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“Oh,” she said on a long exhale. “Look at you. You’re so handsome, just like your daddy.”
Max went to give Caden a hand up.
Caden offered his hand to Chloe. “It’s nice to meet you.”
She shook his hand as tears filled her eyes. “It’s nice to meet you, too. I’m sorry it took so long.”
Caden shrugged. “You’re here now.”
“Yes, I am, and I’m so happy to see you. I want you to know that I’ve thought of you every day.” Her voice caught. “And I’ve always loved you.”
“Thanks. This is Daisy. My dad gave her to me for my birthday.”
Chloe bent to pet Daisy, who had followed her boy. “It’s nice to meet you, Daisy.”
“Thank you for the truck you sent me. I love it.”
“I’m glad you do. My nephew told me that it was the coolest truck ever, and that’s what I wanted for you.”
“How old is your nephew?”
“He’s nine. I also have nieces who are six and four.”
“They’re my cousins, then?”
“They are.”
“Do you have other kids?”
“No, just you, but I’m getting married next year, so I might have more.”
“Do you want to see my room?”
“I’d love to.”
“Come on. I’ll show you.”
As she went past Max, Chloe placed her hand on her heart and gave him a look that left no doubt in his mind how much it meant to her to be with her son.
While Max stood in the doorway, Caden showed his mother his favorite toys and treasures, including the trophy from his first Little League season and his Student of the Month certificate from school.
“These are all my cousins with my grandparents and my grandpa-great.” He handed her the photo Max’s cousin Izzy had taken a year ago of all the Abbott grandchildren. “My cousin Murphy hadn’t been born yet.”
“That’s a big crowd,” Chloe said as she scanned the photo. “Who are the older girls?”
“My aunt Charley’s nieces. Their parents died in an accident, and they came to live with Aunt Charley and Uncle Tyler.”
“Oh, I see. That’s so sad for them.”
“It was,” Caden said, “but they’re doing better. They’re fun to hang out with.”
“Tell me who all the others are and who they belong to.”
Like the Abbott family expert he was, Caden pointed to each child and told Chloe their name and who their parents were.
“How fun for you to have so many cousins,” Chloe said.
“I love them so much. And we have the Coleman cousins, too. Every summer, we have a big cookout at Grammy’s house with all the Abbotts and Colemans. Grammy calls it the madhouse.”
