Page 48 of Small-Town Secrets

"I'm okay." He sat up and stretched, then looked around. "Where's everyone?"

"Your brother's in the kitchen. Aaron's out."

"Oh." Chris looked like something was troubling him, but I had no idea what.

"What did you do today?" I tried.

"There was a puppy."

"Yeah, I've met him. He's a cute little guy, isn't he? Aaron's taking him home."

"Oh."

"Are you sad that the puppy is gone?"

Chris shook his head.

"Is there something else on your mind?"

Chris chewed his thumb, which gave me pause. He hadn't done that since we'd left the shelter. "There's these weird pictures in the family room."

"Weird pictures?" I tilted my head at him. What did he mean by that? "Something scary?"

"No, not scary. I'll show you." He climbed off the couch and walked into the family room. I followed and watched him point at one of the framed photographs on the wall. "The boy looks like me," he pointed out.

Shit.I felt all the color drain from my face as Chris spoke on.

"I think Aaron thinks so too," my son said. "He got super weird."

"Weird?" I repeated. My throat was so tight it was a miracle I even got that word out.

"Yeah. Pale and stuff." Chris turned around to me. "You're pale too. Are you sick, Daddy?"

"I'm not sick, but you are. Come on, let's get you back to the couch." I took his hand and steered him back to the living room.

Damn it. I'd known something like this would happen.

Why wasn't I better prepared to deal with it? I had no idea what to do at all.

I needed to talk to Aaron. But Aaron had left.

There was nothing I could do but wait until he came home.

And try to think of something, anything, to say.

21

Aaron

Jake was alreadyat the tattoo studio when I got there. He and Raphael were talking about potential designs, both of them looking like little kids the night before Christmas.

"It's so cool that you can do this," Jake said. "I never thought about doing anything about my scar until I saw your designs." He pointed to the open folder on the low table between him and Raph.

"I'm excited." Raph grinned. "You'll make a great guinea pig. Um. Canvas. I meant canvas."

Jake's smile faltered for only a second, then he laughed.

That moment, Raphael turned to acknowledge me. "Did you come to help him pick?"