“Tommy,” Ryan breathed, pulling the boy into a quick hug. His eyes flicked between Tommy and me, unsure of what to say. “I-I can’t believe… thank you for—” He trailed off, clearly overwhelmed.
I nodded, trying to process my own emotions. There was a thick, uncomfortable silence between us, filled with years of unspoken anger and unanswered questions.
“You’re welcome,” I finally muttered, though the words felt stiff. Ryan’s hand rested protectively on Tommy’s shoulder, and he looked cautious, unsure how to navigate the situation.
“I didn’t think I’d see you again,” Ryan said quietly, the regret in his voice barely hidden. “Is he… my nephew?”
The question slipped out before I could stop it. My heart was in my throat as I asked, and I immediately regretted how blunt it sounded.
Ryan hesitated, his eyes filled with uncertainty. But eventually, he nodded. “Yeah. He is.”
I let out a shaky breath, the reality of it all hitting me like a punch to the gut. My own brother had built a life, had a son, and I didn’t even know.
“I wish I’d known,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
Ryan’s jaw clenched, and for a moment, I thought he might snap at me. But instead, he sighed, his shoulders slumping. “I didn’t know how to tell you.”
That hit harder than I expected. I’d spent years angry at him for vanishing, for leaving without a word. And now, hearing that he’d struggled with it too, that he hadn’t just moved on… it stung in a way I hadn’t anticipated.
“You just disappeared, Ryan,” I said, my voice thick with emotion. “One day you were there, and the next you were gone. No explanation, no goodbye.”
Ryan ran a hand through his hair, his expression pained. “I know. I screwed up. But I had to leave. Things were… complicated.”
Tommy, sensing the tension, looked up at both of us, confused but curious. “Are we gonna see Uncle Ethan again?” he asked innocently.
Ryan and I exchanged a look, and for the first time since he’d appeared, Ryan smiled—just a small, tentative smile, but it was there.
“Maybe,” Ryan said, glancing at me. “Maybe we can try.”
I nodded, my chest tight with a mix of old bitterness and newfound hope. “Yeah,” I said softly. “Maybe we can.”