“Are you rich?”
“Honey,” Erica chastised.
“I am.” I parked the car and turned to look at him. “But until you and your mom and grandmother walked into the meeting tonight, I was the poorest person in the world.”
“Oh my,” Erica’s mom said, giving me a look. “You learn fast.”
“But do you have money?” Mason asked.
“Mason!” Erica looked at me apologetically. “He’s four. He says whatever comes to mind.”
I smiled. “I do have money. I’m going to share it with you.”
His eyes widened. “Really?”
“Yes, Mason. I’m going to share it with you and your mom and your grandma and with other people who might need it.”
“You did fund the library!” Erica grinned at me.
“That’s supposed to be a secret.”
“I can keep a secret,” Mason said. “Can’t I grandma? I didn’t tell mommy that you snuck in cookies while I was in the hospital.”
Erica’s mother blushed. “You did a good job, baby.”
We exited the car and by then Marvin was there to open the door for us. “Welcome home, Mr. and Mrs. Stark.”
I stopped and grinned, as it truly sunk in. I had a wife and son. I had what I’d always wanted.
Mason was already looking in doors and oohing and awing.
“Do you want a tour?” I asked.
“I do.” Mason jumped up and down.
I showed them around the living areas, then I took them downstairs.
“You have a pool inside the house!” Mason's facial expression was so precious. How had I allowed my petty fears and beliefs get in the way of such a wonderful child?
“I do.” I squatted down next to him. “When I was a little, I was diagnosed with a condition called marfan syndrome.”
Again, Mason’s eyes widened. “I have that too.”
“I know.” Guilt lanced at me that I’d passed that on to him. Erica’s hand on my shoulder steadied me. “There’s some things you and I can’t do, but we can swim.”
“Oh man…” Mason said with awe as he looked at the pool.
“I’ll have to get some pool toys. Maybe even put in a slide. What do you think, Mason?”
“I think it’s so awesome, daddy.”
Every time he called me daddy, I was sure my heart would explode from the emotion that welled up.
I took them upstairs and showed them to the guest rooms. “I’m sorry I don’t have a room fitting for a little boy, but we’ll take care of that. We’ll get some toys and decorate it the way you want.”
“Yay!” Mason ran around the room and then jumped up on the bed.
“And for you Mrs. Edmonds—”