Families began to arrive for the yearly Father-Son Day celebration as the sun slowly filtered through the trees that surrounded Greenwood Academy, illuminating the school grounds with dappled light. The air was filled with cheers, laughter, and the hum of children.
Michael Hudson was standing close to the gates with his hands in his pockets and his heart racing like that of a nervous adolescent. He glanced around the crowd before focusing on Jason, who was running with a group of boys and laughing louder than the rest of them.
Jason stopped dead in his tracks, grinned broadly, and sprinted in his direction as soon as he saw him.
"Mr. Michael!" he exclaimed.
Michael caught him in an embrace as he knelt down. "Hey, champion. I promised to be here.
Jason smiled. "You arrived exactly as you promised."
It was a milestone, not just a greeting.
Lorna stood behind them, arms crossed, observing the interaction with a peculiar mixture of comfort and discomfort. Michael was effortless and present with Jason, something Lucas hadn't been for months.
Her heart, which she had been keeping closed, started to open up.
Lucas squinted at the event layout while standing motionless by the map that was displayed close to the entrance in another area of the school grounds. His shirt had a crooked name tag hanging off it.
Behind him, a soft voice said, "Lost?"
He turned to see a woman with kind eyes, holding a clipboard, and wearing a flowing emerald blouse.
"Something along those lines," Lucas said sourly.
She laughed. "You're not the only father who has been turned around. The layout of this school is essentially a maze.
He muttered, "I'm not really in the mood for playground games."
Her head was cocked. "Hard day?"
"That's something you could say."
She held out her hand. "My name is Hope Pierce. I teach art in this school .
Startled by her warm, firm grip, Lucas took it. Madden, Lucas. Sort of, father.
With a slow nod, Hope was able to read between the lines. "Do you want to breathe?"
He trailed behind her to a peaceful bench in the shade behind the art building. Lucas's defensive shell dissipated as the main event's noise faded behind them.
They ended up discussing teaching, parenthood, pressure, and expectations for almost an hour. Lucas felt heard for the first time in months.
Hope grinned broadly when she gave him a card at the end. "If you ever wish to speak with me again."
After he hesitated, he accepted it. "Thank you."
Jason pulled Michael's hand toward the relay race station as they returned to the sports field.
"Come on, let's do it!" He pleaded.
Michael chuckled." Goodbye, tiny speedster. You're going down, though, so show no mercy."
Jason took his place after giggling. Lorna watched the two from the sidelines, her son's happiness so obvious that it almost made her gasp.
She didn't know when it happened, but something changed inside of her when she saw Jason this content and alive.
What if Michael was actually Jason's rightful father?
Because Michael wasn't the man she remembered, and he was showing up, everything changed. She bit her lower lip, still uncertain and scared, but no longer unwilling to consider co-parenting. What if it wasn't the terrifying storm she'd imagined, but something steadier? Something healing?