Page 155 of Let Me Show You

Shrugging, he stays silent, but I can tell something is bothering him.

“What’s wrong?”

“I overheard Mimi talkin’ to Pawpaw the other day, and he said something about Daddy and Anthony.” His voice lowers when he mentions his father.

“Okay…” I linger, prepared for what he’s going to say. “What’d you hear?”

Owen swallows hard and blinks before meeting my gaze. I try to stay calm so he doesn’t see the nervousness written all over my face.

“That my dad was also Anthony’s dad,” he blurts. “Mimi said something about how Anthony’s mom told him.”

I stare, waiting.

“Is it true, Mom?”

I flash a small smile, taking his little hand in mine. “Yes, sweetie. You and Anthony share the same father.”

He’s silent for a moment and furrows his brows as he tries to figure out how that can be.

“But we have different moms?”

“Correct. So you’re half brothers,” I explain.

“How come we don’t have the same last names then?” he ponders.

“Well, that’s because Anthony’s mom decided to give him her last name, and we gave you Daddy’s. But that doesn’t mean you aren’t related. It just means you have different last names.”

“Was Daddy married to Anthony’s mom too?”

Oof. I contemplate how to answer without making Gabe sound like the piece of shit he was for cheating on me.

“No, honey. He was only married to me. He and Anthony’s mom got together before I was pregnant with you,” I say, hating that I’m not telling him the whole truth, but he’s too young to understand an affair or cheating. Even though Gabe doesn’t deserve my kindness, I don’t want to taint Owen’s thoughts about him. Someday, he’ll realize it, but he doesn’t need to know now.

“Oh okay,” he says. “So we share the same dad but not the same mom.”

I smile. “Correct.”

“Does that mean Anthony has to come live here with us since his mom is gone?”

“No, he’ll live with Mimi and Pawpaw.”

“But my friends all live with their siblings,” he states, though I know it’s an exaggeration. Some are blended families and share custody between the parents.

“Every family is different and unique, honey. It’s okay that you don’t live with Anthony because he gets to be with his grandparents now, and you’ll get to see him at school and anytime you’re over there.”

“That’s true. It’s kinda cool saying I have a brother.” He grins. “And soon, I’ll have two more.”

My smile grows wider. “That’s right. Two little baby brothers who are gonna adore you and look up to you.”

“Well, that’s because I’m taller.”

I pull him in for a hug. “I hope you realize how much I love you. Nothing will ever change that.”

“I know, Mom. I love you too.”

“There have been a lot of changes this year, and it hasn’t been easy, but I’m proud of the young man you’re becoming,” I tell him honestly, hardly believing he’ll be eleven soon. “I wasn’t prepared for you to grow up so fast.”

He giggles and rolls his eyes. “I’m almost taller than you.”