“Is Uncle Daniel in trouble?”
Marcus swallowed.
“The adults have things to work out.”
“Did he do something bad?”
“Some things.”
“Mom too?”
Marcus hated this.
Children deserved truth.
Not every truth at every moment.
“Yes.”
Ethan looked worried.
“Are you going away?”
Marcus’s eyes filled.
“No.”
“Mom?”
“I don’t know what happens next.”
Ethan nodded slowly.
Then looked toward Marcus.
“Dad?”
“Yeah?”
“Uncle Daniel said I have his nose.”
Marcus froze.
“When?”
“Last time.”
“What else did he say?”
Ethan shrugged.
“He said I’m more like him than I know.”
Marcus closed his eyes briefly.
Daniel had already crossed another line.
“Did he tell you anything else?”
“No.”
“Okay.”
Marcus touched his son’s hair.
“Can I ask something?”
“Sure.”
“If somebody tells you to keep a secret from me or Mom…”
“Even Uncle Daniel?”
“Especially adults.”
Ethan nodded.
“You tell one of us.”
“What about birthday surprises?”
Marcus almost smiled.
“Birthday surprises have deadlines.”
“What?”
“If somebody says, ‘Don’t tell Dad until Saturday because it’s his present,’ that’s a surprise.”
“If somebody says, ‘Don’t tell Dad because he’ll be angry or sad,’ that’s a secret.”
Ethan thought.
“Secrets are bad?”
“Some are.”
“What about Noah told me he likes Emma at school?”
Marcus laughed softly.
“That is private.”
“Different.”
Ethan smiled.
Then his expression turned serious again.
“Do you still like me?”
Marcus stopped.
“What?”
“Because Mom was mad that I told.”
Marcus leaned closer.
“Ethan.”
The boy’s eyes filled.
Marcus took his hand.
“There is nothing you can discover, say, break, spill, lose, forget, or tell me that makes me stop loving you.”
Ethan’s lip trembled.
“Nothing?”
“Nothing.”
“You sure?”
“I am your dad.”
The words came automatically.
Then Marcus realized they still felt exactly as true as they had the day before.
Maybe more.
He kissed Ethan’s forehead.
The child whispered:
“Okay.”
Marcus stayed until he fell asleep.
Then he went downstairs.
Melissa sat at the kitchen counter.
She had made coffee.
Marcus did not want coffee.
He drank it anyway.
She said:
“Do you need me to know something?”
“Yes.”
“Does Ethan?”
“Eventually.”
Melissa waited.
Marcus looked toward the stairs.
Then:
“He isn’t biologically mine.”
Melissa’s face went still.
“I’m sorry.”
Marcus shook his head.
“I don’t know what that sentence means yet.”
She nodded.
“Who?”
“Daniel.”
Her eyes widened.
“My brother.”
“Oh.”
Marcus laughed bitterly.
“Everyone keeps making that sound.”
Melissa reached across the counter.
Stopped before touching him.
“Do you want me to stay?”
“Yes.”
“All night?”
“Yes.”
“Okay.”
Marcus looked at her.
“Do not let Claire or Daniel talk to Ethan alone.”
Melissa nodded.
“Is that legal?”
The question brought Marcus back into the real world.
Legal.
Custody.
Paternity.
Birth certificate.