Chapter 2 - THE SOUND THAT BROKE HIS FATHER
Vincent hadn't cried at Catherine's funeral.
He hadn't cried when the doctors told him her injuries were too severe.
He hadn't cried when Luca stopped speaking.
But now, in a diner filled with strangers, tears ran down his face.
Emily stood holding a towel.
She looked from father to son.
Then quietly placed the towel beside the spilled coffee.
“Would you like a fresh cup?”
Vincent shook his head.
He couldn't speak.
Luca stared at his father.
The smile faded.
His small hand moved toward Vincent's sleeve.
Vincent looked down.
Luca touched his wrist.
For a moment, the boy's eyes filled with fear.
Vincent realized his tears might be frightening him.
He wiped his face.
“I'm okay, buddy.”
His voice cracked.
“Daddy's okay.”
Emily crouched beside the booth.
“Hey, Luca.”
The boy looked at her.
She smiled.
“Your dad's just having a big feeling.”
Vincent stared.
Emily continued gently.
“Grown-ups get those too.”
Luca looked at his father again.
Then back at Emily.
She picked up the green crayon.
“Want to help me draw another dragon?”
Luca hesitated.
Then nodded.
Vincent nearly stopped breathing.
His son had nodded.
A deliberate answer.
A choice.
A connection.
Emily drew a ridiculous dragon with enormous feet.
“Okay, this one's definitely trouble.”
Luca studied it.
Then added a tiny tail.
Emily gasped.
“Oh no. You've made him faster.”
A faint smile returned to Luca's face.
Vincent watched in silence.
He had spent more than a year trying to make his son speak.
Doctors.
Therapists.
Specialists.
Programs.
Appointments.
And this waitress had simply sat beside him and played.
When Emily returned to the counter, Vincent followed.
“Miss…”
“Emily Carter.”
He nodded.
“Emily.”
She looked up.
“Everything okay?”
He swallowed.
“My son hasn't laughed in over a year.”
Her expression changed.
“Oh.”
He looked toward the booth.
“His mother died.”
Emily's face softened.
“I'm sorry.”
Vincent nodded.
“He hasn't spoken since.”
For a moment, Emily said nothing.
Then she looked toward Luca.
“He doesn't have to talk to be heard.”
Vincent stared.
She continued.
“Sometimes kids need somebody to stop waiting for words and just be with them.”
Vincent looked down.
It was the simplest thing anyone had said to him.
And somehow, the hardest.
He reached for his wallet.
Emily shook her head.
“You can pay at the register.”
He hesitated.
“I wanted to thank you.”
She smiled.
“You already did.”
When Vincent returned to the booth, Luca was drawing another dragon.
This one had a crooked smile.
Vincent sat beside him.
“Can I draw too?”
Luca looked at him.
Then slid the green crayon across the table.
May you like
Vincent took it.
And for the first time in four hundred and twelve days, father and son played together.
