His To Claim

I turn and grin. “Busted, huh?”

“You’re supposed to be hiding,” he laughs, hopping into the room. “Why are you looking at that picture? Why are you crying?”

“Crying?” I laugh, and then I realize that he’s right.

For the first time in my life, I’ve let myself get misty eyed. I blink away the moisture and rub my eyes with my sleeve, clearing my throat.

“Allergies, kid,” I say, giving him a little play-shove.

He grins and laughs. “Daddy’s a crybaby.”

“Alright, that’s it,” I yell, laughing.

Ethan explodes into delightful laughter and then springs away, little hands raised in fists.

“Come on then!” he grins. “I’ll beat you, Daddy!”

I duck low and raise my hand. I get ready for war.

“Argh!” I laugh, when Ethan tackles me to the ground, jumping up and down, filling me with all the love a man could ever dream of.