“Andrew was alone?”
Officer Benny nodded.
“He looked panicked, so I stopped.”
“He looked panicked, so I stopped to check.”
“The ambulance had already taken Mr. Henson.”
Andrew woke and hugged Logan’s leg.
I couldn’t look away.
“You were worried about Logan,” Officer Benny said.
“You were worried about Logan.”
“You don’t need to worry as much.”
“He’s becoming someone you can rely on.”
“He’s becoming the kind of young man you can rely on.”
I hugged Logan.
He stiffened, then hugged me back.
“It’s okay, Mom.”
“I thought I was the only one holding this family together.”
“I thought I was the only one keeping this family upright.”
“No, Mom. We both are.”
Later that evening, I sat at the kitchen table.
Logan washed dishes, humming quietly.
I listened.
I hadn’t heard him hum in a long time.
I sat very still, listening.
After everything we’d been through, I had spent so long fearing what could go wrong.
But now, I could finally see what had gone right.
My boys were going to be okay.
More than okay.
They were going to make me proud.
