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Toben’s heart swelled. “What would make it better?”
“Dot and Otis leaving.” Rowdy’s smile faded.
Toben’s suspicion was confirmed. “Don’t get along?”
Rowdy shrugged, then shook his head. “I try, real hard. Ma’s patient. But they’re...not nice.”
“To you?” he asked, arranging the Parcheesi pieces casually.
Rowdy nodded, his eyes darting from the game board to Toben and back. “They...they’ve said some not so nice stuff about Ma, and you, and...stuff.”
Toben looked at his son. “You can tell me if you want. Sometimes having someone to talk to makes it feel less bad.”
“I don’t want you to get mad.” He sucked in his breath. “Or leave.”
Toben’s instinct was to react, but he didn’t want to stop Rowdy from talking. Even if his guts were churning. “You worry I’ll leave?”
Rowdy shook his head, then nodded. “I don’t want to.”
“But you do?”
“Dot said you didn’t want us. Her folks say Ma’s gonna always be alone and I’ll never have a real family.” Rowdy’s chin quivered. “And Otis said you might go back to not wanting us if...if your family doesn’t like me. Or Ma.” A big tear rolled down his cheek.
Toben’s heart broke at the sight of that tear. He could be mad later, but not right now. “I need to tell you something, Rowdy.” He cleared his throat, looking at his son.
Rowdy wiped his nose with the back of his hand, his brown eyes filling anew.
“I’m not leaving you. Ever. I’m your dad and I love you.” He smiled. “My uncle Teddy’s a good man. He has five kids and a bunch of grandkids—some born to him, some that came through marriage. And you know what? It doesn’t matter. That love is theirs. That family is theirs. And that family, my family, is yours. Because you’re my boy. I can tell you right now, they’re lucky to have you. I know I am.”
Rowdy smiled. “You are?”
It was Toben’s turn to make a disbelieving face. “I am. The day I saw your ma again I knew my life had changed for the better.”
“Ma’s like that,” Rowdy agreed.
Toben laughed. “She is.”
“We’re lucky to have her.” Rowdy picked up the dice in one hand. “I’m sorry about tonight.”
He shook his head. “No need, Rowdy. As long as I get time with you, I’m good.” But he wasn’t done. “I think maybe Dot and Otis are hurting inside, missing their folks. I guess they want other people to hurt, too. I’m not saying it’s right, but some people are wired that way.” His own mother was a perfect example.
Rowdy frowned. “I’m not.”
“I’m glad.” Another reason to thank Poppy. “Now you need to teach me how to play so I can win.”
Rowdy laughed, then scooched onto his stomach to explain the rules.
By the time Poppy arrived, Toben was starving.
“Food,” Poppy called from the kitchen.
Rowdy jumped up and ran into the other room.
“Hold up—it’s my turn.” Toben dropped the dice and followed him into the kitchen.
Poppy smiled as she set three places at the dinner table. Dot and Otis stood, shoulder to shoulder, looking downright pathetic. Toben tried not to grin. So he wasn’t the only one who’d figured out what happened tonight. From the looks of it, they’d al
ready received quite a talking-to.
