Chapter 17
Mason’s father was found in Colorado.
His name was Eric.
He had not seen Mason since he was two.
Vanessa had told everyone he abandoned them.
Eric said Vanessa blocked contact, returned letters, changed numbers, and told him Mason hated him.
I did not know what to believe at first.
Then he arrived with a folder.
Receipts.
Birthday cards returned unopened.
Emails.
Court petitions Vanessa never answered.
A photo of Mason as a toddler tucked inside his wallet.
He cried before he even met him.
I hated how complicated that made everything.
Mason deserved love.
But love arriving late can feel like another threat.
We introduced them slowly with Dr. Patel present.
Eric knelt when Mason entered.
“Hi, buddy.”
Mason stood behind me.
“You’re my first dad?”
Eric’s face crumpled.
“Yes.”
“Did you know Mom locked food?”
“No.”
“Would you have stopped her?”
Eric cried.
“I would have tried with everything I had.”
Mason studied him.
Then asked, “Do you have snacks at your house?”
Eric gave a broken laugh.
“Yes. Lots.”
Mason nodded.
“That’s good.”
Visits began.
Supervised.
Gentle.
No pressure.
I expected to feel replaced.
Instead, I felt terrified for Mason.
What if Eric disappointed him?
What if another adult failed?
One night, Mason found me washing dishes.
“Are you sad I met Eric?”
I turned off the water.
“A little. But not because you did anything wrong.”
“Why?”
“Because I love being your dad.”
He looked down.
“Can kids have two dads?”
“If both dads are safe.”
He smiled faintly.
“You’re safe.”
Those words healed something in me.
Then he added, “Eric might be safe too.”
I nodded.
“Then we give him a chance.”
Lily listened from the doorway.
“Can I have two dads?”
I smiled.
“You have me.”
She thought about that.
“Enough.”
May you like
I laughed.
For the first time in months, it did not hurt.
