My Son's Father Is the Wrong Brother novel · Chapter 10 of 24

Chapter 10: Peonies

Calvin rang the bell at nine on Saturday morning with an armful of white peonies and a brand new car seat.

"I know I shouldn't be here," he said.

"Then why are you?"

"Because Milo has his scan today, and Timothy has the board call, and I'm good at driving." He held out the flowers. "These are for you. They're not an apology."

I took them. They smelled sweet and green.

"Uncle Calvin!"

Milo hit his legs at a run, and Calvin swept him up and threw him over one shoulder.

Milo screamed with laughter, kicking his feet.

"Hold still, you menace. I've got a seat for you. It does a hundred things. It plays music."

"Does it play the shark song?"

"It plays any song you want."

I stood in the front hall holding the peonies and watched my son hang upside down from the man I had left on a doorstep less than two weeks ago.

Calvin set Milo down and looked at me over his head.

"Let me drive him today, Rose," he said, quietly. "I won't say anything. I'll just drive."

"Calvin."

"Please."

"Timothy is taking him."

"Timothy has a board call."

"He'll be done by ten. He moved it."

Calvin nodded, slowly.

He reached up and put his palm along my cheek.

I should have stepped back. I didn't, and I stayed there with his hand on my face for a breath too long.

"Are you happy?" he asked.

"Calvin, I..."

"Are you?"

"Take your hand off my wife."

Timothy stood in the doorway to the kitchen.

He wore a white shirt with the sleeves rolled and his tie hanging loose.

One hand was braced against the frame.

The other was a fist.

Calvin lowered his hand.

"I brought a car seat," he said.

"I see that."

"I was leaving."

"Good."

Calvin knelt and kissed Milo's hair.

He set the car seat by the stairs.

Then he went out the front door without looking at me.

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