Page 62 of Schooling Little Sage

Could we make it work?

Fucking hell. “I don’t even know where to begin.”

“I’d recommend starting with that adorable boy curled up on the floor. I have a feeling you both want the same thing but are afraid of hurting the other by bringing it up.”

Had Mom rubbed off on Dad over the years or was it the other way around?

“I understand missing a friend,” Mom said, “but his reaction tells me there’s more than friendship on that mind of his.”

“Maybe.” I’ve had friends over the years, but never best ones that I’d consider visiting or even still spoke with. Sage was hurting and as his Daddy it was my job to take the pain away.

“Dinner’s ready. Why don’t you wake him. We’ll do presents after we eat,” Mom said. They’d already had Christmas with my brother and sister, so it was only Sage and I here tonight. Tomorrow we’d head home.

“Sage, sweetheart, it’s time for dinner.” My sleepy boy’s eyes barely opened. He rubbed at them and sat up.

“How long have I been asleep?”

“Couple of hours. You needed a nap, so we let you be.”

“Sorry, Daddy.”

“You have nothing to apologize for. Go wash your hands and meet us in the kitchen.” He gave me a quick kiss then headed down the hall. JoJo nudged my hand. “I can take a hint, sweet girl.” Sage was right, I’d never realized before how soothing it was to have a pet. They just knew when you needed their attention and petting her was definitely calming me down.

Mom and Dad steered their questions away from Devon and kept them Sage-related.

“What did Santa bring you, Sage?” Mom asked him.

“I got turtle luggage and a Squishmallow Mikey and,” he went through everything. “For my birthday Daddy took us to a fun amusement park.”

“You have a good Daddy,” Dad smiled.

“Yup, you raised him well.” That got everyone laughing.

“Let’s go in the living room and do presents,” Mom suggested after we’d cleared the table. “We have cake for the birthday boy.”

“You do?” Sage’s eyes lit up. First real smile I’d seen on him since Christmas morning.

“Of course we do. Didn’t think we’d forget such an important day, did ya?” Dad teased him.

Mom brought out all the presents and set them beside the ones I’d laid out.

“Happy late birthday, Sage,” she said as she handed him a birthday bag with balloons all over it.

“Thanks, Mom and Dad.” He pulled the paper out and then the gifts. “This is neat.”

“It’s a scrapbook kit so you can put all the stuff you and your Daddy do in it.”

He ran his fingers over the cover. “Thank you, that’s so thoughtful. I already have lots of pictures and stickers to put inside.”

“There’s more,” Dad said.

“A stuffy butterfly. Oh my gosh, I love it so much. Thank you.”

How in the world did she find that?

“You’re welcome,” Mom grinned. “I think there’s one more thing in there.”

“I’ve never seen this before.” He flipped the case around.