“Didyou name this little cutie yet?” Ev asks.
“We’vebeen calling him Drather.”
“Drather?”
“Becausehe’d rather piss in the house than anywhere else.”
Macylaughs and Ev shakes her head, smiling. “What does Alex think about him?”
“He’sin love.”
“Weknow that,” Macy remarks. “She was asking about the puppy.”
“Veryfunny.”
Mason,Parker, and Alex spend over two hours in Alex’s room. Though they all emergewith red rimmed eyes, whatever they talked about seemed to help. It’s nearlyfour a.m. when they leave, and Alex falls into my bed.
“Areyou okay?” I ask, pulling his head onto my chest.
“Iwill be. I just...don’t know why I care. He killed my mother. He deserved whathe got. I’m not supposed to give a shit that he’s dead.”
Hishair is soft and damp beneath my fingers. “You care because he was your father,and because you’re a better man than I’ll ever be.” I tilt his head until I canlook into those golden brown eyes. “Remember what you told me? There is no supposedto. No way you’re obligated to feel. You just have to let yourself feel howeveryou feel, and work your way through it. One thing at a time.”
Hislips brush mine softly. “Stop using my advice against me.” Silence steals overus, and I think he may have fallen asleep when he asks, “Are you going to lookfor your father?”
“No,not anytime soon, anyway. He didn’t care enough to keep me or leave me with myonly remaining family. Besides, I don’t need him.” He sighs as I snuggle intohim.
“Ihave a family now.”
Four years later
Alex
I’mnearly blinded by flashes, half of them coming from Ian’s fancy camera. Kyleflashes us a smile as he’s handed his diploma, and Ian looks like he’s going tocry. I can’t blame him. We’ve watched this kid come so far, live through somuch to get to this moment. I couldn’t be more proud.
“Canwe go now, daddy?” Franklin asks Ian, who shushes him.
“I’lltake the boys out to the lawn,” Ev volunteers, leading her boys and Franklinaway.
Weadopted Franklin almost two years ago from the same group home Ian and Ev grewup in. He’s an eight year old ball of energy. Smart and inquisitive, he keepsus on our toes. It’s astounding what can change in a matter of a few years.
Ianand I have had a few bumps in the road, but our relationship, or should I say,marriage, is stronger than ever. That’s right. Marriage. A year after we gottogether, Ian asked me to marry him. Always the hopeless romantic, his exactwords were, “Let’s get married. We know we’re going to be together forever, sowhy not?” We actually beat Macy and Parker to the altar by a few months.
“Hey,dad,” Kyle greets Ian, approaching in his cap and gown. “Other dad,” he says tome, smiling.
“We’reso proud of you,” I exclaim, hugging him.
“Sodamn proud,” Ian agrees, slapping him on the back. “How does it feel to be acollege grad?”
“I’mstarving.”
Ianand I both laugh. Some things never change. “Let’s go. Everyone’s meeting atMason’s,” I tell him.
“Everyone?”I know what he’s thinking. It seems like half the people here are from StrikingBack. Kyle is popular among the residents, especially the kids.
“Idon’t think Mason’s house can hold all your fans and well-wishers,” I tease.
Ianthrows one arm around Kyle’s shoulders and tucks the other around my waist aswe walk to the car. “Just family, son. Just family.”
The End
