Page 34 of Medical Malpractice

And god, what a sight.

Austin sat on a park bench, his head tilted down to the ground, focused on the soccer ball being kicked between both feet.

His attention was elsewhere, but mine was solely on him. With only a glance, I knew the paternity test had been unnecessary; Austin was me, a perfect mirror image of my younger self, forty years prior.

I was speechless, my eyesight blurring for a brief second before I wiped the tears away. He was flesh and bone. My flesh and bone. Utterly real… No one could blame me for what happened next.

A broken sob was building in my chest—one I had to kill. I didn’t want to scare the poor boy at our first meeting. He’d never want to see me again.

Thinking fast, I smothered that emotion down. So far down that my body rejected the sudden pivot, causing me to break out in an overdramatic coughing fit.

That’s when I was struck with the piercing gaze of stormy grey eyes so like my own—except his were coated in concern, which only made the wheezing worse.

I bent over out of necessity, hands on my knees, trying to gain control of myself, but that’s when the coughing became aggressive to the point of dry retching. Fucking hell, if this is the way I die, I’ll be so pissed.

“Oh, shit,” Austin said, rushing over before he proceeded to whack me on the back. It wasn’t his fault, he was just trying to help, and it would have been effective if he weren’t hitting the base of my lower spine. I could feel my bones cracking under his thumping fist. Is he definitely eleven?

After a few more beats and some long, deep breaths, I managed to correct myself and straighten upwards.

“Sorry about that,” I croaked, my voice hoarse but stable.

“Ahh, should I get my Mum? She’s a nurse.”

“I’m fine,” I said, giving a faint smile in reassurance. He didn’t look convinced, but managed to placate me with a nod anyway.

Now that he was so close, there was no denying the stark resemblance. And Austin was coming to the same realisation, it seemed. His probing stare ran up and down my frame, clocking my features, noting the similarities and differences.

I cleared my throat and held out what I hoped was a steady hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Austin.”

His mouth twitched in the corner as he studied my offering. Then, after what felt like forever, he finally slipped his smaller palm into mine and grasped on tightly. “Yeah, I guess it is… Ah, I don’t know what to call you?”

“You can call me whatever you want. But for now, Leo will do.”

“Nice to meet you, Leo.”

Then, as if the sun had broken free from an overcast cloud, Austin’s smile soon cracked into a wide grin, filling me with so much warmth, I never wanted to be without it again.

We sat side by side on the park bench, staring off into the distance as we tried to navigate the stilted in-between.

“Mum said you didn’t know about me?”

“That’s right. I’m sorry I missed your childhood, Austin. I’m sorry I haven’t been a part of your life thus far. But I’m here now, and I’d love to stay and get to know you, if that’s okay?”

“I guess so.” He bit into his lip, nervousness painting his features.

“But?”

Austin’s brows perked high as his eyes swung to mine, searching.

“You can be honest with me, Austin.”

“I just don’t want to hurt Dad’s feelings—ah, I mean Owen, my dad.”

I shook my head, placing a palm over his crown, his hair silky against my skin. “I have no intention of replacing your dad. All I want is to spend time with you and hopefully become a part of your life, in whatever way you want me to.”

“Oh. That’s okay, I guess.”

The lapping of distant water filled the empty space words could not. I was content to sit beside him, to hear about his wants and seek out his interests. Whatever he sought from our relationship, I was willing to give.