“Seriously? Semantics, Nero? That’s your argument?”
He smiles, which makes me even angrier—because I’m not actually angry. Him being so close to Kael is a good thing, after all.
If I’d discovered his little scheme a week after his reappearance in our lives, this conversation would be very different. But the truth is, things have changed.
Nero has been a good father. Present. Understanding. Respectful of boundaries. He’s done everything he can to give my son the best life possible. And even though I still worry that one day he’ll change his mind and leave, it’s getting harder to believe that could actually happen.
“I’d like to talk to you about Kael’s birthday,” he says, steering away from the housing issue. I let out a deep breath, agreeing that there’s really nothing left to discuss there.
“About what?”
“First, I think this is a good time to admit that I promised him a half-chocolate, half-Batman cake for his birthday.”
He admits it with so much worry—so much concern about having possibly done something wrong—that it pulls a loud laugh out of me, instantly diffusing the tension.
“When? It was the day we went to the café, wasn’t it? You couldn’t make him choose just one and negotiated the birthday cake instead, right? Iknewyou were taking too long!” I accuse, and he gives me a completely unashamed smile.
“You said you get used to it. It was my first time—I didn’t know how yet.”
I shake my head.
“And what’s the second thing?”
“I’d like to take him out. Nothing far. Nothing outside the city. I just want to get him out of the house a little. You’re invited too, of course,” he adds quickly.
“Do you have any idea where you want to take him?” I ask.
“I saw there’s a park in town. I think he’d like it. I also saw they even have staff dressed as superheroes.”
“Kael loves the park. With our routine, it’s been months since we last took him.”
“I can do that,” he says immediately. “If you allow it, of course.”
“On his birthday, I’ll be working during the day, and I’ll be off at night. I couldn’t go with you.”
Nero nods, resigned, even though his expression clearly falls.
“That’s okay. We can do it another day.”
I take a deep breath and speak before I lose my nerve.
“No need, Nero. You can go together.”
His brows knit in confusion.
“Will your mother be able to come with us?”
“No, Nero. You can go alone,” I explain, and his mouth opens in complete surprise. It’s almost funny. But I don’t laugh—instead, I’m honest. “I think you’ve earned that right.”
“Thank you,” he says, eyes already wet. “Thank you so much.”
CHAPTER 65
NINA MARCHESI
Kael’s plate is too full—not because he was served too much food, but because he’s eating very little. Almost nothing. I watch him push his fork back and forth, and every now and then he lifts his eyes from the plate to look at me, to his right, or at his father, to his left, and I know this isn’t his independence taking a backseat.
It’s something else.
