AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Colt coughs, clearing his throat. “Alright, I got this. I can’t lose my shit in front of him.”
“It’s okay to cry,” Beau says. “He’s your son. It’s okay if he knows how much you love him.”
Colt cups Beau’s shoulder, leaning forward to peck his cheek, and then he pecks mine before turning to open the car door.
And when he does?
When Colt emerges from the back seat of the truck, his massive body landing on the sidewalk with a gentle thud, a sob escapes my throat.
Because I watch Forrest.
I watch the boy’s eyes get so big as if he can’t believe it. It’s like he’s witnessing every childhood miracle. I’d feel sorry for his dad, Jake, but that boy will always love him. Jake raised him. He’s been there.
“Hey, Forrest,” Colt calls out, shoving his hands in the front pockets of his jeans.
I climb across the truck’s cab to sit in Beau’s lap to watch this together.
Beau cracks the window a bit so we can hear, too.
“Colton Hawke?” The boy sounds surprised but looks confused. He’s frozen on the brick step of his porch. “Are you here to play with me? With your ball?”
“I sure am.” Slowly, like he’s afraid he’ll scare him away, Colt walks across the grass, closing the distance between them. “I’m here to throw the ball with you all day if you want. But I’m also here to tell you something if that’s okay.”
“Go on, sweetie.” Gently, Reese urges Forrest down the front steps. “Go say hello. Colton came to see you.”
Forrest’s dad, Jake, watches. He’s stoic but not mad. You can read it in how his eyebrows bend. He’s just worried about his boy.
“But,” Forrest turns back to his mom, “we’re waiting for the man you made a baby with. The man who’s my father, not my dad.”
Colt struggles. His voice cracks. “That’s me.”
Forrest turns back to him, and in the boy’s eyes, Colt drops to his height. But to us… we witness love so profound drop Colt to his knees on the grass before his son.
“Forrest, I’m your father,” he says, his tone strangling with emotion. “I’m the man your mom had a baby with. And I’m really happy to finally meet you like this. I’m here today because I hope we can be friends if that’s okay with you.”
I bite my lip, salty tears spilling over their seam. I nestle my head against Beau’s. He’s squeezing my waist. He’s crying, too.
The boy tilts his head. It’s so cute. It’s like he’s seeing Colt for the first time. “Is that why I run so fast?” he asks. “Because you’re my father? I’m like you because I’m the baby you made me with my mom?”
Colt huffs a laugh. It’s so tender. It’s so he won’t cry; I can hear it. He’s fighting back tears.
“Yeah,” he answers. “That’s probably why you’re so fast. But I bet you throw so good because your Dad taught you. Right? He’s teaching you to be a great football player?”
“Yeah,” Forrest answers, his proud chin jutting high. He’s an innocent kid. For him, it’s simple. “Can we play now? Me, you and my dad? Can we play with the ball you gave me? It’s in my room. Wanna see it? I have posters of you, too. And I have your jersey. You and Beau Bronson’s, but you’re my favorite. Don’t tell him. He’s your friend, right?”
“Yeah.” Colt clears his throat. He rises from his knees. “He’s my best friend. But I won’t tell him I’m your favorite. I’ll let you tell him.”
I kiss Beau’s cheek. It’s wet with tears.
“Come on.” Forrest holds out his little hand for Colt’s. “Come see my room. And my Legos. And my?—”
The boy’s excited, rambling on, tugging at Colt’s massive hand like he’s found his new best friend. Colt smiles, glancing over his shoulder at us, and we wave. Then he climbs the porch, shaking Jake’s hand before following his son into the house.
We watch as Reese disappears, closing the front door behind them.
Wind rustles the autumn leaves while we’re silent, while love swirls around us.
Gently, Beau presses his lips to my ear. “We’re going to have a baby together, Blair Monroe.” He whispers, “Please, say yes.”
