Page 195 of Reeves

I pause, letting that sit.

“And now that you’re here… and staying…” I meet his eyes. “It feels right.”

He nods once. “Then we’ll tell him, if you think that is best. I want to, of course, but ultimately, I want what’s best for him.”

“Tomorrow night?” I ask. “Dinner here. Just us.”

“Works for me.”

“Mom!” Benjy’s voice carries across the yard. “The rocks all fell down!”

I glance over, then back at Reeves.

“You’d better go help your son with his lizard castle.”

His mouth curves slightly before he pushes to his feet.

I setout three plates on the kitchen table, keeping my movements calm and deliberate. Benjy sits in his usual spot, swinging his legs beneath the chair while he carefully arranges his green beans into a perfect line.

"Is it a special dinner?" Benjy looks up, his eyes narrowing with that observant focus. "You made chicken fingers."

"Sort of special." I place a glass of milk beside his plate. "We want to talk to you about something important after we eat."

Reeves sits across from him, his posture relaxed but attentive. Our eyes meet briefly across the table, an unspoken confirmation passing between us.

Benjy shrugs, unbothered. "Can I have extra ranch?"

The meal passes with Benjy's excited chatter about the fort, of course, and his lizard shelter. When the plates are cleared, we move to the living room couch. Benjy squeezes between us, his small body radiating warmth against my side.

"Benjy, you know how you've been asking questions about Reeves? About why he's here so much?" I keep my voice steady, the way I do when explaining something at the clinic.

He nods, looking between us.

"Well, Reeves isn't just my friend from a long time ago." I rest my hand on his knee. "Reeves is your father."

Benjy's eyebrows pull together as he processes this information. He turns to look at Reeves, studying his face with that careful assessment.

"Like Paolo's dad? That kind of father?"

"Yes." Reeves nods, his voice gentle but firm. "Exactly like that."

"I thought so,” Benjy says this matter-of-factly, as thoughconfirming what he'd already suspected. "We both like building traps and forts. So it makes sense."

I blink, surprised by his perception. "You're right about that."

Benjy looks up at Reeves. "So you're my dad?"

"I am." Reeves meets his gaze directly.

"Can I call you Dad instead of Reeves?" The question comes without hesitation.

Reeves swallows visibly. "If you want to."

"I'd like that." The simple acceptance in his voice makes my chest tighten.

"Okay then." I smile, running my hand through Benjy's hair. "Time for your bath and bed. You've had a big day of building."

Benjy slides off the couch. "Can Dad read me my story tonight?"