An arm wrapping around my waist snapped me out of the shock I was in.
Evie gasped, having pieced it together. “He was just telling me about the dog earlier tonight, Mrs. Carpenter.”
“It was right funny when he used a marker to color its paws and tail,” the old woman chuckled. “His parents knew the second they saw it.”
“He colored a dog in with a marker?” Cody asked in disbelief. “What if it’d licked its paws? That could have poisoned it, couldn’t it, Mom? You told me I couldn’t suck on my markers in second grade because of that.”
“He saved its life, Cody,” Mrs. Carpenter told him gently. “I couldn’t do it, so I’m glad God brought a boy into his life who could.”
Dropping the arm she’d had around my waist, Evie reached out and squeezed her hand. “I’m so sorry you went through all of that.”
Looking between Evie and Cody, Mrs. Carpenter’s lips thinned. “Some things show on the outside, and some are stuck on the inside. Doesn’t make one worse than the other. Once we get out from under it, we deserve happiness and peace like I found with my husband.
“I don’t claim to know all of what’s gone on here, but I can say I’m relieved you’ve got this boy in your life.” She gestured at me, getting a chuckle out of Cody.
“She called you a boy, Alex.”
“I’d call him a hero, but I’ll let you into a secret.” Mrs. Carpenter leaned in closer to him. “True heroes don’t like being called one. They don’t see how their actions save people or the differences they make.”
Cody’s chest puffed out. “He does that every day. He’s a detective who solves mysteries and crimes.”
Old blue eyes took me in. “I’m not surprised in the slightest. Heard news you had a son about two years after I left?”
I shook myself out of the stupor I was in. How fucking small was the world, and how many secrets did it hold. I’d never imagined I’d find out anything like that about my parents after so many years.
“Yeah, his name’s Dave, and he’s almost thirty-five now.”
“He’s the sheriff,” Cody chipped in. “He picks me up from school sometimes and takes me back to the station with him so I can learn how to do police things.”
“A hero’s baby being another hero. I like that.” Then, moving a chunk of hair away from his forehead, she added softly, “And I love that you’ve got them both in your life. I don’t think they’ll have to teach you how to do much because you remind me of a boy I once knew.” She looked straight at me, making it clear what she meant.
There was a sob, and we all looked at Evie, who had her fist pressed against her mouth. “Sorry, so sorry. These damn tears just keep getting me.”
Raising an eyebrow, Mrs. Carpenter smirked. “Hit you in the feels, did it?”
Cody gaped, but Evie nodded. “It’s a lot.”
Patting her on the shoulder, she took a step away from us. “It’s late and my husband will be driving over with his shotgun to make sure I’m okay if I don’t head back soon. Get this handsome little badass home to bed. Oh,” she cried, “and get him some donuts.”
That’s when I found out that the pre-teen was as soft as his mother, because Cody stepped forward and hugged her carefully. “Thank you, Mrs. C. I’m so glad I got to meet you.”
Moving up next to him, Evie wrapped her arms around both of them and whispered something to Mrs. Carpenter that made her laugh and nod. “I’d like that, honey. You make sure you do.”
Both of them waved goodbye and walked back to where my truck was sitting with the doors open and the lights on still, leaving us alone.
“I’m glad I got to see you again, boy,” she said softly. “Saw a sign once that said not all heroes wear capes, and it made me think of you. You remind me of your momma and daddy so much in appearance, heart, and soul.”
I swallowed harshly, then decided to say fuck it and hugged her. “I’m so glad it turned out how it did. Thank you for looking after our boy, too. He’s been through a lot in his short life.”
Smiling, she looked up at me. “You love him, don’t cha?”
I had a moment of candor. “He’s one of the people who make up my whole world. I used to see him when I wasn’t working, and you could see he had a weight on his shoulders that was taking the beauty out of life for him. I know what it feels like to have that, but I also know how much better it is without it weighing you down. I didn’t get it back then, but once I did, I made a resolution he’d never have that again.”