Chapter Six

The next morning, Nathan was asleep in his bed in his bedroom. Milo was sleeping on the couch in the living room alone. When Nathan woke up, he did his morning stretch and he yawned as he rubbed his eyes and he sighed after opening his eyes after removing his hand and stared at the ceiling to think for a moment. 

Once he propped himself up in the bed, after pulling aside his blankets, Nathan walked out of the bedroom and he headed to the kitchen. He was trying to be quiet so he wouldn't wake Milo up. Nathan went up to the refrigerator and he took out a carton of eggs and a package of bacon and closed the door before walking up to the stove and placing the eggs and bacon onto the counter beside the stove.

Nathan heard Milo coming into the kitchen and Milo wished Nathan a good morning. "Hey buddy," says Nathan, turning around to look at Milo. "Good morning, daddy," Milo said, sitting down in a counter chair behind Nathan. Milo rested his arms on the countertop and sighed. "Did you sleep well?" Nathan wondered,
taking out his frying pan from the kitchen cabinet under the stove.

"Yes, I did," answered Milo.

Nathan took the frying pan and placed it on top of the stove after closing the kitchen cabinet. "Do you want breakfast?" Nathan asked. "I'm not much of a breakfast eater, Daddy," Milo said. Nathan turned on the stove, fired it up before grabbing an egg and cracking it into the pan, and throwing the eggshell into the trash can behind him.

"Well, breakfast is the most important meal of the day," says Nathan, before turning around and walking back to the stove.

Nathan took out another egg from the carton and he cracked the egg once again in the pan. "I know daddy. I am not a breakfast eater. But I guess just one day won't hurt me," says Milo.

"Okay, your words not mine," Nathan said, chuckling.

"Daddy?" Milo asked.

"What, buddy?" Nathan said, looking at Milo.

"You'd promise me if I ever go to the big league game with you, you'll get to be the pitcher?!" Milo said.

"Yeah. Maybe." Nathan said, chuckling.

He realized that it would probably never happen to him. He's dying of cancer. "I want to win the World Series, daddy!" Milo said. Nathan sighed and smiled at his son. He chuckled and turned around facing the pan on top of the stove.

The next day, Nathan was sitting in his car waiting outside the daycare.
He is picking up Milo from school and it is almost three in the afternoon. Even though Nathan started seeing Milo and other students come out of the daycare center, Milo looked really unhappy. His face was looking down at the ground as he walked over to the car.

After Milo opened the door, he sat inside the car, before closing the door. "Hey, daddy," Milo said, looking all down. "Hey buddy, how was school?" Nathan wondered. Milo placed his backpack beside him underneath the glovebox and on top of the car mat and he sighed and leaned back in his seat.

"Did you have a good day today?" Nathan asked. He instantly regretted asking that question. Milo looked at Nathan and nodded his head yes, but in silence.

"Milo? Tell me the truth. You seem like you are sad. Did something happen to you today?" Nathan asked.

Milo without saying anything just shrugged his shoulders, looking away from Nathan. "Okay. How about we go get some ice cream? I know your favorite flavor is chocolate chip cookie dough, right?" Nathan said, looking at Milo. Milo sighed and said, "I want to go home, Daddy."

A sad-looking Milo glanced at his father Nathan. Nathan nodded his head and said, "Okay. Okay. We'll go home. But first daddy is gonna buy you some ice cream. I know that will cheer you up." Nathan said, looking at his son once again. Milo did not look at Nathan.

Nathan sighed and he turned on his car before he pulled the shift into drive and pressed his gas pedal before pulling out of the school parking lot. When Nathan and Milo were back at Nathan's house, in the kitchen, Nathan was scooping up the ice cream and placing the ice cream into Milo's bowl. Milo was playing with his baseball while sitting in his bedroom alone. Nathan places the ice cream container back in the freezer before he turns around and walks to the counter to grab Milo's bowl and leave the kitchen.

Milo was lying on his bed throwing the ball gently in the air and then grabbing it with his glove. Nathan knocked on the door and he asked Milo if he could come inside. Milo sighed and didn't say a word again. Nathan opened the door before walking into Milo's bedroom and he noticed his son was looking upset and watching Milo play with his baseball.

"How are you feeling, bud?" Nathan asked, walking up to Milo's bed.

He placed the bowl on the nightstand next to Milo's bed and sat on the edge of the bed and watched Milo continue to play with his baseball.

"Hey," says Nathan, gently grabbing Milo's hand.

Milo looked at his dad. "You know you can tell me anything. Did something happen to you today at school?" Nathan wondered. Milo sighed and he looked away from Nathan. Milo looked out the window that was next to his bed.

