“We’ll visit when we get back,” Raph said. “Think we’ll be released early enough?”
“I’ll make sure of it.” Dad cracked a smile, leaning down to hug Hazel, Raph, and Wyatt. “Perks of being in charge.”
Wyatt laughed, finally relaxing into his family. Things would be fine, sooner than later.
32
Wyatt
Much later, when the sun was setting and they were driving back to Meadowfall, Wyatt asked Hazel, “What did Max say to you? At the parking lot.”
She frowned. “How did you see that?”
“The security footage, remember?”
Wyatt reached toward the backseat, wriggling his fingers. Hazel set her hand in his. Her fingers were small against his own, a little bruised, but the EMTs had otherwise cleared her to go home. After two hours of making statements, Wyatt had sagged against Raph. He couldn’t wait to snuggle into bed, sleep the rest of the day away.
“The cameras caught Max taking you away, but not the words he said.”
Hazel chewed on her lip. “He said he’s my dad. I didn’t believe him. But he knows I didn’t have another dad before Uncle Raph.”
Wyatt grimaced. There was that. And he understood why she’d faltered, instead of skating away from Max.
What would it feel like, to know one of your dads had beat your other dad? Would it scar her?
“She’s watched that bastard die,” Raph murmured, his eyes flicking between the road and the rearview mirror. “I think she’s old enough to know.”
Wyatt gulped. It was a difficult conversation, however old Hazel was. “I was hoping we didn’t have to talk about that,” he said slowly. “But after today, I think you deserve a proper answer.”
Raph held Wyatt’s other hand, giving him a squeeze.
“Max was your father, but only in the sense that he provided the seed to grow you into a baby.” Wyatt stroked the back of her hand. “But the violence he showed you today... he’s done it to me, too. For much longer. I left him when I was pregnant with you, hon. He kicked me out.
“And honestly, that must have been the best decision of my life, raising you with Uncle Sam and Aunt Penny. I don’t consider Max your dad, because he wasn’t there for any part of your life at all.”
“Ew.” Hazel scrunched her face up. “He hit you? He’s really my dad?”
“You don’t have to think of him as your dad. You probably shouldn’t.”
“So you lied to me?” Hazel pouted, frowning at Wyatt. “You always said you didn’t know who my other dad was.”
Wyatt winced. “Max doesn’t deserve to be your dad, hon. As far as I’m concerned, Raph and I are your dads. I didn’t want you to imagine Max to be a great person, because he wasn’t. And I didn’t want you to think I love you any less, just because Max was your other biological father.”
She nodded slowly, still frowning. Wyatt wasn’t sure she understood it all, but as the adrenaline from the day faded, Hazel’s eyelids began to droop.
“Raph and I love you, Hazel. I think that’s the most important thing.”
“Love you too,” Hazel mumbled, yawning.
When she nodded off, Wyatt sagged into the car seat, tipping his head back. It probably wasn’t the end of the conversation. But they’d started it, and hopefully, Hazel would come to understand the decisions he’d made.
“You did great,” Raph said.
Wyatt chuckled. “I did?”
“Yeah. Hazel’s fine. You told her everything she needed to know.”
“I shouldn’t have gotten her riled up about the skating.” Wyatt groaned, rubbing his face. “But you’re right—it’s better if she stays inside the drive-in, so we can all keep an eye on her.”
“Maybe give her something safer to work on,” Raph said. “Like the accounting.”
“Ha! That girl hates math.”
“She’ll take over the business someday, won’t she?”
Wyatt paused with his mouth open. He hadn’t thought that far. At first, all he’d imagined was himself and Hazel, making a living through the drive-in. At some point, Hazel might enroll in college, and she might leave for the big cities. But Wyatt had a second child now, and he also had Raph.
And he and Raph had only just made up this morning.
He sagged into his seat, suddenly tired. “I don’t know. It’s been such a long day.”
“We still have to visit Mom.”
“I know.”
Raph looked tired, too. There were bruises starting to form on his face, from when Max had somehow punched him. The blood on his hands had dried, and there was an edge of weariness in his eyes.
Raph had skipped work, had accompanied Wyatt to talk to Dad, had beaten Max, and gotten rid of him permanently. He’d done all of that for Wyatt, and Wyatt realized he needn’t have doubted Raph at all. Raph might have a debt, and he might have kept his secrets. But he’d promised to move to Meadowfall, and be part of Wyatt’s family.
“I love you,” Wyatt said.
Raph slanted a look at him, the corners of his lips quirking up. “Yeah?”
“Yes.” Wyatt rested his hand on Raph’s thigh. Penny’s Mini Cooper was narrower than he was used to; there was barely a center console, and he could touch Raph without reaching far, let his nails scrape the rough fabric of Raph’s jeans. “I love you like I love no one else, Raph Fleming.”
“What about Hazel? And the baby?” Raph’s eyes gleamed.
“That’s a different sort of love.” Wyatt squeezed Raph’s thigh, leaning into his shoulder. “I’m just glad this all worked out. And that you’re not in jail.”
Gods, having Raph in jail would have been a terrible end to tonight. Wyatt pressed his nose to Raph’s bicep, breathing in teak and old sweat. “Are you staying with us tonight?”
Raph winced. “I’ll probably have to return to work tomorrow.”
And Grandma’s shadow hung over them, all over again. “I’ll ask around,” Wyatt said. “Maybe someone knows how I can get rid of debt.”
“Would be nice if we could use Grandma’s inheritance for it.” Raph smiled wryly.
“You did not just say that.”
“It’s not like
