“Daddy!”

                Brandon Saunders turned around and just barely managed to catch Trace as the 5 year old launched into his arms. He lifted Trace up and spun him around, smiling at him.

                “Happy father’s day!” Trace said, throwing his arms around Brandon’s neck and kissing his cheek.

                “Thank you Trace,” Brandon said with a smile.

                “I love you daddy,” Trace said, smiling up at his dad.

                “I love you too Trace. I love you so much,” Brandon said, glad to see Trace in such a good mood today.

                “I got you a present, daddy. Wanna see it?” Trace asked eagerly.

                Brandon nodded and set Trace down. His wife was away on a business trip, but had called him this morning to wish him a happy father’s day. As guilty as it made him feel, Brandon was almost happy she wasn’t here today. She would’ve brought Trace’s mood down.

                Trace ran out of the room. He returned a minute later with a nicely wrapped gift and held it out to Brandon.

                “Zeke’s mommy helped me wrap it,” Trace said.

                Brandon nearly winced at that. Trace’s mom should’ve been the one to help him wrap the present.

                Brandon pushed it out of his mind, smiling as he took the gift from trace and sat on the couch. Trace stood in front of him, eagerly watching.

                Brandon unwrapped the gift, revealing a mug that had “I love you daddy” written in Trace’s messy handwriting on it in paint. He smiled up at Trace, setting the mug down and holding his arms out.

                Trace jumped into his arms and he hugged the little boy tightly. Trace pulled away from him, his eyes bright.

                “Do you like it? I know you like coffee, so I got that for you to drink it out of!” Trace said proudly. “It was my idea, daddy! I did it all by myself!”

                “I love it Trace. It’s the best gift I could’ve gotten,” Brandon said with a smile, ruffling Trace’s hair. “Thank you so much, buddy.”

                He lifted Trace into his lap, keeping his arms around him. Trace giggled and smiled up at him happily.

                “I love you daddy. We’re gonna have a good father’s day today, I promise!” he said.

                “Yes we are,” Brandon said, his smile growing even wider. He couldn’t have asked for a more perfect son than Trace.

                                                                                                ***

                Trace came into the kitchen, looking sleepy. He ran a hand through his messy hair and Brandon smiled at him.

                “Happy father’s day,” Trace said, noticing his dad.

                “Thank you Trace,” Brandon said, the smile staying on his face.

                “HAPPY FATHER’S DAY BRANDON!”

                Trace winced as Kory ran up behind him and yelled that. Trace spun around, slapping a hand over Kory’s mouth.

                “Kory, shut up! It’s too loud for you to be obnoxious! He’s not even your dad!” Trace snapped.

                Kory pulled Trace’s hand away. “Someone is grumpy,” he said, poking Trace’s cheek. “Besides, he’s my stepdad! And I haven’t celebrated father’s day since my dad died!”

                Brandon’s smile slipped as he realized that Kory probably hadn’t ever celebrated a real father’s day before. Janine had told him that Kory’s father would leave early in the morning to go out and get blackout drunk.

                “Hey, you’re my son, and you’re my stepson, and the word ‘son’ is present in both of those which means you’re both forced to celebrate with me today,” Brandon said, going over to them and putting his arms around them.

                Janine came out and smiled at them. “Hey guys. Happy father’s day, Brandon. Thanks for letting me forcibly relate you to my idiot of a son.”

                “Hey!” Kory whined.

                Brandon chuckled. “I don’t mind a minute of it,” he said honestly. He loved his family. He loved his son, and wife, and stepson.

                “Thanks so much for everything Brandon. Really. I appreciate it all,” Kory said with a smile.

                Brandon gave him a hug. “Hey, I should be thanking you. You put up with my moody son,” he said, shooting Trace an affectionate smile.

                Trace sighed and went over to Brandon. Brandon released Kory and Trace ran a hand through his hair.

                “I know I kind of suck at being a good son. But…thanks so much for everything dad. You’ve done so much for me. I love you,” Trace said honestly.

                Brandon pulled Trace into his arms, hugging him tightly. “I love you so much Trace. You don’t suck at being a good son. You’re the best son anyone could ever ask for,” Brandon said with a small smile.

                “AW! TRACE THAT WAS SO CUTE! YOU DO HAVE EMOTIONS!” Kory squealed.

                Brandon chuckled, releasing Trace. He picked up his coffee mug and took a sip from it. Trace blushed a little at the messy handwriting on the mug, but shot his dad a small smile. Brandon’s own smile grew, because nothing made for a better gift on father’s day than to see his son happy.