Chapter 5 - THE MAN WHO DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO BE A FATHER
Adrian arrived at Daisy's Diner at 8:42.
He wore jeans.
A dark sweater.
And sneakers that probably cost more than my monthly grocery budget.
He looked uncomfortable.
Good.
The boys arrived at nine.
Leo spotted him first.
“It's him!”
Adrian stood immediately.
Noah approached cautiously.
Ethan studied the menu.
Leo ran forward.
Then stopped.
Adrian knelt.
“Hi.”
Leo smiled.
“Hi.”
For a moment, neither knew what to do.
Then Leo offered his hand.
Adrian shook it.
Very seriously.
I nearly laughed.
We sat in a booth.
Adrian took the seat opposite the boys.
He looked at the menu.
Then at them.
“What would you like?”
Noah frowned.
“Mom already told you.”
Adrian blinked.
“Right.”
He smiled nervously.
“Pancakes, soft scrambled eggs, and waffles with strawberries.”
Ethan looked impressed.
“You remembered.”
Adrian nodded.
“I did.”
The waitress arrived.
Adrian ordered exactly what the boys wanted.
Then he looked at me.
“And you?”
“Coffee.”
He frowned.
“Just coffee?”
“I already ate.”
He nodded.
The boys began asking questions.
Ethan wanted to know whether Adrian owned airplanes.
Noah wanted to know whether he played basketball.
Leo wanted to know whether he liked dogs.
Adrian answered carefully.
Then Noah asked:
“Why didn't you come find us?”
The booth went quiet.
Adrian set down his fork.
“Because I didn't know you existed.”
Noah stared.
“Mom says you were married.”
“We were.”
“So why didn't you know?”
Adrian looked at me.
Then back at Noah.
“Because your mother and I separated before she knew she was having you.”
Noah considered that.
“Did you make her sad?”
Adrian swallowed.
“Yes.”
The answer surprised all of us.
He continued.
“I made mistakes. I didn't stand up for her when I should have.”
Noah looked down.
Then whispered:
“Don't do that again.”
Adrian's eyes filled.
May you like
“I won't.”
And for the first time, I believed he understood what those words meant.
