Chapter 7 - THE BOY'S QUESTION
Vincent did not ask to see Leo again until Anna agreed.
She set the conditions: a public place, one hour, no security men hovering over the table, no gifts, no promises. And if Leo became uncomfortable, the visit would end immediately.
Vincent agreed to every condition.
They met at a children's museum on Saturday morning.
Leo arrived holding Anna's hand. He wore a blue sweater and carried a small toy dinosaur.
Vincent stood near the entrance.
He had spent the previous night studying photographs of his son. Every birthday picture Anna had posted publicly. Every image from the rehabilitation center's charity page. Every little detail he could find without violating her privacy.
But nothing prepared him for seeing the boy in person.
“Hello, Leo.”
Leo looked at him.
“Hello.”
Vincent crouched to the child's height.
“I brought nothing,” he said. “Your mommy asked me not to bring gifts.”
Leo glanced at Anna.
“That's true,” she said.
“Can we see the dinosaurs?” Leo asked.
Vincent smiled.
“If your mother says it's okay.”
Anna nodded.
They walked through the exhibits together. Leo asked questions about enormous skeletons and flying reptiles. Vincent answered what he could and admitted when he didn't know.
At one point, Leo took his hand.
Vincent stopped breathing.
The small fingers were warm and trusting.
Anna noticed. She also noticed how carefully Vincent held him, as though he feared the boy might disappear.
After forty minutes, Leo grew tired and sat on a bench.
“Are you my daddy?” he asked.
Anna closed her eyes.
Vincent looked at her, waiting.
She nodded once.
He turned back to Leo.
“Yes. I am.”
Leo studied him.
“Why weren't you there when I was a baby?”
Vincent's throat tightened.
“I didn't know you were born.”
“Why?”
“Because I made a mistake before you were born. I thought your mommy was gone.”
“But she wasn't.”
“No. She was very brave, and she survived.”
Leo looked at Anna.
“Did you look for us?”
Vincent answered honestly.
“I looked for your mommy after the accident. But I didn't know where she was. I should have looked harder.”
Anna felt her eyes sting.
Leo considered this.
“Can you come to my birthday?”
“If your mommy says yes.”
The boy nodded as if that settled everything.
Then he leaned closer.
“Do you know how to build a dinosaur?”
Vincent smiled.
“I can learn.”
For the first time, Anna saw a glimpse of the man she had married.
It did not erase what he had done. But it reminded her why she had loved him.
At the end of the hour, Vincent walked them to the entrance.
“Thank you,” he said to Anna.
“Don't thank me. Leo wanted to meet you.”
“I know.”
He hesitated.
“Clara Evans contacted Daniel. She says she has evidence about the crash.”
Anna went still.
“She spoke to you?”
“She wants to give a statement. She says Sophia returned to the aircraft before it exploded.”
Anna looked toward Leo, who was examining a poster.
“Then you need to find out why.”
Vincent nodded.
“I will.”
“And don't use this to pressure me into anything.”
“I won't.”
She opened the car door.
“Goodbye, Vincent.”
“Goodbye, Anna.”
Leo waved.
“Bye, Daddy.”
Vincent stood still as the car pulled away.
He had heard the word.
Daddy.
May you like
It was the most precious thing anyone had ever called him.
And he knew he had done nothing to deserve it yet.
