“Are you okay, Thomas?”
The boy raised his eyebrows. “I’m not Thomas. I’m Simon.”
Jeremy received this information with a tranquility that surprised him. Two children? Why not? From now on, nothing can surprise me. But then, how many years have I forgotten this time?
“Simon, yes…Sorry, I’m not awake yet…And where is Thomas?”
“Playing in his room.”
The microwave stopped. Jeremy took the bottle, gave it to Simon, then started off toward the living room.
He opened a door that led to an office. On another door he saw a Disney sign where someone had written, “Thomas and Simon.” He went in. An older boy was sitting in front of a television screen. He held a joystick in his lap, manipulating it with skill, moving a character along a colored ramp. The boy didn’t acknowledge Jeremy and stayed focused on his game.
Jeremy came up to him and felt his heart jump. “Thomas?”
The boy did not answer.
Maybe it’s not him.
“Thomas,” Jeremy said in a firmer voice.
The child didn’t lift his head.
He must be four or five years old. Six, maybe. Simon, he must be a year younger.
“Think you could stop for five minutes, please?”
The boy pressed the pause button and crossed his arms without taking his eyes off the screen.
“Thomas.”
“What?” the boy answered wearily.
Well, it’s definitely him. And to think that’s the baby I held in my arms yesterday. It’s crazy.
“You…have you eaten breakfast?” Jeremy improvised.
The child shrugged his shoulders. Obviously he was sulking. Was it because Jeremy had interrupted his game?
Jeremy walked up to him and knelt down. The boy lowered his head.
“Look at me.”
Thomas turned a pair of hard eyes on his father.
He looks more like his mother. His whole face. He has the delicate features, the green eyes, the mouth. Jeremy was both moved and disturbed to find himself face-to-face with a little stranger whose features were so familiar and whom he last remembered as a baby in his arms.
“Where’s your mother?” Jeremy asked.
The question surprised the child, irritated him even. He stared at his father defiantly.
“Like you don’t know,” he replied dryly.
What was that supposed to mean?
Thomas made Jeremy nervous. He wanted to hug him and kiss him, but the boy’s demeanor held him at bay.
“Okay, I’ll let you play.” Jeremy left Thomas, who immediately returned to his game, and went back to the office. He collapsed into the armchair.