Page 74 of Samuel
Frankie grimaced and then shrugged. “A man has to do what a man has to do,” he announced.
Sam and I started to laugh, earning a look of despair from our son.
“What do I call you?”
His sudden question quietened us both as we both stared at him. Sam swallowed deeply and rubbed the back of his neck.
“What do want to call me?” he asked.
Frankie let out a frustrated sigh. “Dad, of course.”
Sam’s gaze swiveled to meet mine as I whimpered.
“Are you okay with that?”
I nodded biting my bottom lip, desperately trying not to sob with the emotion of it all.
Sam looked back to Frankie and gave him the warmest smile I’d ever seen. There was no doubting it was full of love and pride.
“I’d love that,” he said.
Frankie nodded and said breezily. “Okay. Can we go for burgers then Dad, I’m starving?”
I would never want the boy in front of me to change, he was loving and funny and he faced everything with gusto and when I looked at the beaming smile on Sam’s face, I knew he felt that way too and I was hopeful for the future the two of them would have together.
Sam
the present
Most people have a time in their life when they realise that it’s pretty much perfect and nothing else at that moment could top it. Yes, there may have been periods where they had more money, or a better job, but something in the background was causing a blot on their happiness, but there will be a week, a month, a year or even a day where every single planet aligns to ensure they have everything that makes them happier and more content than they’ve ever been, and I was in that moment. Driving onto my parents’ driveway with my son sitting next to me and the woman I was falling deeper and deeper for in the back seat, I wasn’t sure I would ever feel the same level of bliss again.
I knew it had to be an about turn of the most mammoth proportions, but I was at peace with it and how right the change in my circumstances felt. I wasn’t sure getting to know Frankie before now would have had the same affect, and I would never know, but I was grateful for the here and now and determined to make it work.
“You okay?” I asked Frankie, rubbing a hand over his head.
He nodded, barely looking at me and clutching the bunch of flowers he’d insisted on bringing for my mum.
“You know they’re really looking forward to meeting you?”
He nodded again and I was pretty sure one of the stems had broken when his knuckles went white.
Maisie leaned between the two seats and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. “Sweetheart it’s going to be fine. They’re probably as nervous as you are.”
“Really?” his tiny voice asked.
Maisie nodded and then it was my turn to put a comforting hand on her, placing my large one over the top of her small one. I knew she was feeling just as anxious as Frankie and had said she’d stay at home, but I’d insisted. If I was to persuade her that I wanted her in my life and that I was serious about being a good dad to Frankie, she needed to be involved and see for herself how much I had changed.
Her big brown eyes landed on mind and she gave me a nervous smile before turning back to Frankie. “Yes, really. Me and Sam…” she quickly glanced at me and then corrected herself, “your dad, will be there so there’s really nothing to worry about.”
Sensing if I didn’t get them out of the car soon, I might struggle, I quickly opened the door. “Okay then,” I said brightly. “Let’s go and eat some of your grandma’s apple pie.”
“We don’t have to eat firsts first?” Frankie asked, eyes wide and suddenly sounding more than eager to get inside and meet his new family.
“No,” Maisie responded quickly. “Lunch first.”
Frankie rolled his eyes at me as if to say ‘she’s the no fun parent’ and I couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Come on,” I said, scruffing his hair. “Let’s get those flowers to your grandma before you strangle the life out of them. Oh and don’t forget, you can ask Elijah all about Only Fools & Horses.”
