“Here, let me take that,” he offers, gathering the grocery bag sitting onmyhip.
“Thanks,” I say, grateful to lightentheload.
When I walk to the front door, Hugo and Joel follow behind me, hand in hand. After pushing the key into the lock, I sweep the door open and gesture for them to enter. When Joel goes to walk inside, Hugo tugs his arm gently, pulling him back to stand beside him. Joel’s brows stitch as he cranks his neck to peer athisdad.
“Remember?” Hugo says, gesturing his eyes sneakilytome.
Joel’s face lights up before he eagerly nods. My heart melts when he says, “Ladies first,” his little voice stuttering inexcitement.
“Why thank you, kind gentlemen,” I reply before sashaying into the foyer like I'm a crownedprincess.
Joel laughs hysterically. “You’re silly,Mommy.”
His laughter soon switches to an excited squeal when he notices a wrapped present sitting on a duffle bag on the porch. From the shape alone, I can easily perceive it is a football. Joel’s eyes shoot to Hugo. When Hugo nods his head, shredded pieces of wrapping paper fly in all directions. Joel holds the football close to his chest like it is the Heisman trophy itself and not a regular leather stitchedfootball.
“Can we play?” he asks eagerly, his eyes firmly raptonHugo.
Hugo shifts his eyes to me, seekingpermission.
I smile and nod. “Go get changed into some yard clothesfirst.”
“Okay,” Joel replies before running intohisroom.
When Joel disappears down the corridor, Hugo chuckles. “Does he even know howtowalk?”
I laugh. “No, he doesn’t,” Ianswer.
Hugo shadows me into the kitchen. When he sets down the bag of groceries on the counter, I pack away the perishable items in the fridge. Hugo props his hip on the counter and silently watches me. I eye him with curiosity, surprised by his quietness. Although his happiness at seeing Joel again is beaming out of him, there is something clouding his eyes, dampening their usualspark.
“Are you okay?” I query, no longer able to harbor mycuriosity.
Hugo has always been a communicator. He’s never had trouble expressing himself. But I know something is bothering him, and his reserved composure is setting me on edge. Hugo tilts his torso out of the kitchen, twists his neck and peers down the hall. When he returns his anxious eyes to me, my heart beats wildly in my chest. I set the carton of eggs on the small table in the middle of the kitchen and pace closertohim.
“I’ve already missed so much time with him, Ava. Please don’t make me miss anymore,” he pleads, his words low and full ofdread.
My brows furrow as quickly as my heart slithers into my gut. I'm utterly confused by hisstatement.
“I’ll do anything you want to prove to you I’m not going to break his heart. That I’m not going to break your heart…again. Ijust need you to give me a chance,” he vows, his begging eyes adding strength to hisrequest.
“I don’t understand what you are saying,” I reply, my voice shaking inconfusion.
Hugo rubs a kink in the back of his neck before answering, “The paperwork yousentme.”
My brows shoot into my hair. “I didn’t send you any paperwork,” I say with a shake of my head. “I don’t even know your address.” My confusion is heard in myvoice.
Hugo’s Adams apple bobs up and down as his eyes bounce between mine. Remaining quiet, he walks to his duffle bag dumped at the entranceway and yanks down the zipper before pulling out a white envelope and walking back to me. He is gripping the envelope so tightly, it gets a crinkle down the middle. I can’t miss the shake of his hand as he passes the envelope to me. My heart beats wildly in my chest as I lift the flap and pull out a four page document. The more my eyes scan the official looking letter, the more my pupils widen. I snatch the envelope off the counter and roam my eyes over the address it was sent from. Blood roars into my ears.That son of abitch!
“Can you watch Joel?” I query, rushing into the hallway to gather my purseandkeys.
My eyes shift to my cell phone on the entranceway table. Normally, I'd take it with me everywhere I go, but ever since the “ghost” dropped it into the toilet bowl, it hasn’t been working. It fritzed at the exact same moment my answering machine wentmissing.
Hugo shadows me as I move from the hallway to the garage. I'm so angry, my thighs shake with every step I take. When I reach the side of my car, Hugo stops my frantic pace by grabbing the tops of my arms. His confused eyes dance between mine, his concern growing by theminute.
“I didn’t send you those forms,” I vow, returning his docile stare. “I'dnevertake your son awayfromyou.”
Hugo intakes a quick breath, seemingly astonished by myadmission.
“But I can’t fix this unless you let me go. Can you please watch Joel?” I ask again, peering into hisanxiouseyes.
