Damian smiled at him. “You want to see some houses?”
He shook his head and tugged at his hand. Damian glanced at the screen, a bit annoyed at Armando’s silence, that he was pulling him away, but then his memories bubbled up. Of times when Cassie or Kevin had done the same, and he had just swatted those tiny hands away, snapping at them.
He shut the laptop down and put it on the table. “You want to play?”
Armando nodded and pulled him to the rug. He took a package from the cart and gave it to Damian. It was cars under a plastic blister, all new and shiny. Damian tore it open, and the cars fell on the carpet. They sat, and Armando divided the cars. Pushing them around, sometimes just parking them next to each other. The only sound he made was the cars’, but Damian didn’t mind, letting his worries go, relaxing a bit in that play. Watching him, some traits of his face so similar to Cassie’s, he almost had no doubts.And then his hair…He sighed, his eyes going to the door. Watching Gabe walk in, holding a stack of uniforms on his arm.
He smiled at Damian’s questioning eyes. “I’m good to go.”
“When?”
“Tomorrow.”
Damian stayed quiet to quench that mad rush of mild panic.
Armando ran to Gabe and showed him some cars he was holding. “Mira!”
“Muy bonito.”
He ran back to the rug, pushing another car into Damian’s hand. Damian, whose eyes never left Gabe’s.
Gabe walked close and leant down to him. “Don’t worry, ok? I need this job.”
“I know.” Watching him walk to their room, that love burning his chest.
Cassie sat next to Damian on the rug. “I’m leaving tomorrow.”
“What?” His heart sank, his eyes darting to the boy.
“Dad… I have to. College? I’ll come and visit in a few weeks.”
“Yeah…” Utterly lost, trying to fathom that they would be alone with that small stranger.
Cassie patted his arm. “It will be fine.”
He looked at her, a bit moved. “I am not sure you should forgive me, ever.” That guilt rushing in, that he pushed that small car to him when she was sitting close.
She nudged him. “Don’t feel bad. Just enjoy this. Live it to the full. It’s a second chance, right?” Her eyes searched his. “Don’t fuck it up.”
They laughed, and Armando walked close. Maybe a slight jealousy there, so he sat in Damian’s lap and continued playing, racing the car on his legs.
Cassie rose. “I better pack. I shopped too.” Pulling a tongue at him and he felt like nothing could be enough.
“Do you need anything? I mean I could…”
“Sshh… I shopped, ok? I don’t need anything more. Mum gave me enough money, don’t worry.”
“Do you have a car?”
“Back at college.”
“You bought a good one?”
She winked at him. “I took your Porsche.”
Damian blanched. “Careful with that one… it’s pretty swift and…”
She leant down to him, kissing him on the cheek. “I am taking extra lessons on a racetrack, ok? No worries.”
