“Yeah. I would’ve let you, but you need to eat. The food’s ready.” Ody reached for the plate.
Mano pushed himself up with a wince, then blinked in surprise. “Mushroom risotto?”
“It’s quick. And I had pasta yesterday.” Ody chuckled.
Mano met his eyes, then took the spoon.
“Let me know if you like it.” Ody smiled.
Mano scooped a bite.
“Careful, it’s hot.”
“I’m fine.”
“Blow on it. You’ll burn yourself.”
Mano kept staring at him instead of blowing.
Ody sighed, took the spoon from his hand, and gently blew on it. Mano’s gaze drifted to Ody’s lips as they puckered.
“Here.” Ody held out the spoon.
Mano looked at the food, then at him. For a moment, the sight pulled him somewhere else.
“One more for me.”
“Come on, Dad, I’m stuffed!”
“One more for Mom, then.”
“My stomach’s gonna burst!”
“Your stomach’s not gonna burst, Mano,” his dad laughed. “Eat the last bite and I’ll get you that ball you like. I promise.”
Little Mano leaned forward and swallowed it quickly.
His dad chuckled. “Good job, my boy.”
“You’ll get me the ball, right?”
“Of course. I promised. And what do we do when we make a promise?”
“We keep it.”
“That’s right. Now get up, we need to brush our teeth.”
The memory faded as quickly as it had come. Mano’s honey eyes met Ody’s green ones again, slowly filling with tears. His expression tightened, unable to hold it in.
Ody’s face fell. “What’s wrong?” he asked when he heard the stifled sobs.
Mano wiped his eyes.
Ody set the spoon aside and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Mano, talk to me. What’s wrong?”
“It hurts…” he managed between tears.
“Where does it hurt?”
