Page 12 of Now and Forever

“Okay. I trust you.” Seth locked gazes with him and swallowed hard. “Can I say Daddy instead of Malcolm now?”

Malcolm grinned. He imagined there’d still be some fits and starts during their visit, but the ‘Daddy’ was already out of the bag anyway, so they’d might as well go all in.

“Yes, baby boy. You can.”

* * * *

Daddy’s mom peeked around the threshold of the guest room as Seth was hanging up his last shirt from the suitcases. They’d finished up the sandwiches she’d made about a half hour before and Malcolm was now taking a shower.

“I know you’re probably tired, honey. But if you’d like to come see him, I found Benny.”

Seth’s heart skipped. “Iwouldlike to see him. Thank you for getting him out.”

He followed her down the hallway, musing how he liked that she’d referred to Benny as ‘him’ and not ‘it’. Daddy had told Seth about the toy that had been his favorite as a child, and what a comfort the stuffed hound dog had been. Seth had fallen in love with the story, and ever since, had been wishing he could see the stuffy his Daddy had cuddled with when he was little.

She led him into a large room that boasted one wall with built in cabinets framed on either side by a closet with sliding doors. The rest of the room had a homey, lived in feel with two plush recliners, one long sofa and a big screen TV. Debbie went to one of the closets, slid it open then plucked a dark brown toy, almost the size of Bear, from the top shelf.

“I’ve kept him in a plastic bag all these years, so he wasn’t too dusty. His fur is worn in a few places, and I needed to glue one of the eyes down because it was coming loose, but overall, he’s in decent shape.” She offered the dog to him. “Here you go.”

His eyes burned as he took it. “Wow.” He turned the animal over and over, examining it carefully and trying to imagine Daddy when he was a little boy. “Do you know why he named him Benny?”

“I do.” She petted the well-loved toy. “When Malcolm was three, our neighbor got a puppy he named Benny. Mal begged and begged for a dog of his own, but Harry’s allergic, so we couldn’t get one. I brought this home for him one day as a consolation and he was so excited.” She laughed lightly. “He was jumping up and down yelling ‘You got me a Benny! You got me a Benny!’.

Seth gave her a shy smile. “That’s a great story. I wonder how come he never got a dog once he grew up?” They’d never discussed getting a pet.

“Hmm.” Debbie furrowed her brow. “You know, I think it had something to do with Everett. Not that Everett was allergic too, but that he didn’t want a dog, or maybe it was pets in general. I’m not sure.” She tucked some errant hairs that had escaped her ponytail behind her ears. “Does it bother you if someone brings up Everett?”

“Oh, no. Not at all. Everett made Malcolm happy.”

“Aww.” She gave Seth’s arm a quick squeeze. “You’re such a sweetheart. Well, I knew him very well, and yes—he made Malcolm happy. But I have to say, I don’t think I’ve ever seen Malcolm as overjoyed as I have with you. And I don’t just mean today. Ever since he first told me about you, I could tell you were the one.” She locked eyes with him. “Thank you, Seth.”

“For what?”

“For giving him a second chance at life, at love. I was afraid for him for a very long time after Everett passed. You changed everything.”

Seth’s lip trembled and he dropped his gaze to Benny, suddenly realizing that he’d been unconsciously gripping the toy to him like a lifeline.

Debbie placed her hand on his wrist. “Seth, honey? I was thinking now that you know Benny’s story, he might be a nice keepsake for you and Mal to bring back home with you.”

“Oh, I couldn’t. He’s your keepsake.”

She shook her head. “Now that Harry’s retired, he’s been after me to let him clean out the closets and garage. Then, when I’m ready to retire in a few years, we want to sell this place and move to something smaller. I think it’s time for Benny to go live somewhere new.”

Seth couldn’t deny he’d been hoping he could get Benny and Bear together, that he could have that important piece of Daddy’s childhood with them.

“Okay. As long as you don’t mind.”

“I don’t mind one bit. I insist.”

Her smile went to her eyes, crinkling in the corners the way Daddy’s did, and suddenly Seth could see him in his mother. Daddy appeared behind her in the doorway, and the likeness was reinforced even more. He was rubbing his hair with a towel and had changed into a gray tee from the vineyard and his blue sleep pants.

“What are you insisting on, Mom?”

She peered over her shoulder. “Benny’s hitching a ride home with you.”

Seth knew the instant Malcolm’s gaze landed on the stuffed toy. The spark of recognition, perhaps a burst of happy memories, lit up his features.

“Oh my God. I can’t believe it. I haven’t seen this thing inyears.” Daddy broke into a big grin then he moved past his mom so he could take the toy from Seth. “I remember him being so much bigger.” He held Benny up, turning him this way and that. “And less smooshed.”

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