Caleb pov
She was sad about me, about what I'd done to her, about raising Tom alone while I'd been living in ignorance. The guilt sat heavy in my chest.
"Hey Tom, you know your mommy loves you more than anything, right?"
"I know." Tom placed a blue block carefully. "She tells me every day. And she works really hard to give me good things. That's why I try to be good and not make her sad."
This three-year-old was trying to protect his mother's feelings, trying to be good so he wouldn't add to her burdens, and I wanted to gather him up and promise him that he'd never have to worry about that again.
"You can just be a kid, buddy," I said. "You don't have to try to be good all the time. Kids are supposed to be messy and loud and ask for puppies."
Tom looked at me seriously. "Really?"
"
