Jacob looked so excited, it was easy to focus on him instead of the school. I picked him up into my arms. Everything was easier when I was holding him close.
“Look, Mommy!” He pointed to the very top row of bleachers.
“It’s big, huh?”
“Sí. Do they have cuppycakes?”
I laughed. He’d just eaten breakfast. A normal one, thank goodness. But he was used to being my little taste tester back at home. Which meant sampling goodies pretty much every day. “They might,” I said. “We can check out the concession stand.” I turned to go toward it, but Tanner stepped in front of me.
“We should probably find a seat first,” he said.
“I’m sure we’ll be able to find something. It’ll only take a minute.” I tried to sidestep him, but he got in my way again.
I laughed. “I’ll go left, you go right.” But we both went in the same direction. “Your left, not mine,” I said and finally stepped past him and almost ran straight into someone.
Oh my God.
It felt like my heart had jumped into my throat.
I wanted to cry. I wanted to laugh. I just wanted to hug him. I hadn’t forgotten about him either.
He’d promised to wait a lifetime for me. And a piece of me believed him. Even though I’d told him not to wait.
It felt like I was back in time. Sitting in the bleachers laughing about jogging during gym class. Mostly him making me laugh.
He’d always made me smile. And I was always so grateful that he could.
“Felix?”
Homecoming - Chapter 35
Saturday
Brooklyn
Felix looked almost exactly the same. Except he wasn’t smiling at me. He used to always smile at me. He just looked shaken. And I got it. I wasn’t supposed to be standing here.
“Felix?” I said again.
His eyes searched mine, but he still didn’t say a word.
“It’s me. Brooklyn.”
He reached out and touched the side of my face. “Newb?”
I smiled and nodded. I’d forgotten how much I loved when he called me that.
I heard Tanner curse under his breath.
“Newb,” Felix said again as he just stared at me, his hand still pressed against my cheek. And then he looked at my son.
“Hola, I’m Jacob,” Jacob said and put out his hand for Felix to shake.
Felix looked like he was in a daze as he shook my son’s hand. “And…this is your mom?” he asked my son.
“Yessie, this is Mommy.”
He dropped my son’s hand and then rubbed his forehead. “But…” his voice trailed off. “You’re…you…” he shook his head again. “Brooklyn.” He finally smiled. “I can’t believe you’re okay. I’m so happy you’re okay.” And then he hugged me. Even though I was still holding Jacob. He hugged both of us. Like he could tell how badly we needed it.
