“Yes,” she wraps her arms around me and leans in and whispers in my ear. “I’m so glad it was you, Troy. I know I’ve led you to believe otherwise in the past, but I’m so glad it was you. You’re an amazing father.”
I pull her to me, the scent of her shampoo making breathing harder, but I ignore it and let the feel of her in. It’s been so long since I’ve had her this close. I ignore the bells going off and simply hold her, leaning in. “And I couldn’t want a better mother for my son.” When we separate, she’s smiling. “Can I be there when you tell him?”
“Yeah, of course. We should do this together.”
“This is special. I want this to be about the two of you.”
“I want you there. I’m nervous.”
“There’s no reason to be. He’s going to be over the moon.”
“Do you trust me to say the right thing?”
“Yeah, yeah, I do. I trust you, Troy. I really do.”
I sigh a breath of relief. “Thank you. What do you think I should say?”
She wipes beneath her eyes. “Whatever is in your heart.”
“Dante, can you put that down for a minute so I can talk to you?”
“Man to man?” He asks, and I can’t help my grin.
“Of course.”
“Let’s go to my office.” He heads toward the porch eyeing his mother. He knows something’s up. My son is no dummy.
“Why is Mommy crying?”
“She’s happy.”
“I don’t cry when I’m happy.”
“You will one day.”
“Have you?”
I have a feeling I’m close.
“Sure, I have. Come on, bud.” Dante steps outside just as the breeze picks up. He turns to me expectantly, and I kneel down in front of him where he stands. “So, I know you’ve been wondering about your daddy.”
“Uh huh.”
“I wanted to be the one to tell you…I’m your daddy.”
“Funny,” he says with a nervous giggle. “You’re not my daddy.”
“I am your daddy. I promise. That’s why I moved next door, so I could be closer to you.”
“You’re playing.”
“No, I’m not. I’m your daddy.” I tell him in a serious tone, and from the look on his face, he believes me. His smile disappears as he glances past my shoulder at Clarissa and then back to me. I can feel his confusion, the nervous rattle coming from his frame as his world tilts on its axis.
“Why didn’t you tell me before?” His lip quivers as he looks through the screen where his mother stands. “Mommy?”
“It’s true,” she says tearfully. “Troy is your daddy.”
“You didn’t tell me till now?”