He ducked his chin to his chest. “I read the clippings you keep in that old photo album.” He fiddled with his cloth napkin. “I’m sorry.”
“I told you to stay out of my dresser. Damn it, Jay, you shouldn’t have seen that.”
His eyebrows furrowed. “I wanted to know. He’s my daddy!” He ran from the room with tears streaming down his cheeks.
She shot up after him.
Jarrett beat her to the open doorway and grasped her arms. “Let me, please.” A deep, uneven breath shuddered through his lungs. He wanted to hold and kiss her, but that wouldn’t fix anything. Once she pulled back, he hurried into the living room.
Jason wailed on a blue-fringed pillow and slammed his fists on the sofa cushions.
He sat beside him and placed his hand on the boy’s trembling back. “Calm down. Look at me. What’s on your mind?”
He peeled his face from the pillow and pivoted his head like it was on a swivel, as though he searched for his mom. Then he jumped in Jarrett’s lap. “I have the right to know, don’t I? I should know everything the adults do.”
Jarrett bit back a curse. Why the hell had he volunteered for this? “You should know. It’s your right as Joel’s son.” He wiped beads of liquid from his nephew’s eyes. “But do you understand why your mom kept it from you?”
“She thinks I’m a baby and that I can’t handle it.”
“No, no...it’s because she loves you. She wants to protect you from things that might scare or hurt you.” He grabbed a chenille throw from the back of the sofa and wrapped it around Jason. “Maybe she shouldn’t coddle you so much, but don’t fault her for protecting you.”
“I don’t, really, but I’m old enough now.” He rested his head on Jarrett’s chest and tugged the throw tighter around himself. “The kids at school laugh at me. They say I’m a mama’s boy. That my dad is gone because he didn’t love me, that he was a bad cop.” He choked on a sob. “They even say he’s worm food. I need to know the truth. I need to know my daddy loved me.”
“Oh, God.” He grasped Jason closer as he cried. “Have you told your mom this?”
“S-she says to ignore them and th-that some kids are cruel because they’re unhappy,” he stuttered and gripped Jarrett’s sweater “I-I don’t care. They’re—they’re meanies!”
“Shh, it’s all right.” Those brats needed a damn spanking. How dare they bully Jason? The lights twinkling from the Christmas tree cast Jason in a soft glow as he leaned back and rubbed his runny nose. Had this sweet kid ever celebrated Christmas without crying? He gently grasped his nephew’s face. “Listen to me. Your dad loved you. How could he not? You’re smart and funny, and you have a little attitude. Every boy needs that. If Joel was here, he’d tell you how proud he is of you. I just met you, and I can already tell you’re a great kid. There’s strength inside you. I feel it.”
He sniffled and wiped at his puffy eyes. “You mean it? You aren’t lying to make me feel better? Adults do that.”
“No, you’re too old for that. You’re growing up, and you deserve the truth.”
A smile stretched across his face. “Thanks, Uncle Jarrett.” He hugged him tight.
Jarrett kissed the top of his head. A creaky noise from somewhere behind him stiffened his back. He turned as Marissa clutched the doorframe with tears in her eyes. He shifted Jason on his lap and freed his arm to wave her closer.
She shook her head and hurried away.
“Are you hungry?” he asked Jason and smiled as the boy nodded. “Let’s eat. Knowing your grandma, she’ll refuse to let us have dessert until we finish what’s on our plates.”
“She does that. It’s so frustrating.”
Jarrett laughed and headed back to the dining room. Once Jason settled in his chair and dug into his potatoes, Jarrett met Marissa’s gaze from across the table.
She mouthed“Thank you”and turned to her food.
After dinner and ice cream, Marissa led Jason back into the living room for a little talk.
Jarrett grabbed a few dishes to help his mom clean up.
Harold clicked his tongue. “Come with me, Jarrett. We should talk.” He left the room.
“Go on, now. It’ll be okay.” Linda took the plates from his hands.
“You sure about that?”
“Not really, but you two need to hash this out.”
