Snared(80)

“I know,” he said with the maturity of a much older person. “You don’t have to say sorry to me. Is that why you had to go to the hospital?”

“Yes.” I wanted to be honest with him, always. He deserved that much. “But I’m much better now.”

“Is that what you wanted to talk to me about? You don’t have to worry about me. I’m okay. Why did April bring me here? Do I get to stay here, or do I have to go to another home?”

“No, Robbie, you aren’t going anywhere. That’s what I wanted to talk to you about.”

I caught April’s gaze and she nodded in silent encouragement.

“You know how you said your mom was looking for your dad, and you never knew who he was?”

Robbie nodded, confusion written all over his face.

I cleared my throat. “Well, we still don’t understand what you were doing in the Orlando area, but we know who she was looking for before she . . . she . . .”

“Died,” Robbie filled in for me. “You know where my dad is?” His eyes were as wide as saucers as he waited for me to continue.

This was it. I was going to change my son’s life forever, right here in this moment. I hoped he wouldn’t hate me for it, but I couldn’t guarantee he would love me, either.

“I do.” I shifted my body so I was facing him. April’s hand caressed my forearm, still resting on the back of the couch, as she waited for the words to spill from my mouth. “About ten years ago, I met a woman named Robyn at the place where I worked. We became friends.”

Robbie’s mouth opened but then closed again. He tipped his head to the side, his mind racing to figure out what I meant by that, so I continued.

“One day, she just left, and I never saw her again. I had no idea what happened to her or where she went. And then . . . I saw the picture you carried with you.”

“You knew my mom?” Robbie whispered, wringing his hands in his lap. “You were friends a long time ago before I was born?”

I didn’t expect him to get it, and I was glad he didn’t. “Yes. I was worried about what happened to her, and I’m sad she passed away. But what I found out when I saw that picture was . . .”

I broke off, my voice cracking. The words were right there; they just wouldn’t come out. Natalie cleared her throat, getting my attention. She nodded, mouthing just do it. I nodded. I had to be straight with him.

“I’m your dad, Robbie,” I said. Once the words left my mouth, I felt like all the oxygen had been sucked out of the room. I watched his face as he registered the words, knowing right when he understood me because his eyes widened and his mouth dropped open.

“You . . . what? You’re my dad? How is that? I mean, you’re Beau Anderson and . . .”

“It’s true,” April said from beside him. His eyes swung to her and then back to me. “Beau Anderson is your dad, Robbie. He never knew about you, not until you showed him that picture.”

Robbie’s eyes widened. “B-but the picture is what made you upset. Why? You didn’t want me?”

I grabbed his hands and pulled him so he was standing directly in front of me. “No. Please don’t think that. I had no idea you existed, so it was a shock. When I saw your mom holding you and then I realized how old you were, I got upset that I’d missed so much of your life. I was hurt you didn’t live a good life, Robbie. I’d never want that for any child, much less my child.”

“Are you sure you’re my dad?” Robbie whispered.

“When I was in the hospital, I had tests done.” I understood him needing information because all of this was too much to understand. “They took blood from me and some from you.”

Robbie nodded. “That hurt.”

“They told me you’re my son, Robbie. It’s true.”

Robbie’s eyes filled with tears. His small hands were still in mine as I watched him process everything. “You want me?” Those three words broke my heart into a million shards. I hadn’t wanted him. I hadn’t wanted anything to do with having a child of my own, ever. But looking into the face of this beautifully broken boy, I knew I wanted nothing more than to have both April and him. I wanted a family like Bex and Johnny had. My family. I also understood him feeling betrayed and unable to trust adults. Been there, done that. But if I had anything to do with it, he’d never have that experience again.

“I want you. I wish I would’ve known all those years ago that you were mine, Robbie. I can’t erase all the bad things you’ve lived through, but I can promise you this—I will try my hardest to make you happy for the rest of your life. You won’t ever have to feel alone again or wonder if you will have a home to live in or if you’ll get taken away again because I would never in a million years let that happen to you.”