Page 173 of Lost Trust

I turn on the couch just as he scurries into the living room, his hair sticking up in every direction, his eyes still heavy with sleep.

Then he sees Blaze. His entire face lights up. “Daddy!”

Blaze is on his feet in a heartbeat.

Ryder races across the room and throws himself into his father’s arms.

Blaze catches him, lifting him against his chest. “There’s my boy.”

“I missed you!”

“I missed you too, buddy.”

Ryder wraps both arms around his neck, squeezing tight. I watch Blaze close his eyes for a moment, his arms tightening around our son.

And there it is.

Blaze loves him.

Whatever else has happened between Blaze and me, there’s no denying that.

Ryder pulls back, his excitement already taking over again. “Daddy, come see my room!”

Blaze chuckles. “Okay. Lead the way.”

Ryder grabs his hand and starts dragging him toward the hallway. “I have bunk beds!”

“Bunk beds?”

“Uh-huh! Grandma’s sleeping on the bottom, so I get to sleep on the top.”

Blaze looks back at me.

I smile.

Ryder doesn’t wait for either of us.

He pulls Blaze into his bedroom and immediately launches into a full tour.

“My bed is here. And that’s where my clothes go. And I have all my horses. And look!” He holds up a little plastic horse. “This one looks like Rowdy.”

I lean against the doorframe, watching them.

And then it starts.

Royce.

Ryder talks about Royce nonstop, barely pausing long enough to take a breath.

“Royce got me a bouncy bull!” His face lights up as he runs over to it. “Come watch me ride it, Daddy!”

“Royce said I can ride a sheep!” He vibrates with excitement. “A real one.”

“Look, Daddy!” He holds up the cowboy hat Royce gave him like it’s a priceless treasure. “Royce gave me his hat!”

Then there’s the fishing trip.

The peach cobbler.