“Yeah. Finally.”
“You should’ve listened to me the first time,” she said with a laugh.
I looked between them.
Greg had given Toby the childhood I’d never had.
“Since when are you Greg’s camping consultant?”
Vanessa shrugged and reached for her coffee.
“He asked me about tents a while back. Apparently, I looked outdoorsy enough to qualify.”
Greg laughed.
“Long hike. Gonna grab a shower.”
I meant it. Greg had given Toby the childhood I’d never had: a father who showed up. I’d built this life so my son would never wonder where his daddy was.
****
The following Sunday, they came home just before dusk. I opened the door expecting the mix of campfire smoke, dirt, and pine.
Instead, both Greg and Toby smelled faintly of expensive laundry detergent. Clean. Almost too clean for two people who had supposedly spent the weekend outdoors.
“Hey, honey.” Greg kissed my cheek quickly. “I’m beat. Long hike. Gonna grab a shower.”
