Chapter 12 - THE NIGHT LEO SAID HIS FIRST WORD
Leo's first word came on a rainy Sunday afternoon.
He was sitting on the living room rug surrounded by toys.
Sofia was visiting.
Dante had come for his scheduled parenting time.
I was making tea.
Then Leo looked up at Dante.
“Da.”
Dante froze.
Sofia gasped.
I turned.
Leo grinned.
“Da!”
Dante stared at him.
Then looked at me.
“Did he just—”
I smiled.
“Yes.”
Dante's eyes filled.
He knelt beside Leo.
“Hey, little man.”
Leo reached toward him.
“Da!”
Dante picked him up.
And began crying.
I stood in the kitchen doorway, watching.
A year earlier, I had dreamed of this moment.
Dante holding our son.
Dante smiling.
Dante becoming the father I'd hoped he would be.
Now it was happening.
Just not inside the marriage I'd imagined.
And strangely, that was okay.
Because Leo was happy.
May you like
Dante was trying.
And I was no longer waiting for someone else to complete my life.
