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I place the tray on the center table and take a seat in a chair between them as they sit across from each other.
“There you go, buddy. If you’d like more marshmallows, just let me know.”
When I hand him the cup, his gaze skids from my hand to my chest—or precisely, to the apron tied around me.
“That’s Wolverine!” His words are a little stronger than before.
I smile. “Yeah. He’s our favorite.” The tension eases off my chest as his excited gaze flies between Rose and me.
“You like superheroes?” For the first time tonight, an emotion of surprise ghosts his face.
“We do. I have a huge Wolverine comic collection.” Rose’s eyes gleam, mirroring Alex’s excitement.
After another glance at Rose’s face, Alex’s bright gaze drops to the table. “You’re lying. Grown-ups don’t like superheroes. Also, grown-ups lie.”
Fuck. Rejection over the past few months has for sure messed up this kid’s head.
What do I say to him? Because he’s right, grown-ups lie and do things for their own convenience.
“I’m not lying, Alex.”
Rose’s words have no effect on him. He’s again silent, and much like before, he’s gone back to hiding in his shell. His marshmallow-topped hot chocolate sits untouched before him.
“I can even lend you one for tonight,” my sweet wife prods further.
Alex’s head jerks up, but his lips are pressed together in a mix of surprise and doubt. His untrusting gaze stabs my heart, urging me to make a decision. To show him that not all grown-ups lie. I place the mugs back on the tray and get up from my chair.
“Why don’t we check them out?”
I stride toward our study and briefly glance over my shoulder to find Rose and Alex following me.
I place the tray on the coffee table next to the small couch as Alex steps into the room, which is a library-slash-office for me and my couch girl.
His gaze jumps from my austere desk, where there’s a lone laptop, to Rose’s side on the other end of the room. Her desk is topped with two shiny silver monitors, her laptop, and an iPad. There are string lights on the wall, through which hang photographs of us and our family. Not to forget her superhero poster sitting proudly in the middle of the room.
“Wow, this looks like a time machine.” My chest warms as Alex’s voice fills with amazement.
I chuckle. “Rose does a lot of superhero stuff here.”
“You do?” His gaze on my wife is almost reverent, making me bite back my smile, which slips upon hearing his next words. “Does that mean you can go back in time and bring my mom and dad back to me?”
Rose’s breath hitches as her pained gaze shoots to me.
“I don’t have any superpowers, Alex. I’m so sorry.” She gets down on her knees and hesitantly holds Alex’s hands. I know in her heart she’s cursing herself for not being a superhero and being able to take away Alex’s pain. That’s how my girl is.
“Rose and I, we both grew up without our parents. We understand what you’re going through, kid.” I lightly stroke his hair, trying to tell him that we understand.
Alex looks up at me. “So, your mom and dad also died?”
“Mine did. But Rose got lost as a baby, and she found her parents only recently.”
“You mean I can also find my mom and dad once I grow up?”
His hope-laced, innocent questions hurt my heart. I don’t know how to reply to him, but thank God Rose has better answers for him.
“You’ll find new parents who will love you so much.”
“Everyone in the home says that, but no one wants me. I’m broken.” He hitches up one leg of his pants, and there’s a scar running from above his socks and hiding under his raised pant.
