A figure emerges from behind her, shouting, “Theo!”
He comes bounding over to me, talking a mile a minute. I push out of my chair, my heart bursting in my chest as I look at my son. Last time I saw him, he was just some random kid, but now that I know he’s mine? It’s an indescribable feeling of epic proportions. Tears line my eyes as I listen to him talk about the latest collection he’s asked his mom for as a birthday present.
Oscar stops talking long enough to ask, “Are you okay? Why are you crying?”
I huff out a watery laugh. “I got something in my eye, little dude. Hurts like hell.”
“You shouldn’t say hell,” he says matter-of-factly. “Mom says it’s a bad word.”
I ruffle his hair. “Always listen to your mom; she’s usually right.” I glance up to see Blake with tears in her eyes and a smile on her face as she watches us.
“Oscar, I’m gonna go do some work. You okay to hang out here with your da—Theo for a bit?”
Her slip-up doesn’t go unnoticed by either one of us, and her wide eyes meet mine. I nod, letting her know I heard it.
“Sure, Mom.” He starts taking off his jacket and pulling his books out of his bag. Blake gives us one more glance before slowly leaving the room.
I can’t imagine how hard it must be for her to leave Oscar with me. The courage it's taken her is awe-inspiring, and I couldn’t be more grateful for the gift she’s given me.
“What you got there?” I ask, looking over his shoulder.
He shuffles some paper around, flipping through his book until he’s at the right page. “I’ve got English homework to do.”
“Need some help?”
“Know anything about Shakespeare?” he asks.
I scratch the back of my head, blushing. “Not much, but I do know a guy who might be able to help.”
I slide my phone out of my pocket and FaceTime Caleb. James is going to kill me for this, but if it helps Oscar, it’s worth it. Plus, I’m desperate for this kid to like me, so this should earn me some brownie points, right?
Caleb answers on the third ring. His blue eyes and dark hair come into view as he registers it’s not a phone call and moves the phone away from his ear. “Theo? What’s up?”
I turn the phone in Oscar’s direction. “Could use some help from the resident professor. What do you know about Shakespeare?”
Caleb chuckles down the phone. “Hi, Oscar. I’m Caleb, Theo’s friend.”
“Hi,” he replies, waving awkwardly.
“Why don’t you tell me what you’re working on, and I’ll see what I can help with.”
I sit, watching them talk about an old, dead guy, and my heart is full to bursting as they banter back and forth.
“But he’s dead. Why do I need to know about this?” Oscar whines, throwing himself back in the chair. “It’s boring.”
“I thought the same thing when I was your age and now look at me… I teach it for a living.” Caleb smiles and leans in closer to his phone that is propped up on a table. “There was a method to his madness.”
“He was definitely mad,” Oscar mutters, and I bark out a laugh. This kid is too much like me.
“Why don’t we take a break. I’m sure Caleb needs to get back to whatever it was that he was doing, and your mom will be back in a bit,” I suggest, then take the phone and hang up after a brief goodbye.
We wander down to the office in search of snacks for Oscar and a coffee for me.
“Who’s your favorite Marvel character?” he asks, a serious look on his face.
Without hesitation, I reply, “Thor.”
“Thor is pretty cool,” Oscar admits. “Hulk is better though.”
