mom!”
“We’re almost there. Look out the window.”
Ethan pressed his face against the glass, distracted by the growing number of cars heading in the same direction.
Alexander navigated through traffic with practiced ease, following signs toward the amusement park. The structures began to become visible above the treeline. Bright colors, geometric shapes, the curve of a roller coaster track.
“I see it!” Ethan practically vibrated in his seat. “Mom, I see it! Look how big it is!”
The park emerged fully from behind the buildings. An explosion of primary colors and carnival music drifted through the closed windows. The metallic scent of rides mixed with frying food, cotton candy, and popcorn. All of it hit at once as Alexander pulled into the parking lot.
“Whoa,” Ethan breathed, his face pressed so hard against the window I worried he’d leave a mark.
Alexander found a spot near the entrance. I started unbuckling Ethan while Alexander climbed out and opened my door.
“Thanks,” I muttered, lifting Ethan out. *
“My pleasure.”
We headed toward the entrance, Ethan racing ahead before doubling back, too excited to walk in a straight line. The park spread before us, all flashing lights, screaming riders, and families clutching oversized stuffed animals.
The ticket booth loomed ahead. Alexander moved toward it with purpose.
“Three all–day passes,” he said to the attendant.
“Actually,” I interrupted, reaching for my wallet. “I can pay for mine and Ethan’s.”
Alexander didn’t even glance at me. “Three all–day passes. Plus parking.”
“Alexander.”
“Madison.” He pulled out his credit card and handed it to the attendant. “Let me do this.”
The attendant looked between us, clearly uncomfortable with the brewing argument.
“Fine,” I conceded, knowing this battle wasn’t worth fighting in front of Ethan.
Alexander paid, and the transaction was smooth and efficient. The attendant handed over three neon wristbands, explaining they granted access to all rides and attractions.
Alexander distributed the tickets, his hand brushing mine as he passed one over. The contact lasted a heartbeat longer than accidental. My skin tingfed where we’d touched.
I busied myself helping Ethan with his wristband, avoiding Alexander’s gaze.
“Where to first?” Alexander asked Ethan.
“EVERYTHING!” Ethan shouted, already tugging me toward the entrance.
We passed through the gates into sensory overload. Music blared from every direction. Ride operators called out, trying to drum up business. Kids shrieked on the spinning teacups while their parents looked vaguely nauseated.
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Ethan’s head swiveled in every direction, trying to absorb everything at once.
“The carousel!” He pointed at the painted horses rotating to cheerful music. “Can we start there?”
“Absolutely.” Alexander gestured toward it. “Lead the way.”
We navigated through the crowd, Ethan weaving between families and couples with the agility of someone much older. The carousel came into full view, all gilded mirrors and hand–painted horses frozen mid–gallop.
“This one!” Ethan raced toward a white horse with blue trim. “This is the best one!”
Alexander helped him climb aboard, steadying the horse while Ethan scrambled into position.
“You coming up?” Alexander asked me.
“Someone should take pictures.”
“I’ll take pictures. You ride with him.”
Before I could argue, Alexander pulled out his phone and gestured toward the carousel. “Go. I’ll get shots from here.”
I climbed aboard, selecting a black horse beside Ethan’s white one. The saddle was smaller than I remembered, my knees almost hitting the pole.
“Mom! Look at me! I’m so high up!” Ethan gripped the pole with both hands, grinning wider than I’d seen in months.
The music started, that tinny carnival sound that brought back childhood memories. The carousel lurched into motion, horses rising and falling in their mechanical gallop.
I glanced toward where Alexander stood at the fence line, phone raised. He caught my eye mid–rotation, and something passed between us. Something I didn’t want to examine too closely.
The ride continued its steady rotation. Up and down, around and around. Ethan laughed, pure and uncomplicated joy radiating
from him.
I looked toward Alexander again. He’d lowered his phone, just watching us. The expression on his face made my chest physically ache.
Two versions of the same face at different ages, both grinning with identical expressions of delight.
The carousel slowed, horses settling into their resting positions. Ethan immediately started planning our next adventure.
“The bumper cars! No, the spinning teacups! No, wait, the roller coaster!” He bounced as Alexander helped him down. “Can we do all of them?”
“We have all day,” Alexander said. “We’ll do everything you want.”
Ethan grabbed both our hands, tugging us deeper into the park. I found myself walking beside Alexander, our son between us, looking exactly like the family we’d never been.
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
