Page 76 of Home in the Country
His eyes widen, and I raise my brow before handing the phone to Briggs.
“Daddy!”
“Hey buddy! Did you grow? Wow! You look so big. Holy cow, kiddo!” Tanner’s overenthusiastic voice carries across the room to where I’m gathering up all the things we’ll need to tackle the day, and I slip an extra piece of candy into Briggs’s lunchbox.
“Daddy, you’re so silly.”
They chat for a while longer, and by the time Briggs hands my phone back to me, he’s smiling.
“Are you ready to go?” I place my hand to my heart, and he does the same.
“Ready.”
We make it to school in one piece, and I remind Briggs that he’s brave and handsome and loved, and we can grab ice cream when I pick him up. His ears perk up on the last part, and after one last goodbye, he makes his way toward the front doors.
I watch him until he’s disappeared from sight before making my way over to work. I’ve barely taken a breath when my phone buzzes in my purse.
OTTO: Good morning beautiful, how are you?
FALLON: It was a rocky morning.
OTTO: What happened?
FALLON: Some little shit kid told Briggs his daddy doesn’t love him because he’s not coming to the fathers’ luncheon today
OTTO: Is he ok?
FALLON: He talked to Tanner and he was okay at drop-off but I know he’s still bummed. My parents are still visiting my sister so my dad can’t even go.
FALLON: And I have to call the school and make sure that other kid isn’t bullying my baby
OTTO: Would it be okay if I went? I know I’m not his dad but I’d love to be there for him
FALLON: I can’t ask you to do that
OTTO: You’re not – I am offering
FALLON: If you can make it, I know he’d love that. I understand if you can’t
OTTO: I’ll take care of it don’t worry.
FALLON: Thank you (heart emoji)
OTTO: (Kiss face emoji)
Stuffing my phone into my bag, I climb out of the car and take a sip of my scalding hot coffee to keep my emotions at bay. I growl as I fight with the front door and then snag my phone again and fire off a text to Tanner.
FALLON: Otto is going to meet Briggs at school – he asked if he could when he found out Briggs was upset
TANNER: I think Briggs will love that and I appreciate that other people love our kid as much as we do
FALLON: So you’re not mad?
TANNER: Do I wish I could be there? Without a doubt. But if the option is our kid has no one and you have to beat up a kindergartner later versus having someone there who obviously loves him—it’s no contest.
FALLON: You’re such a good man
TANNER: I’m such a good man I won’t even ask if you told him yet…
