Page 31 of Colt
“Yeah. I do.”
“Is it fast?”
“Pretty fast.”
“Cool.” Knox considered this. “We like big bikes but Mama says we can’t have one until we are thirty. That’s really old. She says they’re dangerous.”
“Your mama’s smart.” Colt glanced at me—something warm in his eyes—and I wrapped my arms around myself, suddenly too aware of him. Too aware of the way he looked at me like I was something precious. “You should listen to her.”
“Do you have a dog?” Knox was warming up now, the questions coming faster.
“No dog. But the clubhouse has a cat that hangs around sometimes.”
“I want a dog. Mama says we can have a dog when we are old enough to look after it.”
“Dogs are a lot of responsibility.”
“That’s what Mama says too.” Knox tilted his head, studying Colt’s face. “You have the same eyes as us. Green.”
I watched Colt’s composure crack. Just for a second, just a flash of raw emotion before he pulled himself together.
“Yeah,” he said, his voice rough. “I guess I do.”
Luca had been watching this exchange in silence. Now he spoke up.
“If you’re our daddy, how come you weren’t here?” The question was an accusation. “How come Mama had to do everything by herself?”
Colt took a breath. “I didn’t know about you. I didn’t know your mama was… I didn’t know she needed me. If I had, I would have come. I would have been here for every single day.”
“You promise?”
“I promise.” Colt’s voice was thick. “I missed so much. But I’m here now. If you’ll let me.”
“Pinky promise?” Luca held out his little finger.
Colt looked uncertain. “I—”
“You hook your pinky with mine.” Luca reached forward and wrapped his small finger around Colt’s much larger one. Knox quickly added his pinky to the link.
“You can’t break a pinky promise,” Luca said solemnly. “It’s the most serious kind.”
“I pinky promise.” Colt’s voice was rough.
The boys stepped back.
Luca looked at Knox. Knox looked at Luca. More silent communication passing between them.
“You can stay,” Luca said finally. “But if you’re mean to Mama again, I’m telling Grandma Betty. And she’ll make you leave.”
“That’s fair.” Colt nodded seriously. “I’ll do my best to never give you a reason to do that.”
“Okay.” Luca uncrossed his arms. “You want to see our treehouse? Knox and me built it with Grandma Betty’s friend.”
Colt looked at me, asking permission. There was so much in his face that I had to look away. I nodded slowly, not trusting my voice.
“Yeah.” His voice was barely a whisper, rough with emotion. “I’d like that.”
I watched them walk across the yard together—my sons and their father, strangers beginning to know each other. Luca was still wary, keeping his distance. But Knox had drifted closer, pointing out features of the treehouse with growing enthusiasm.
