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“I know Waldren is my dad or whatever.” Eric looked down at his hands, and I resisted the urge to forcefully correct him. Waldren was a sperm donor. Not a dad. “But I don’t see him like that.”
“He was never around, and he did something bad. You don’t have to see him that way.”
“Dr. White said something the other day, about how kids who lose parents might miss them. Or have questions. I know what happened to my mom, but I never cared about my dad.”
“You didn’t?”
He shook his head. “Tome,I have one.” His brown eyes moved up to meet my gaze. “It’s you.”
My heart stopped. People had alluded to me being a parent. Some had mistaken me for it.
I tried to keep Eric away from all of that. And yet ... he’d seen it anyway.
“Dr. White told me I have a biologic... bio—something dad. And that’s Waldren. But that doesn’t mean he’s my actual dad. And I wanted to know if I could ... If it was okay to ...” He looked back down, color on his cheeks.
“If you couldwhat?”My voice was raw from emotions I couldn’t name. I didn’t want Eric to notice how my heart was pounding, but I knew what I wanted him to say.
“Can I call you Dad?”
For a second, I didn’t think he’d really said it. Because it wasexactlywhat I had hoped would come out of his mouth. His wide eyes looked at me with so much hope, and I couldn’t leave him hanging.
“Eric, yes. You absolutely can.”
“Even if you never call me your son?”
“Youaremy son. In every way that matters. I didn’t say it before because I wanted to make it official before I asked.”
“Official? What does that mean?”
“Before this whole mess with Waldren, I wanted to adopt you, kid. To become your dad in the eyes of the law. I’d been saving for it for years.”
Eric’s eyes widened. “Really? Can you do it now?”
A day ago, I would have had a different answer. But now it was very possible. “I might be able to. I’ll try my best.”
Eric jumped to hug me, his little arms wrapped tightly around my neck. My heart was full as I returned the gesture. It used to be that I would never have let myself hope for anything because I was always let down.
Now I saw that I was wrong. Life was good.
Especially when everything was perfect as it was.
37
MOLLIE
Strawberry Springs Neighborhood Watch
Mollie Wilson
Good news, everyone! The berries are ripe and ready! Bennie Grove Farm reopens today!
Comments:
Kerry Winsor: I’m getting to the farm first.
Atticus Thompson: Do we bring our own baskets?
Kerry Winsor: This year, yes. Mollie is working on getting the branding together.