I nodded. “Well, if I haven’t lost you as a friend, Tate shouldn’t lose you as a son. He’s no more guilty than I am.”
Taylor exhaled. “I get that on a logical level. Just…be patient with me. I’m trying. Even if I haven’t been doing the work in front of you, I’m trying.”
“That’s fair.” I smiled sadly.
He popped back in to say goodbye to Nicholas and then headed for the door.
“Can I tell Tate you stopped by?”
Taylor opened the door and stood in the doorway. “Yeah. You can.”
“Anything else you want me to relay to him?”
Taylor shook his head. “No.”
“Okay,” I sighed.
He took a few steps down the sidewalk, then stopped. After a moment, Taylor turned around. “Actually… Tell him he’s gonna be a grandfather.”
Chapter 38
TATE
“Good job, kiddo!”
Nicholas had just thrown a football toward me with pretty impressive force and direction.
“Try to hold it like this, okay?” I demonstrated how to properly position the ball in my hand.
As we continued to practice tossing it back and forth, I heard a voice behind me.
“Is there room for one more?”
I turned to find Taylor standing there and froze. It had been two whole months since Blair had told me he’d come to visit her. I hadn’t been sure when I’d see him again.
I got a little choked up and hadn’t found my words yet when Nicholas ran to him.
“Uncle Taylor!”
Taylor knelt. “Hey, buddy.” He ruffled his hair.
Nicholas looked up at him. “You wanna play with us?”
Taylor stood. “Sure, yeah.”
I managed a slight smile and threw the ball to Taylor. He then threw it to Nicholas, who attemptedto throw it to me. The cycle repeated for nearly half an hour as we quietly played and a gentle breeze blew around the yard. I didn’t dare say a word so as not to break the moment. I just wanted it to last.
When I looked over at the window, Blair was watching us. She flashed a smile, and I assumed she’d chosen not to come outside for the same reason I hadn’t said anything. Neither of us wanted to disturb the peace.
When Nicholas grew tired of the game, I finally turned to Taylor and said, “Can you stay for a bit?”
He slipped his hands into his pockets and nodded.
“Did you bring me a present, Uncle Taylor?” Nicholas piped up.
“What doyouthink?” he asked.
“He’s not spoiled at all,” I teased.
