He turned around to see a man in his fifties with a younger man in a wheelchair. Colson could tell he was a quadriplegic, and his heart went out to both of them. The young man couldn’t have been more than twenty-five or so. He wore a Superman shirt and a Mets cap. Colson smiled at him and received the same in return.
“This is David. He loves ice cream. Vanilla is his favorite flavor.”
“Mine too, David. My name is Colson, and this is my friend Hogan. Mikey loves strawberry, and Jamie likes chocolate.”
The man’s eyes lit up. “Colson? As in the writer, Colson Delacourt?”
“Yes. That’s me.”
“I love your books. I even have them in paperback.” The man chuckled. “Although I gotta say, I might sleep with the light on afterward.”
“That’s great to hear, thank you.” At least someone hadn’t forgotten him. “Not about the lights on, but I guess that means I’m doing my job.”
“You sure are. Super creepy but addicting. My name’s Luis. I take care of David.”
“Oh, you’re not his father? You seem very close.”
Hogan busied himself ordering the ice cream. “Luis, what would you like? Our treat.”
“You don’t have to.”
Hogan dipped his head. “Yeah, I know. But I want to.”
“Just a cup of vanilla for David.” Luis brushed a hank of dark hair off David’s brow. “Yeah. We’re very close. I’ve been with him for fifteen years. David was hurt in a school bus accident when he was five.”
Mikey and Jamie stood next to him, licking their cones. “Why can’t he walk?” Jamie asked.
Colson winced, but Luis’s face was kind. “It’s okay. I’d rather they ask questions than whisper and point.” He crouched to their level. “David used to be able to do everything you can, but one day he was hurt very badly. He can’t use his arms much or his legs anymore or really speak, but he tries to understand some of what you say. He loves superheroes and coming to the park or going to the zoo.”
“I love superheroes too,” Colson said to David, and he could see the intelligence in his light blue eyes. “When I was little, I wished I could fly like Superman.”
David moved his head and grunted, his mouth opening and closing.
“He’s David’s favorite too,” Luis explained.
“Mommy takes us to see the seals at the park.” Mikey licked around his cone. “They’re my favorite.”
David made some more noises, and the kids laughed. “That sounds like the seals.” David moved his head.
Luis smoothed David’s hair. “David loves them and the petting zoo. We try to go at feeding time.”
Colson’s heart broke, and maybe his face reflected his sadness because Luis touched David’s shoulder. “Don’t feel sorry for him. David has a wonderful life. He has me, and more importantly, a brother who loves him and has devoted his life to taking care of him and making sure he has whatever he needs. He’s very lucky.” Luis held out a hand. “It was great to meet you. I hope you’re writing something new?”
“I’m trying. Unfortunately, my home was broken into, so unless the police find my computer, after I leave here, I’ll have to go buy a new one, then contend with insurance claims and all that.”
“That’s awful, I’m sorry. But I’m sure the police are doing whatever they can to find it.” His eyes twinkled. “Especially since they thought you were a murderer. I read the story in the local paper. They need to redeem themselves.”
His heart sank. “I’m never going to live that down, am I?”
“Sorry.” Luis laughed. “I thought it was pretty funny. Maybe you can use it in your next book. I’d better go before the ice cream melts. I hope we’ll see you again.”
“See?” Hogan nudged him as Luis wheeled David to a bench and sat beside him. “You still have fans. Now what you need is distraction.”
With the kids tagging along, they returned to the playground, and stood surveying as the kids ran all over the place. “You mean this isn’t enough of one?”
Hogan snorted. “I mean a distraction of another kind. Go out and meet someone. I saw there was a new gay bar that opened near here. The O?” He shrugged. “Maybe you’ll meet a guy. Oryou could join a dating app.” They took a seat on a bench not far from Luis and David.
“Since when are you into hookups? You were always about falling in love.” His mouth drooped. “And you saw how well that worked out for me.”
