After everyone else had left the train, a single man stepped out. A shuddering breath escaped me. He looked to be in his early fifties. His head was fully bald, possibly shaved, and a thick, salt-and-pepper beard obscured most of his face, but the resemblance to the man in Mom’s photos was unmistakable. He also had my eyes.
“My father,” I whispered to myself, and Nate squeezed my hand harder.
The man scanned the platform until he spotted my mother. His stoic face broke into an open-mouthed sob.
“Sophia?” he cried.
Mom, already sobbing, released Gael and ran to him, opening her arms and shouting his name.
She crashed into him. “Callum. Oh, God, Callum.”
Tears sprang to my eyes. They held each other so close, shaking as they cried. Nate pulled me forward, nudging Gael as well, moving us closer to them. As we neared, I heard my father’s muffled voice.
“I’m sorry. They said they’d kill you. I never wanted to leave. Please don’t hate me. Please. Your memory was all that kept me going. I’m so sorry.”
“Shhh,” Mom said, pulling away and putting a finger to his lips. “You are back, my love. That’s all that matters.”
She kissed him then, and as we drew near, I could see their cheeks were wet with tears, but that didn’t stop them. My heart leapt with joy. The only time I’d ever seen my mother this happy was the day Gael was born. My strong, wonderful mother had spent most of her life longing for exactly this. To be in the arms of the only man she ever truly loved.
Finally, she broke the embrace and gestured to me and Gael.
“This is your daughter, Cameron,” Mom said.
Callum released Mom and took two staggering steps toward me. He scanned my face, his eyes blazing with emotion. The sorrow, the sadness, the things he’d missed. He reached out a trembling hand and cupped my cheek.
“My baby girl,” he whispered. “Daddy missed youso much. I never forgot you. You look just as I remembered.”
Tears streaming down my face, I let go of Nate’s hand and folded myself into my father’s arms for the first time in my life. We rocked together for a long time. My father’s tears dripped onto my forehead as he held me. Suddenly, I realized Gael was standing there awkwardly.
“Oh, crap,” I muttered, pulling away and wiping my face. “Uh, Dad, I guess. Can I call you Dad?”
He swallowed hard, wiping his own eyes. “Nothing would make me happier.”
“This is my little brother, Gael,” I said, gently pulling Gael forward.
Gael held Callum’s gaze for only a second before looking away. Callum knelt and put a hand under Gael’s chin, tilting his face up. He smiled at my brother.
“You have your mother’s eyes,” he said. “Beautiful eyes.” His voice was thick with emotion. “A man could grow to love those eyes. I’m not your father, but… I would like to be. Would that be okay with you, little man?”
Gael stared at him in dumbfounded wonder. “Youwantme? Really?”
That question alone made my heart shatter. Had he gone his whole life thinking that no man would ever want him as a son because his father had run away at the first mention of his existence?
“I do,” Callum said, a fervent honesty in his voice. “You are of your mother, and I loveeverythingabout her. I want to love you, too.”
Mom lost it, dissolving into tears again, and clutched Callum and Gael to her in a massive hug. When they broke apart, I introduced Nate.
My father shook his hand. “I heard you’ve been keeping my little girl safe. I can’t thank you enough.”
“It was an honor, sir,” Nate said, putting his arm around my waist.
Dad nodded and pulled Mom into another embrace, pressing his lips to hers.
“Hereallymissed her, huh?” I said to Nate.
“I’d feel the same if I was away from you that long,” Nate said, nudging my chin up to kiss me.
Gael made a mock-gagging sound. “Eww. Everyone’s kissing. This is gross.”
