Page 72 of Chasing Dreams
He would never be the same.
But he would know that he was capable of something he’d never before allowed himself to discover.
He could love.
Chapter 15
His hair had grown a shade darker, but he still flashed the same dimpled grin. Jack. She’d know him anywhere, no matter how old he was. He sat on the wooden edge of a sandbox, a baby playing in the sand at his feet.
The other child’s hair was dark, his hands and legs chubby like Jack’s had been once. The tiny boy poured sand on Jack’s tennis shoe with a plastic shovel and laughed aloud when Jack pretended to get mad.
A horn sounded and both boys looked up.
“Daddy!” the small one squealed, and Jack had to help him over the side of the sandbox so he didn’t fall on his face in his excitement.
He stayed where he was, watching the child greet his father, turning to intently observe the bird’s nest on the limb of the towering tree above.
“I brought something for you,” the man said, and Jack looked down, discovering the man’s long shadow on the grass.
“You did?”
“Want to see?”
He nodded and turned.
He took the heavy ball of tissue paper and unwrapped a sliced geode. Thousands of purple crystals shimmered in the midday sun that filtered down through the leaves. He raised an uncertain blue gaze. “Cool.”
More than anything he wanted to hug the man who already held the other little boy against his chest. He longed to feel that same security, be a part of what they shared “Thanks,” he managed.
“You’re welcome. Coming in?”
“Okay.” He stood, and the man’s hand rested on his shoulder.
Without having to say more, they turned toward the house.
When they reached a wide porch, the man set the boy down and he tottered noisily across the wooden boards toward the door. The man turned back to Jack and, without a spoken word, folded him against his chest.
It felt good It felt warm and secure and right, and not at all babyish like he’d been afraid
“I’m gonna put this with my other one, ” he said, pulling back and clutching the precious rock in both hands.
“Okay.”
“C‘mon, Daddy!” the toddler sang out. “C’mon Jack!”
“We’re coming,” the man replied, and reached his hand down. “C‘mon, son.”
Shaine rolled to her back, and opened her eyes to blink into the velvety darkness of the unfamiliar room.
“A dream?” Austin asked from beside her.
As usual, his alertness surprised her. “How did you know?”
“I can tell. It wasn’t bad, was it?”
“No. It was strange. But it wasn’t bad.”
“Was it... What kind was it?”
