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“How’s my boy? I’ve missed you.”
The child nuzzled against Jonny but said nothing, yet I heard small squeals of joy. I remained frozen, uncertain what to think. I’d found out everything there was possible about the man, but nothing had indicated he had a family.
Jonny slowly rose to his feet, the boy in his arms. “Christian. I’d like you to meet a friend of mine.” He nodded toward me, takinga single step closer, his eyes imploring mine as if fearful I’d say something to frighten the child.
The little boy turned his head, staring at me so intently I was taken aback. There was no doubt they were father and son, the little boy’s eyes exactly the same as Jonny’s. I walked closer, trying to think of what to say. “Hi, Christian. I’m Sedona.”
Frowning, Christian studied me intently then turned away.
“He’s shy,” I said.
“He doesn’t speak, at least right now.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. He’s deaf.”
“No,” Jonny said and tickled the boy’s tummy. “He hasn’t spoken since he came to live with me. He witnessed something that bothered him. He knows sign language, something he learned from one of his teachers. I’ve yet to master it.” When Jonny tried to sign something to his boy, I laughed at the same time that Christian did.
“Why are you both laughing at me?” he asked, easing Christian back to his feet.
“Because you said you hoped he would grow pig ears,” I signed as I spoke. I lowered to my knees, signing my name and telling him I was happy to meet him. Christian’s eyes opened wide, as if no one around him was able to speak in his language.
I could tell Jonny was watching our conversation intently, unmoving the entire time. As Christian told me several things about himself in a huge flurry, I laughed and smiled the entire time. He loved art. He adored superheroes. And cookies. The kid was amazing.
So was his father.
“I’m sorry, Mr. James. He knew you were home and refused to wait.” I hadn’t noticed when someone else walked into the room.
“That’s not a problem, Margaret. This is a friend of mine, Sedona Beckett. She’ll be staying with us for a little while. My buddy boy here was just getting to know her.”
The woman looked at me with disdain, including my bare and now dirty feet. “Well, it’s time to get you dressed, little man.”
Christian nodded once then looked at me, signing one last time. All I could do was laugh.
“What does he want?” Jonny asked, his entire brow furrowing.
“He asked if he could have a cookie.” I winked at the little boy.
“Not before breakfast,” Margaret snapped, which prompted Jonny to throw out his arm.
“Not so fast.” He gave me a sly look then walked to the bag on the counter, pulling out a single cookie. “I’ve been told this is the breakfast of champions. How do I sign cookie monster.” He tipped his head toward me.
Laughing, I showed him and when Jonny repeated it, I pressed my hands over my mouth. It was the sweetest moment I’d seen in a long time.
The little boy giggled as only kids could do, gingerly taking the cookie from his father’s hand. Then he spun around, his eyes lighting up.
“Go with Margaret, my little cookie monster. I’ll come see you in a little bit,” Jonny said.
I remained quiet as Christian thumped out of the room, Margaret following him, but not without giving me another look. “She doesn’t like that I’m here.”
“Margaret is old school, extremely disciplined. I assure you that she doesn’t like me very much even though I pay her twice what she’s worth.”
“He’s your son.”
Jonny shoved his hands into his pocket, walking toward me, crowding my space. Just taking a deep whiff of his intoxicating aftershave was a reminder of everything we’d shared. “Yeah. He was brought to me after his mother was murdered in front of him. She hadn’t told me she was pregnant. We were together one night. We parted ways and I thought nothing of our few hours together. Much like I’d done before.”
“I don’t know what to say.” And I didn’t.
“There’s nothing to say. I should have told you.”
