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“Well, I haven’t seen him for a few weeks, but now he seems less like a miniature adult and more like the little kid he actually is.”
“I see that, too.”
“It’s a credit to you.”
“Oh, I don’t know about that.”
I smiled. “You can be as modest as you like, mister, but I can see how hard you’re working with him, how patient you are, and I can only guess how much it costs you. If it were me, I’d struggle to stop myself from doing two things.”
“And what are they?” he asked when I didn’t elaborate.
“First, I’d drive to Goldsboro and give Sandra a big piece of my mind. I can’t guarantee there wouldn’t be blood spilt. I can’t stand thinking about just how little she cared about him.”
“I get that, but it wouldn’t do Jesse any good at all.”
“It’d makemefeel better, though.”
“Fair. Okay, what’s the second thing?”
“Hug him all the time. Whenever I was in reach. Just hug him.”
His eyes softened, making my breath catch. “Yeah… That one’s a lot harder not to do.”
“Don’t want to crowd him, though.”
“Exactly. He’s getting better, that’s for sure. I don’t think he even noticed he was sitting in my lap.”
“Yeah, that gave me a pang in the good way.” I chewed at my lip, not sure if I should ask the next question, but Gabe had never shut me down and I was damn curious. “Do you think he’ll ever call you ‘dad’, I mean when he’s talking directly to you, notaboutyou, if you get my meaning?”
“I do, and I don’t know. I certainly won’t push it. He doesn’t call Sandra Mom.”
“I noticed that.”
“But I’ll tell you something.”
“What’s that?”
“If that day does ever come, I’m probably gonna break down and cry.”
Aaaww.“Can’t say I blame you.” Without really thinking about it, I rubbed my hand on his leg. Fuck!
He looked down at my hand, frozen on his knee, then up at me, one eyebrow raised, a combination of heat and amusement in his eyes. “Allegra…”
I withdrew my hand hastily, about to start babbling that it didn’t mean anything, it was just a thoughtless gesture, when Bruce called out that dinner was ready. Holy saved by the bell, Batman. I got up and moved to the table without looking at Gabe, thankful that I could finally choose a chair away from him, at the other end.
We ate the dinner of marinated chicken strips and salads, then for the big finish Ellen brought out the birthday cake. Jesse looked a little uncomfortable as we all sang happy birthday, but gave everyone a big grin when we all cheered after he blew out all the candles in one breath.
When we’d all had cake, that was Elissa’s cue to round up Chloe and Mila and tell them it was time to go, since the baby was starting to get tired. Chloe gave Jesse a big hug and told him she wasso gladshe got an extra cousin, which made everyone smile. Even though Jesse looked a little uncomfortable, he said, “Me, too.” Oh, my heart.
Things got a little quieter after they left, then Bruce said he wanted to show Gabe and Jake the plans for the dining room extension they were working on. I saw Gabe lean into Jesse, maybe asking him if he wanted to go too. He shook his head, but then asked Gabe a question in return, and when Gabe’s nodded yes, got up from the table and went inside. He came back a few moments later with the tablet I’d given him.
“Can I sit with you?”
“Of course.” I scooted over, making room on the seat for him. “Bit partied out, hey?”
He nodded wordlessly.
Gesturing to the tablet, I said, “Are you having fun with that?”
