“Don’t ‘oh hi Dad’ me. What the hell are you two getting up to now?”
“Oh nuffin,” Theo replies sweetly. I watch the older boy's eyes darting behind him and give him a pointed look. He at least has the sense to look ashamed and I have to keep the smile off my face. Despite the age difference, watching these two remind me so much of Ethan and I when we were young. I remember well the mischief we got up to, as all young boys should.
“Who was it?” I ask, curious who they pissed off today.
“Mrs. Pint,” Omer answers and I groan. One of the oldest residents of Tekir and the best baker in town, you’d be hard pressed to find a sharper tongue in New Europe.
“Fuck,” I mutter, rubbing my hand down my face before kneeling down in front of my son. “All right, I’ll go deal with Mrs. Pint, but you gotta go find your mama and tell her where you are and see if she needs any help. Deal?”
Theo considers this for a moment before another shout comes from around the corner. The boy’s eyes widen before he smiles, leaning forward to plant a sticky kiss on my cheek.
“Okaysuredadthanks!” follows behind as the two boys run away just in time for Mrs. Pint to turn the corner.
“Where did those little—”
A deafening boom sounds in the distance and everyone around stops, looking to the west. In slow measured steps I walk down the street until I can see the mountains in the distance. Thick black smoke billows from behind them and I feel the hairs on my body begin to rise. It’s a ways away, but not nearly far enough for my liking.
We always knew our peace here would not last forever and that one day, we would pay the price for all we did. I just hoped we had longer.
I feel something touch my leg and look down to see little Theo grabbing on to my thigh. I lean down and pick him up and his arms immediately wrap around my neck.
“Daddy, what is that?” he whispers in my ear.
My lips tighten and I grip the boy harder, kissing his head.
“It’s time.”