Gage took off like a shot down the hallway.
Renn turned to his uncle as he pinched the bridge of his nose. “Pete, telling Gage I have to agree to the ice cream doesn’t help. I’m still the bad guy if I say no.”
Was thisGroundhog Day? Hadn’t they just had this argument? Before Renn could get even more worked up, I intervened, putting my hand on his. “I think sundaes would be a great way to celebrate Gage’s big game. After dinner, of course.”
Pete put the ice cream in the freezer before heading into the den to say hello to Robbie. He had zero chance of getting a reply, and every chance of getting told off, but seemed to view this ritual as obligatory every time he came to the house. Renn volleyed his eyes between me and Pete’s retreating form. “I can’t say no if both of you are against me,” he grumbled.
“Hey, that’s not fair.” I stood in front of him and put my hands on his shoulders. “I’m never against you. Tonight just isn’t a good time to have another big fight. It’s already been a rough day with Robbie—”
“And I missed Gage’s big hit,” Renn spoke so quietly, I almost couldn’t make out the words.
I felt terrible for him. He took so much pride in always being there for his brothers. I gave his shoulder a gentle squeeze before running my hands up and down his arms. “Don’t be so hard on yourself. You had to work. Gage understands. There’ll be other games. Other hits.”
Renn shook his head sadly. He reached out to wrap me in his arms, and I sighed internally as he held me close.He was already feeling guilty. Talking to him about setting a better example for the boys was a no-go, at least for tonight.
Pete came back in the kitchen, his expression showing he had something more serious on his mind than ice cream. I widened my eyes at him and frowned, trying to signal that this was not a good time to bring up anything substantive with Renn. He didn’t get the message.
“Renn?”
“What is it, Pete?” Renn pulled back from me, instantly on alert.
“I think you were right.”
Renn let out an exasperated sound before glaring at him. “Am I supposed to read your mind? What was I right about?”
Pete released a whoosh of his own and took an extra fortifying breath for good measure. “We should find out about Gage. If he’s mine.”
“Ooooh-kaaaaay.” Renn’s posture grew less rigid. “I’ve already told you I think it’s something we need to know. Why are you acting so cagey?”
“Because…” Pete coughed and blew out more air like Darth Vader had just released him from a chokehold. “Because…if it turns out that he is my son…” He paused and cleared his throat again. “I want to tell him.”
There was stunned silence as Renn and I processed what Pete was saying.
It didn’t last.
“What?!” Renn clenched his fists as he shouted, and for an instant I thought he was going to advance on Pete. “No fucking way!”
At his intensity, I whipped my head around to check the hallway and the closed doors to the den, confirming the boys hadn’t heard. I surreptitiously glanced around the kitchen for any small items Renn might decide to hurl against the wall, keeping a protective eye on the turtle-shaped sugar bowl I had developed a particular fondness for.
Pete made his case. “Look, Renn. I realize this isn’t what we discussed earlier, but I’ve been thinking a lot about it. Keeping this secret, not finding out, made sense when Thomas was alive, but now it doesn’t. I love Gage. We’ve been getting along great. I want to be a real father to him.”
“No. Fucking. Way. He’s already lost Dad once. I won’t put him through that again.”
“Gage doesn’t even remember Thomas! He was practically a toddler. It’s not the same for him as it is for the rest of us.”
“No! You can’t just waltz in here and expect me to go along with this. What happens to Gage when you decide to fuck off again, huh?”
“I’m not going anywhere, Renn. Christ, I’ve been sticking it out this whole past year, trying to make amends, with you and Robbie treating me like a flaming pile of shit the whole time, not giving an inch. But I’m still fuckinghere, aren’t I?”
“But for how long?”
“For. Ever. You can keep spitting and fighting and putting all your crap on me, but I meant what I said. I’m here and I love you and your brothers and I want to make this right.”
“Fuck you!” Renn snarled at his uncle, all instinct now, running off adrenaline and years of pent-up resentment.
Pete ran his fingers through his hair and paced back and forth. De-escalation seemed called for, but he clearly had no idea how to facilitate it. Neither did I.
“What do you think?” Renn turned my way abruptly, fury blackening his features.
