Patchwork Paradise(74)

Thomas narrowed his eyes at me. “Don’t even go there,” he said, voice low.

“Okay, that’s fine. I mean, there’s always the lovely heights of the mountains. Nice, steep paths we could climb, all the way up to the towering peaks, with staggering views of deep valleys below— Don’t you dare!” Thomas had lifted Milo’s spoon and aimed a heap of avocado at me. “You are setting an example for your son! If you throw food at me, he will think he can—”

Splat.

The avocado hit me right between the eyes. Thomas dropped the spoon and covered his mouth. Silence fell. Then Milo began to laugh so hard, we had to scramble so his high chair didn’t fall over.

“I really didn’t aim for your face,” Thomas said, trying not to laugh. “I’m so sorry.”

I rose slowly to my feet, grabbed another paper towel, and with all the dignity I could muster, cleaned my face again.

“Well,” I said to Milo. “You’ll be happy to know you’ll at least grow up with one responsible parent while you live in this house.”

Milo smiled, stuck out his arms in my direction, and said, “Da.”

Thomas froze, and I froze. “He called you Dad,” Thomas said.

“No, I’m sure that was just a noise. And he calls you ‘Da da.’ I’m sure it didn’t mean anything.”

“Ollie.” Thomas rounded the table and hugged me. “I’m not jealous. I think that’s great. I want you to be his dad. I mean . . . if that’s what you want too.”

I pressed my face against Thomas’s chest, then sneaked a peek at Milo. His face was scrunched up, and he held out his arms as he kicked his legs. I worked myself loose from Thomas’s grip, lifted Milo out of his seat, and didn’t care he was covered in food. I hugged him tight, and he swung his little arms around my neck. With my free hand, I drew Thomas closer, and he engulfed us both.

“Two dads and a mom, huh,” I croaked. I hid my face again when tears stung my eyes. “That has to beat growing up with only one parent.”

“Da,” Milo said again, and he put his head on my shoulder.

I lifted my face to Thomas’s. “You’ve made me so happy,” I said to him. His eyes were a little damp too. “Both of you. When Sam first died, I thought I’d never be happy again. I didn’t think I could ever feel like this again, and look at us now. Thank you for being there for me.”

“I was always there for you, Ollie,” Thomas said. He kissed me lightly on the mouth and smiled. He held us closer. The three of us stood in the kitchen that had once been mine and Sam’s and was now the heart of this patchwork family. “And I always will be.”