Page 16 of Just My Style
“I-I hadn’t considered that,” she says.
I smile at her. “Maybe you should consider it, then.”
“I’ll consider it,” she promises.
“Good.” I place a hand beneath her chin, lifting her face for a kiss.
In my peripheral vision, I see someone approaching. I glance over to see Jared shuffling from foot to foot.
“Sorry to interrupt,” he says, glancing at his feet.
I wrap an arm around Cara. “No worries. What’s up?”
“I was wondering if you and Cara would maybe want to work with Sean and me today. Um, join forces for an epic sandcastle?”
Jared’s seeking me out? My chest fills with hope. “That sounds great to me.”
“Me too,” Cara chimes in.
For the next few hours, the four of us work together, building a sandcastle fit for a king. When the judges make their rounds, they gush about how great the castle is.
“But people were supposed to work in teams of two,” one of the judges says. “So, I think we have no choice but to eliminate you.”
I shrug. “I already have a Hank Heron t-shirt.”
“Me too,” Jared and Sean say in unison.
“I don’t!” Cara complains.
The boys and I laugh. “I’m sure we can get you one, sweetheart.”
At that moment, Hank Heron swoops down from the sky and perches atop our castle.
A slow grin stretches across Jared’s face. He claps me on the back. “It looks like we’re winners in Hank’s book.”
“Hank’s a smart bird.” I don’t know exactly what the future holds for me, but in this moment, I’m completely content just to spend the day with Cara, my son, and a great blue heron.
Epilogue
Victor
One year later.
Jared attempts to tie his necktie but throws his hands up in defeat. “Do I have to wear this thing?”
I smile at him. “You can skip the tie if you want.”
He grimaces. “And face the wrath of Mom, Aunt Margo, and my soon-to-be stepmother? No way.”
Our eyes meet and we burst into laughter. “We do have some formidable women in our lives, don’t we?”
“I’ll say. But to be fair, they did put a lot of thought and effort into every detail of this wedding. Mom designed this necktie just for me—so I suppose I ought to wear it.”
“You’re wise beyond your years, Son.” The word son passes my lips before I can rein in it. I glance at Jared nervously. We’ve developed a real relationship over the past year, and we share a deep bond and connection now. But this is the first time I’ve attempted to call him son.
He freezes in place and a guarded expression crosses his face.
I suppress a sigh. Two steps forward and one step back? “I’m sorry, Jared. I know I have no right to call you that. I missed out on your entire childhood, and I had nothing to do with shaping the man you’ve become. It’s my deepest regret.”