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His footsteps are less tentative than I’d expect. He holds his head high, smiling ear to ear, proud to show everyone just how far he’s come.
Edwin stands when Nate approaches, his face slack.
“What do you think, Dad?”
Tears flood my eyes as Edwin reaches out his arms to his son. It’s almost like witnessing a baby’s first steps. Maybe even better.
“Is this a joke?” Edwin looks up into his son’s eyes.
Nate shakes his head. He hasn’t been taller than his father in five months.
This teaspoon of normalcy has everyone on the edge of their seat, dumbfounded and ecstatic.
“Come here,” Edwin murmurs and pulls Nate into his arms.
“Jack, I gave youextraice—,” Sonia walks into the dining room before nearly dropping the plates in her hands at the sight of Nate and Edwin. “Natey…”
I don’t mean to feel jealous. It just happens, hearing her familiar nickname for her ex.
I know there is nothing between them anymore. But they have history.
I look away to avoid the feelings of envy, right into the eyes of the man I share history with.
Mason’s eyes are rimmed with red. And he smiles at me.
Abigail has burst into tears beside him, and Seth is wiping away a trembling tear of his own.
But Mason’s gaze is squared on me.
“Hey, this is a celebration!” Nate cries out, one arm around Edwin, the other around Sonia. “Not a funeral. Let them eat cake, huh?”
Nate returns to his seat beside me, babbling about how he managed to get back to his former self. “Without this one, I don’t know what I would’ve done.” He nudges a thumb in my direction.
“Stop that.” I flick my hand in his direction.
Eventually, with a plate of cake and ice cream beforeeach of us, the mood has settled to a warm glow of happiness.
Nate has answered a barrage of questions and finally puts an embargo on anymore. “I just want to enjoy my cake before it’s soup, can I do that?” His face alight with a sparkling smile.
As soon as the attention is turned away from him, he looks over at me.
The big smile softens, his eyes crinkled so tight I almost can’t see his eyes.
“How did you do that?” And how did I not notice how much he had improved?
Nate tilts his head to the side.
“Nate…”
“Been practicing.”
I huff. “I told you not to–”
“Strain myself. I know. I wasn’t. I promise.”
I shake my head but can’t help but smile. I’m proud of him. I know this is what he wants more than anything.
However, the clock is ticking in the background, the one counting down my time with him.
