Page 149 of A Better Place

“Hey, kid.” I make my way over to him, pulling him aside for a moment.

James looks over and gives us both a small smile then goes back to talking with everyone, allowing us our moment.

“Yeah, Mom?”

“You alright?”

“Yeah. Just a little… I don’t know… overwhelmed, I guess. It was just you and me… and now…” He gestures to the flurry of people surrounding us.

“I know. It’s a lot to take in, huh?”

“Just a tad.”

“Jack. Everything with your father…”

“He is not my father,” he says adamantly, sparing a quick look at James.

James, being James, notices. I see him whisper something to Barrett, then he walks over to us. He places an arm around Jack, pulling him in for a hug then stretches his arms out, framing Jack’s neck with his hands.

“Can I show you something?”

“Yeah.”

James rolls the shirt up of his long-sleeve shirt, revealing a fresh tattoo on his forearm. A circle of four arrows, separated by names… Carly, Jack, James, Lily.

A sob erupts from my throat as Lily looks over at us. She winks, already knowing what was just shown to us.

“You’re mine, son. You get it now? He’s not your father. You’re not a product of him. You are nothing like him. You’re good. You’re amazing. You’re wanted. You’re loved.”

Tears flow from Jack’s eyes as he nods his head.

“Love you, James.”

“Love you, Jack.”

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