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Leo.
It’s like Jon’s reaching out through space and time, reminding me that a piece of him is still here. Alive.
How could Cora keep this from me? From all of us?
If Jonathon were still here, he’d want to be in Leo’s life every damn day. He’d want to be there for every scraped knee, every soccer game, every school play. And now it’s up to me to do that.To be what Jonathon would have been.
I’m not just doing this for Leo. I’m doing it for Jon. Because this boy—this little kid who’s already wormed his way into my heart—is all I have left of him. And I’ll be damned if I let anyone—anyone—take that away.
I squat down to Leo’s level, studying his face, and the familiarity makes me swallow hard. I see Jonathon in him so clearly it hurts.
“You look just like your dad, you know that?” I whisper, the words catching in my throat.
Leo stares back, his small face creasing in confusion as he shifts uncomfortably, clearly oblivious to the meaning those words carry.
I’ve already lost Jonathon once. I’m not losing him again.
Cora walks over to Leo, kneeling beside him as she turns off the TV. “Sweetheart, this is your uncle. Say hi to James.”
“Hi,” he says shyly, then beams. “I’ve never had an uncle before.”
His words cut through my pain, and for the first time today, the tension eases. “That’s right, buddy. I’m your uncle. I’m really happy to meet you. Would you like to meet your cousins? Emma and Ollie can’t wait to play with you.”
“Yay!” Leo jumps up. “Mommy, can I go? Please?”
Cora pulls him into a tight hug. “Of course, baby. Just be good for Uncle James, okay?” Her chin trembles. “See you in a couple of hours,” she whispers, embracing Leo for just a moment longer.
She’s holding back tears. I can see it in her eyes. And for a moment, I want to say something, to ask her if she’s okay, but I bite my tongue. Now isn’t the time. She hands me Leo’s backpack and I nod, leading him out the door.
We walk around the syringe in the gutter, and I glance back at Cora’s house one last time.How has Leo been living like this?I can’t wrap my head around it.
I help Leo into the booster seat I picked up earlier and settle behind the wheel. “Ready to meet the family?” I ask, turning to look at him.
“Can I have a milkshake when we get there?” he asks, his eyes lighting up.
“Of course. Any flavor you want.” His face brightens, and my heart clenches. Something as simple as a milkshake, and he acts like I’ve promised him the world.
On the way back to Rose Bay, I keep glancing at him in the rearview mirror. His excitement, his innocence—it’s heartbreaking. It’s a reminder of everything he’s been missing, everything I can give him.
***
Leo is chasing Emma and Ollie around the garden, their laughter filling the air. My parents are playing with them too, lit up as if they’ve been given a second chance at life. It’s been years since I’ve seen them this happy.
When my father chose to step down early as CEO after Jonathon’s death, it was unexpected but entirely understandable. Losing Jonathon shifted everything for him, casting a new light on what really mattered. His priorities changed almost overnight—board meetings and market shares were suddenly second to family. The people he’d once sacrificed everything for but hardly had time to enjoy now became his focus.
So he made the move to Australia, intent on being an active presence in Emma and Ollie’s lives, especially with my sister having settled here with her husband. He wanted to be there for all the little milestones—taking them to swim meets, helping with their science projects, and showing up for weekend camping trips. It was the life he’d spent years building but never truly enjoyed. I knew he needed this, a chance to finally live for himself and to be the husband and grandfather he’d always planned to become. And I couldn’t blame him for wanting that, not one bit.
Taking his place at the helm was a responsibility I didn’t take lightly, but the legacy he built? It was one I’d do anything to protect and uphold.
“Kids, ten more minutes!” I call out, but they ignore me, caught up in their game. It’s almost time to take Leo back, but I don’t want to. Leo is everything I never expected—sweet, kind, full of energy. My parents were an emotional wreck when they first laid eyes on him. Tears filled their eyes as they pulled him into a hug. A small part of Jonathon lives on in him, and for that, we’re all grateful. But with every minute that passes, my anger toward Cora burns hotter. How could she hide him from us? From me?
I take in his clothes, a size too small, and the shoes, worn down and on the verge of falling apart. I have money—enough to give Leo the world. And yet, he’s been living in a house that looks ready to collapse, in a neighborhood where syringes litter the streets.
My jaw tightens. This isn’t right. I can provide for him better than Cora ever could.
Lars hands me a glass of lemonade and flops into the chair beside me. “I see that look on your face. What’s going on in that head of yours?”
I take a sip, watching the kids play. “Leo doesn’t belong there, Lars. Not in that house. He deserves more. He should be here—with us.”