Chapter 6 - The Bike PathSo I drove Miles to Gary's favorite park. We sat beside the bike path with his battered bus map between us.
After a while, I said, "Your father kept Mrs. Donnelly's ladder for eleven years."
Miles looked at me. "What?"
"Eleven."
"No way."
"He also borrowed money from Mr. Castellano once and forgot it for six months. Your dad helped people, Miles. But people helped him too."
He stared down at the circles. "But Dad can't do his part anymore."
I moved closer. "You inherited your dad's love. You didn't inherit his unfinished chores."
That was when he finally broke down and leaned into my shoulder. "I thought you needed me, Mom."
"I needed my son," I said. "I didn't need another caretaker."
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Later, we returned to the diner. Cal pointed at Miles's paycheck. "If you hand me that again, I'm retiring twice."
Miles almost smiled. Then, slowly, he put the envelope into his own pocket.
