Chapter 19 - The Boy Who Remembered
Jax stopped so abruptly that the people behind him nearly walked into his back.
Leo looked at the leather vest, then at the scars. For a heartbeat, I thought he might run. Instead, he held out his dinosaur with both hands.
"This is Rex," he said. "He was there too."
Jax crouched slowly, giving Leo room to choose. "Well, Rex, I'm glad you're doing better."
"You yelled," Leo told him.
"I did. I was scared you couldn't breathe. I'm sorry I sounded scary."
Leo considered that. "Mommy was scared too."
I sank down beside them. "I was. And I made a mistake. A big one."
"Do grown-ups make big mistakes?"
"All the time," Jax said. "The good ones try to fix them."
A reporter lifted a phone. Rachel stepped between the camera and my son. "Not today," she said, and for once the crowd listened.
Later, we ate sandwiches in a quiet park. I asked Leo what he remembered about the diner. His face changed. He placed Rex on the bench and pulled his knees up.
"I thought you didn't want me," he said.
Every apology I'd practiced disappeared. "Oh, Leo. That's not true."
"I was trying to say help. But no sound. And you were mad."
I took a breath before answering because my first instinct was to defend myself. He deserved something better.
"You're right. I looked at you, but I didn't listen. You were asking for help, and I was thinking about what other people thought of me. I am so sorry."
He leaned against my shoulder. I didn't ask him to forgive me. I let him decide where to put his weight.
May you like
Across the grass, Jax's phone buzzed. He looked down and wiped his eyes with the heel of his hand. I could see the message on the bright screen: Clara - Can we get coffee, Dad?
On the walk home, Leo stopped near a storefront window. He caught my sleeve and said, "Mommy, I need you to promise something."
