Page 26 of For the Love of a Boy

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Malcolm frowned as he made his way up the front walk of his and Seth’s home. The automatic outdoor light flicked on as he drew close. However, at night they always kept it on continuously until it was time for bed. More concerning was that he couldn’t see any interior lights on either. If it hadn’t been raining so damn hard all day, he might’ve thought Seth had gone out for a walk and simply not gotten back yet.

Malcolm unlocked the front door, then pushed it open with his shoulder. He had his laptop bag slung over his other shoulder and was wrestling with two bags of Greek food. He set down the food on the granite tile of the foyer so he could flick on a light. The first thing he noticed was Seth’s jacket on the hook and his Chucks on the mat. He removed his own boots then placed them next to Seth’s shoes.

After retrieving the food again, he headed to the kitchen, calling out to Seth as he made his way through the darkened house. The only light that was on was the hammered copper chandelier above the dining table. He decided to deposit the Greek food in the kitchen, then check the piles of mail he’d spotted next to the laptop he’d given Seth when he’d started his online courses.

When he rounded the corner that led to the kitchen, he’d half expected to see Seth in there reading with a snack. Malcolm had texted him an hour before warning him he’d be late and to grab something if he got too hungry.

Seth had never responded, so he’d assumed either the phone was off, or he was studying.

But the kitchen was as dark as the rest of the house, excluding the dining room. Malcolm told himself not to get worked up. Seth might be taking a nap, or perhaps reading in the bedroom. He deposited the food on the counter then let the laptop case slide off his shoulder. He’d worry about putting things away properly later. Seth came first.

As he passed the dining room, he ducked in his head. Malcolm noted how neatly stacked the mail was and that it’d been separated into piles already. He approached the table, also noting that one large envelope had been set aside from the others.

Malcolm plucked it from the table and his eyes widened when he saw where it was from. A smile grew on his lips but then he froze. The letter was addressed to Seth, but it’d been left unopened. He furrowed his brow. Why wouldn’t Seth have opened it? His birth certificate had to be inside and he’d been anxiously waiting for its arrival.

With the letter in tow, Malcolm hurried to the bedroom. Something had upset his boy and he was kicking himself for not being there for him. He knew it wasn’t realistic for him to be with Seth every hour of every day. Yet why had he been gone so long when Seth had needed him more than usual?

The door to the bedroom was open and the space was shrouded in darkness. Malcolm turned on the hall light so he wouldn’t startle Seth if he was asleep. He let out a long sigh when he spotted Seth curled up on the bed, relieved that he’d found his boy. But as he entered the room, his relief turned to concern when he saw that Seth was still fully clothed without any covers over him.

Malcolm made his way around the bed and when he got to the side where Seth was facing, his heart dropped. Seth was clutching his teddy bear to his chest as if it were a life preserver. Malcolm regarded the envelope with a frown then dropped it on the nightstand. Something about that piece of mail had triggered Seth, and he needed to find out what it was. Malcolm turned on the bedside lamp as he carefully lowered himself onto the bed, angling his body to face Seth.

“Baby?” He stroked Seth’s back. “Daddy’s home. Would you like something to eat? I brought the Greek food home like I promised.”

Seth’s eyes fluttered, then he drew his eyebrows together as he opened them all the way. “Daddy. I’m so glad you’re here.” He blinked a few times. “I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”

“That’s all right. You must’ve needed the rest.” Malcolm tucked some loose hair behind Seth’s ear. He smiled. “And you had Bear to keep you company.”

Seth nodded, squeezing the bear in what was probably an unconscious motion. “I needed him.”

“I’m glad he was here for you.” Malcolm continued to pet Seth’s head. “Talk to me, sweetheart. I know something upset you today. Can you tell Daddy what happened?”

“I think my birth certificate arrived. At least, I hope that’s what it is.”

Malcolm wasn’t sure what his approach should be. He couldn’t imagine why something Seth had been so excited about receiving was distressing him so much.

“Is there a reason why you don’t think your birth certificate is in the envelope?”

Seth fiddled with the red bow on the teddy. “Not really. It was more of this irrational fear that my father had screwed it up somehow.” He chewed his lower lip. “I know that doesn’t make any sense.”

“It made sense to you, which also makes it valid.” Malcolm decided to forge ahead since Seth seemed calm enough. “I brought the envelope in here, because it belongs to you.”

Seth flinched at his words. “Oh. I suppose you should open it then. I’m sure my certificate’s in there. Then we can go eat the food you brought.”

Malcolm didn’t care too much for Seth’s flat tone. He wished so badly he’d been home when the mail had arrived. “Well, the envelope is addressed to you, so I figured it’d be better if you were the one who opened it. Don’t you think?”

Seth’s fingers curled in Bear’s shaggy fur. “He whipped me with his belt.”

Malcolm swallowed hard. He knew exactly who Seth was referring to. “Because you asked for your birth certificate?”

“No. I opened a letter that was sent from school. I didn’t know I wasn’t supposed to.”

Malcolm winced, but kept his touches gentle on Seth’s head. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. You know this already, but I have to say it out loud. He had no right. He was wrong. Nothing you ever could’ve done would justify him hitting you like that.”

Seth sniffed. “I know, Daddy. Thank you.”

They sat in silence for a moment. Malcolm turned to pick up the letter then faced Seth again.

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