Chapter 7 - MY FIRST VISIT AS THEIR FATHER
The park had a fountain.
That was all Milo cared about.
Felix cared about pigeons.
I arrived with no bodyguards visible.
Marco stayed two blocks away because Elise and Claire had agreed one discreet security presence could remain if the boys did not know.
I brought no gifts.
That was Claire’s instruction.
“Do not buy intimacy.”
Annoying.
Correct.
Adeline sat on a bench.
The twins played near the fountain.
When they saw me, both froze.
Milo came first.
“Mom says test says yes.”
“Yes.”
Felix stood behind him.
“Say what?”
I crouched.
“It says I’m your biological father.”
Milo frowned.
“Are you Dad?”
I looked at Adeline.
She did not rescue me.
Good.
“I’d like to be your dad in the ways you want and the law allows. But I know I’m new to you.”
Five-year-old blank stare.
Too many words.
I tried again.
“Yes. I’m your father.”
Milo nodded.
Felix asked:
“Why weren’t you there?”
There it was.
First visit.
No warm-up.
I had prepared a child-appropriate answer with a therapist.
“Grown-ups were given wrong information, and I made mistakes because I didn’t check it myself.”
“Mom?”
“Your mom tried to tell me.”
Adeline looked at me.
Good.
No false shared blame.
Then Milo:
“Grandma said we’re beggars.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“She said something cruel.”
“Is she your mom?”
“Yes.”
“Then she’s our grandma.”
Technically.
“Yes.”
“Do we have to see her?”
“No.”
Immediate.
Adeline’s shoulders loosened.
Then Felix looked at my hands.
“Mom says no rings at soccer.”
I looked at my signet ring.
“I’m not playing soccer.”
“You might.”
Fair.
I removed it.
Put it in my pocket.
For the next forty-five minutes, they made me kick a ball badly.
Milo laughed at my shoes.
Felix tried to climb a fence.
Adeline corrected him.
I did not.
Not yet.
Parenthood is not a title you exercise at maximum force on Day One.
When the hour ended, I wanted another.
I said:
“Thank you.”
Adeline nodded.
Milo asked:
“Saturday again?”
I looked at her.
She said:
“We’ll see.”
May you like
I hated that phrase.
I accepted it.
