“Did he beat up the guy like a Power Ranger?”
“No. He kissed her instead.”
“And then they lived happily ever after?”
“Not quite. They became good friends, spent a lot of time together. He was her first love.”
“Was she his too?”
I didn’t know what to reply, so instead I moved on. “They were close for years until one day they weren’t anymore.”
“What happened?”
“He left and became the biggest, best football player ever.”
“Wow. Like Jax Colton?”
My heart was breaking. I didn’t think it was possible, yet there it was. Shattering into a million pieces.
“Just like Jax Colton.”
“One day I’m going to be like him too! Right, Mom?”
“Yeah, baby. You’re going to be just like him.”
“What happened next?”
“They didn’t see each other for years, and then one night they randomly ran into one another.”
“They did?”
“Mmm-hmm.”
“And then they lived happily ever after?”
“No. They made you.”
He cocked his head to the side. “Me? You mean a boy like me?”
I shook my head, fresh tears forming in my eyes.
“Mom, why are you sad?”
“This story, Ben. It’s not make-believe. It’s the story of me and your dad.”
“My dad?” He beamed. “You mean my dad plays football?”
“Yeah.”
His mouth parted. “Who is he? Do I know him? Does Grampy?”
Why did this have to be so hard?
It wasn’t until Ben wiped the tears from my cheeks with his thumbs that I realized I was crying.
“Mom, don’t be sad. It makes me sad.”
I grabbed his little hands, kissing them repeatedly.