Page 52 of Together Again

David and Joel had broken up that night, and even though I knew they were now back together and happy, I still felt selfish. I hadn’t been there for my friend when he reallyneeded someone.

“Tiago told me you spoke to the family lawyer.” I turned the conversation back to Bruno.

“I did. He told me it would be difficult to get full custody of Filipe because I’m so young. He said it’s good thatI have a job, somewhere to live, and a network around me, but he’s afraid the judge won’t see past my age.”

I’d thought about it and also wondered if it would be the case, but I hadn’t wanted to say anything to Bruno until he’d spoken to the lawyer.

“Did the lawyer suggest a solution? Surely having Filipe back in an abusive household is worse.”

“Yes, Filipe’s teacher called me to the school two days ago. Apparently, he’d been disruptive in class for a while but his behavior had changed. She’d noticed it was since I started picking him up, so she asked if Filipe was living with me.” Teresa put a reassuring arm around Bruno as small tears fell down his cheek. He cleared them before Filipe could see he was upset.

“Apparently, when one of the other children touched Filipe’s back,he cried in pain, so his teacher took him to one of the other teachers who used to be a nurse. He had some really bad bruising on his back. He said he’d been naughty and had been playing where he wasn’t supposed to.”

Teresa intervened to finish the story.

“I was with Bruno when he saw the lawyer. This evidence from the school could help to sway the decision from the judge.”

Teresa looked up at Bruno, who despite being shorter than me was still taller than Teresa, and caressed his face before hugging him. Then she looked at Mário.

I stopped in my tracks at her next statement.

“We’re going to adopt Bruno and Filipe.”

I saw in Teresa’s eyes this was a decision they hadn’t made lightly. David had told me once years ago how they couldn’t have children. Maybe they saw this as their opportunity, especially now that David had started a new life with Joel.

We stayed in the café for a little longer, hearing about all the adventures Filipe’s Superman went on while he was asleep at night. I told Teresa that Max was staying with me so he wouldn’t need David’s apartment keysafter all.

She gave me a knowing look before we parted, but it was Mário’s words that floored me.

“Isaac, I haven’t had a chance to apologize to you. There is nothing that can excuse how I behaved toward you that night at David’s apartment. I will have to live with the knowledge I caused you so much pain for the rest of my life.

“Life dealt you a shitty hand; you made the best of it, and look where you are now. You are a much better man than I’ll ever be. I’m so sorry, son. I truly am.”