Krystina

At the table, I let Stephen help Bryan into his booster seat, hoping it'll encourage him to relax.

Once we're all seated, Bryan blesses the food reciting the little prayer that they taught him at pre-k.

After I serve everyone their food, I pour some of the sparkling apple cider for Bryan and myself. I then pour Stephen a bit if wine, hoping again, that it will calm his nerves.

Bryan, ever perceptive, notices the difference in drinks. "What's dat?" He asks, pointing at the glass in Stephen's hand.

"Uhh." Stephen replies, obviously at a loss for words. "It's, uhh, grape juice."

"How come I didn't get any grape juice?" Bryan questions, even more curious now.

Again, Stephen gapes for words. "Because this grape juice is for grown ups." He smiles, thinking that that will be the end of the inquisition.

"What makes it different from grape juice for kids?" Bryan replies without missing a beat. I have to put my head down to keep from laughing. Both at Bryans relentless questions, and the look of astonishment on Stephen's face because Bry has yet to drop the subject.

"It has an extra special something in it." Stephen says.

"What kinda extra special something?" He tilts his head to the side. Unable to contain myself, I bust out laughing, surprising the both of them.

Stephen smiles, probably realizing how comical the entire situation is. "It's a....secret ingredient that I can't tell you. Only grown ups can know, and if I told you I'd be breaking the law."

Bryan fixes his lips to ask another question. "I think that's enough of those questions honey. You haven't even started on your dinner." I tell him.

It's obvious that he wants to ask something else, but instead he shrugs his shoulders and starts on his chicken salad.

We eat in an awkward silence for a few moments before Bryan opens his mouth. Again.

"How old are you?" He directs toward Stephen.

"Uh, twenty-six." He pauses to bring a fork full of salad to his mouth. "How old are you?"

He answer with a mouth full of food."Four." He swallows. "Do you have a job? Mom says men that don't have jobs are scrubs. Are you a scrub?"

Stephen chokes on his drink. "I'm not a scrub." He laughs, shooting me a humorous look. "I have a job."

"Where do you work?"

"I own a company that makes and sells toys. You've probably got a couple of them upstairs in your room." He tells him.

"You know that business suit costume you have upstairs, honey? Stephen's company made that." I interject, trying to gain Stephen some points.

Bryans eyes go wide. "Really?!" He asks. "That's my favoritest toy!"

A wide grin stretches its way across Stephen's face as his eyes light up. "I'm glad you like it." He tells him.

Dinner continues with Bryans constant questioning and Stephen answering to the best of his abilities.

After dinner, we move to the living room.

Bryan brings out a bunch of his toys, half of them made by S&S Toys, and invites Stephen to play with him.

"I'll be superman, and you can be Batman." Bryan tells him at one point, trying to put on the superman costume over his clothes.

"Good. Batman is the better superhero." Stephen says, grabbing the child sized masked from the floor.

Bryan stills. "What?" He turns to face Stephen.

This kid is hilarious.

I suck in my cheeks to keep the bubble of laughter inside.

"I said batman is better than superman." He says, looking Bryan right in the eye.

Those, to Bryan of course, were fighting words. They spend the next thirty minutes play fighting, trying to prove that their hero is superior.

When they tire of that, Stephen helps Bryan set up the Wii and the Michael Jackson Experience dance game.

I get them both a glittery sash from my closet, to better help them get into character.

The next hour, is filled with nothing but smiles and laughter.

When Bryan falls to the floor in a fit of giggles at Stephen's dance moves, or lack thereof, I decide that's it's time.

We turn off game and sit Bryan on the couch between the two of us.

"Well that was interesting." I say, sending Bryan into another fit.

I wait until he's calmed down to begin.

"Did you have fun today, sweetie?" I ask him

"It was the best day ever!" He throws his hands up as he shouts, ever enthusiastic.

"Best day ever, huh." I laugh at his antics. "And what what about Stephen. What do you think about him?"

"He's so cool! He played superheroes with me, and I got to beat him up, and he played Michael Jackson with me, and he said that he's gonna bring me new toys that aren't even in store yet!" He rambles on, obviously happy.

Whatever worries I had are immediately eased. He likes him.

"Do you remember what we talked about a few days ago, Bryan. When I told you that your dad and I had recently become friends?" I begin, putting a reassuring hand on his back.

He looks at me for a moment before nodding. He tilts his head to the side and then turns around to look at Stephen.

What I see in his eyes is enough to fill mine with tears.

Hope.

Adoration.

Longing.

My guilt once again surfaces, slamming into me like a train. I push it away knowing that this is not the time, nor the place to acknowledge the negative thoughts swimming in my head.

Bryans turns back to me, looking up at me with hopeful yet guarded eyes, and for a moment, I wonder: How long have these thoughts about his father plagued him? Has he been picked on at school because he doesn't have a dad at home?

The thought alone is enough to force a quiet sob from my throat. I know I can't delay any longer.

I open my mouth to utter the words, but hear Stephen's voice instead.

"I'm you're daddy, Bryan."

As soon as the words are said, Bryan lunges at Stephen, throwing himself into his father's arms.

Stephen's face, like mine, is streaked with tears as he hugs his son for the first time.

Bryans face, however, is filed with nothing but pure joy.

"I knew it!" He yells, arranging himself on Stephen's lap so that they're facing each other.

"Mommy said that her and my daddy were friends, and Auntie Savvy told me that my daddy was a white man. And then you came over and helped me with my truck, and I knew you were my daddy, but then you left so I thought you weren't my daddy, and then you came back and I knew you were my daddy!" He says excitedly, causing Stephen to laugh.

"So you had it all figured out huh?"

"Yup." He answers distracted. "Are you gonna move in with us, now? You can share my room." He stares up at Stephen with hopeful eyes.

"No, honey. Stephen's not gonna be moving in with us." I tell him, knowing that I'm unfortunately dampening his mood.

"Then how am I gonna see him?" He pokes out his bottom lip.

I move closer to the both of them, cradling Bryans face in one hand. "You'll see him all the time! He'll come over here and hang out, we'll all go out together, and you'll even get to go over to his house sometimes."

"Really?"

Stephen steps in. "Of course. In fact, I'll make sure to hang out with you everyday, even if it's just for a few minutes."

Bryan holds out his pinky, "Pinky promise?"

Stephen grasps his son's pinky and interlocks it with his own.

"Pinky promise."

____________________________________________________________________

How cute!!!!!

The truth had finally been unleashed, and I could not be more relieved.

But don't breathe easy just yet. The drama is FAR from over ladies and gentlemen.

Make sure you stay tuned.

Sidenote: does Wattpad automatically alert readers to a new chapter, or is it something that I, the author, have to do manually?

Some people have told me that they don't get notifications when I update. Is there a way to remedy that?

As always, THANK YOU, GUYS! I APPRECIATE EVERY COMMENT AND EVERY VOTE!!