Page 59 of Secret Baby for the Bad Boy

“Come on,” Win says, done with them just as fast as he’d taken interest. He grabs out hands, leading us deeper into the place and I chuckle at his excitement. He stops at seahorses, watches some pretty blue tangs and clownfish as he remembers a movie he’s watched at least thirteen thousand times.

“Dory!” he exclaims before moving on, walking in a zig-zag pattern. “Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.”

I hustle after Lark's tiny, darting form, Lara hot on my heels. His laughter echoes through the vast space alongside the low conversations of other people, the shouts of excited kids, and the soft gurgle of filtered water. He skids to a halt in front of a tank where a sea turtle glides, looking majestic.

“Big turtle, Daddy!” Lark's finger smudges against the glass, his eyes round with delight. From overhead, we see them dropping food in and the turtle lazily eats the food raining down around him. And Win watches, his expression thrilled, his attention fixated on the creature.

“Really big,” I say with a chuckle, stealing a glance at Lara. There’s so much joy in her eyes it takes my breath away.

We weave between clusters of people, following Lark's excited beeline from exhibit to exhibit. He is a blur of energy who finds each display more fascinating than the last. Neon fish. Spiky urchins. We're chasing more than just our son; we're chasing his mind’s ability to absorb and retain information.

“Why don’t we visit the touch pool next?” I ask, knowing the sensory experience would make him even happier.

“Yes, yes, yes!” Win jumps up and down, and I lead him and Lara into the rooms for hands-on discovery, and Lark's face lights up brighter than any bioluminescent creature here.

“You really did your homework, huh?” Lara asks, crossing her arms as we watch Win rush to the tanks, then make a U-turn right back to us.

“I can touch?” he asks, looking back at the shallow pool.

“Yep, just be gentle,” I say, walking him over to the pool. We stand side by side and I guide his small hand toward the surface. The water is chilly, but not uncomfortably so, and Win seems okay. Until his fingers graze a starfish, and he recoils. But he doesn’t need me to talk him through it, he touches the starfish again, this time with purpose.

“Bumpy, hard, awesome,” he says softly, awe filling his words. It’s obvious he didn't expect that texture, and my heart swells, knowing I'm here for this moment of discovery.

“Starfish are tough, buddy,” I say, kneeling beside him. “They need to be, living out there in the ocean.”

“Tough like us?” His question catches me off guard as he peers up at me with those bright green eyes that are so like mine.

“Exactly like us,” I say, surprised as always at how perceptive and intelligent he is and, as I ruffle his hair, I think about how we are all facing rough waters, but today, there’s some smooth sailing.

But he’s off, finding another exhibit. “Look, Dad! Look, Mom!” Win's voice pulls me from my thoughts as he hovers over the new exhibit, fingers hovering inches above a sea anemone. His fascination in the motion of the delicate pink tendrils seems to make him hesitate. Or he’s steeling himself since the starfish surprised him.

He glances at us as if asking permission, and I’m suddenly aware of how close Lara is standing and how amazing she smells.

“Go ahead,” I say, nodding at him. I don’t mind reassuring him that what he’s doing is okay. Moments like this, when I was unsure as a child, my mother had been kind and gentle. Not impatient. And I want to parent like she did.

We watch as his tiny finger descends with care as he pets the anemone. “Just don’t stick your finger in its mouth.” One of the staff bend over and talk to him about the creature and Lara peeks up at me.

“He’s loving this, so you know. You made a good choice with this place.”

I nod as the staff member explains that the anemone responds to being touched by closing slightly – but it doesn’t hurt or scare them.

“It tickles!” Win says with a giggle, pulling his hand back to watch it unfurl once more.

“Hey, buddy, let's listen to this,” I say as a marine educator starts her talk on rays. Win’s gaze shifts, noticing that she has props, pictures, and a voice so bright with passion for rays it’s hard not to listen to her.

“Rays have different shapes for different reasons,” she explains, holding up a ray-shaped cutout and turning in a half-circle so everyone can see.

“Like superheroes!” Win exclaims, and the small crowd chuckles.

“Exactly, each one with their own superpower,” she says, agreeing with him and offering a smile. Win gives a little shoulder wiggle, a dance that tells me he’s proud to have been part of the lesson.

“He’s a special little guy,” I say to Lara, and she nods.

I watch Win with a sense of pride that I only feel for him. His curiosity and enthusiasm are contagious, and I can’t help but smile as he soaks up every bit of information offered. Lara’s hand slips into mine, and I give it a gentle squeeze.

“He’s got your spirit,” she says softly, her eyes shining.

I chuckle, shaking my head. “I think he’s got the best of both of us.”

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