Page 6 of Unbearable

He spotted Memphis and Knox as soon as he stepped inside. Knox was hard to miss. They sat together in a booth toward the back. Memphis waved at him. Fox looked down at Ethan. Was this really a good plan? He knew nothing about these men. Was he risking Ethan getting hurt? Ethan grinned back up at him.

“You’ll behave?” Fox asked. Ethan nodded vigorously at him. “Okay, then let’s go see what they want.” They wove through the diner to the booth. Fox waited for Ethan to climb on the seat and slide over. “Do you want a booster seat?” This time Ethan shook his head. Fox slid in next to him.

“Hi,” Ethan greeted the strangers.

“Hi back,” Memphis said with a smile.

“I’m Efan,” he announced. Standing so he could lean over the table, he stuck out his hand. Fox had been working with him on manners. He had taught Ethan to shake hands when introduced. Now, he just had to teach him how to pronounce his name.

“Very nice to meet you, Ethan. I’m Memphis,” Memphis said, shaking Ethan’s hand.

“I’m Efan,” he said, turning to Knox.

“Knox,” the big man said. His hand dwarfed Ethan’s hand.

“It rhymes with Fox,” Ethan said excitedly. “Fox and Knox,” he added, doing a little dance on the seat. Fox noticed the corners of Knox’s mouth twitch up.

“You’re very smart,” Memphis said with an easy grin. “How old are you, Ethan?”

“I’m four,” he announced proudly.

“Ethan, you need to sit down, please,” Fox said.

“Okay, Mr. Fox,” Ethan answered before plopping down in the seat.

“Mr. Fox?” Knox asked.

“I read him the children’s book. He’s called me that ever since.”

Both men looked at him with amusement on their faces. Was there really a chance they could be his brothers? He wished Dover had come. She was much better at reading people. All he could tell was that there was no hostility or sadness directed at him. Dover would be able to read exactly how they felt.

“Can I have pancakes?” Ethan asked. Fox hadn’t noticed the waitress standing next to him.

“You want pancakes for lunch?” he asked. Ethan nodded his head.

“That sounds good,” Knox answered before Fox could. “I’ll have the same. Bacon?” he asked, looking at Ethan.

“Yep,” Ethan responded. He beamed when Knox winked at him.

“I’ll just have the same,” Fox said, handing their menus to her.

“Far be it from me to rock the boat,” Memphis added.

“You’re not in a boat,” Ethan giggled. Memphis laughed with him. Ethan pulled his farm animals out of his backpack and set them on the table.

“So is he yours?” Knox asked as Memphis helped the boy set his farm up.

“He’s my girlfriend’s son,” Fox answered. “But he’s lived with me for a year. He feels like mine.” He tried to think of something more to say. This was unbearably awkward. Even if they were related to him, he didn’t know them.

“I have a daughter who’s almost Ethan’s age,” Memphis said. He was holding a cow in one hand and a goat in the other.

“She should come over,” Ethan exclaimed. “We could play together.”

“I bet she’d like that,” Memphis answered. “Maybe next time.”

“I have two,” Knox said. “Kids. I have two of them,” he added as if he had to explain. “A son and a daughter. They’re twins.”

“Like Fox and Aunt Dover?” Ethan asked.