The sun hit Milo's face and Nathan could not get Milo to say anything. Milo was giving Nathan the silent treatment. Nathan sighed and he looked away from Milo. He couldn't think of anything else to say about the situation his son was having a difficult day.

Nathan knew Milo was having a bad day. Milo sighed and turned to his side, facing the window. "Eat your ice cream buddy, it's gonna melt," says Nathan, grabbing the bowl. Milo continues to be silent. Nathan sighed and he stood up from the bed before walking away from Milo.

Before he exited his bedroom, Nathan looked at Milo once again. Milo continued to lie on his side facing the window. Nathan could only see Milo's back view. He turned to the door and left Milo's bedroom. After exiting the bedroom, Nathan shuts the door gently.

He took a bite of his ice cream which was supposed to be Milo's favorite snack to eat. He then headed to the living room and sat down on the couch alone.

Last week, Milo gave Nathan the silent treatment. Even Ella and Victor were given the silent treatment as well—because they could not figure out why Milo would not say anything. Nathan was at the police station investigating another case. He and Lane are talking about Milo's silent treatment.

"So he hadn't said anything in a week. Even Ella and Victor can't get him to talk." Nathan said.

"Well, he could have a lot on his mind. Maybe someone gave him a hard time at school?" Lane said.

"I asked him that. He just shrugged his shoulders." Nathan said.

"He's a five-year-old boy. There could be many other reasons why he'd stopped talking." Lane said.

Nathan nodded his head and sighed. "Have you tried talking to Ella about the whole thing? You can ask her if Milo said anything yet," Lane said.

Nathan looked at the evidence board before he nodded his head no. He heard his personal phone ringing and he went up to his desk and grabbed his phone before answering the one call.

It was Ella who had called Nathan. "Ella, what's going on?" Nathan asked. Nathan waited for Ella to explain what was going on with Milo. He was being bullied at school.

Nathan sighed and said, "Okay, whoa, Ella. Tell me exactly what happened," says Nathan.

Ella explains that Milo had gotten into a fight with another preschooler and they were a bully to Milo. Nathan instantly knew that it didn't sound like Milo who would ever hurt anyone.

"Well, he did, Nathan. I need you to come here right away." Ella said.

"Okay. Okay. I'm on my way." Nathan said, before hanging up his phone.

Nathan sighed and he immediately grabbed his stuff from his desk and left the squad room. Once Nathan had arrived at the daycare center, he entered the center after the sliding doors opened and he saw Ella arguing with Milo's teacher.

"Hey, I'm here!" Nathan said, looking at Ella.

"Tell him! Tell my ex-husband what you'd just told me about his son!" Ella said.

She was angry. Nathan looked at Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Smith said, "We are gonna have to have Milo be suspended from school for two weeks," said Mrs. Smith.

"Two weeks, why?!" Nathan said, frowning.

"Because your son tried to hit another one of my students, Mr. Luke," says Mrs. Smith.

"No. No. My son wouldn't hurt anyone. He's a good kid!" Nathan said.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Luke, but I am telling you that Milo was the violent one here." Mrs. Smith said.

"Oh really? And where were you when all this happened? My ex-wife told me that you were no longer seen at the time of the incident,"  Nathan snapped, walking up to Mrs. Smith.

Mrs. Smith sighed and said, "Mr. Luke, I am just doing my job." Nathan scoffed. "No! No! Your job was supposed to suspend the other kid who was hurting my son! My son is the victim here!" Nathan continued. He was still upset at Mrs. Smith.

"Nathan, it's okay," Ella said, trying to keep Nathan from getting closer to Mrs. Smith.

Mrs. Smith rolled her eyes and sighed. "Don't you roll your eyes at me! I expect you to do better than this!" Nathan snapped.

"Nathan, Nathan. It's okay. Come on, let's go pick up Milo. He doesn't need to hear this." Ella said. Nathan sighed before walking away from Ella and Mrs. Smith. Nathan headed towards the office and he opened the door before he saw his son Milo sitting on his chair alone.

Nathan sighed and he walked towards Milo. Nathan squatted down and said, "Milo, what happened?" Nathan said, quietly.

Milo didn't say a word. He was staring at the wall across from the office. Nathan took a deep breath and said, "Milo, you know you don't hurt people. So Mrs. Smith said you got into a fight with another student? Is that true?" Nathan asked.

Milo looked at Nathan and he sighed.

"Is that true?" Nathan asked.

"I'm sorry, Daddy. I didn't mean to! He was being mean to me first. I was trying to ignore him and he pushed me on the playground. I hurt my elbow." Milo said, giving a sad look on his face as he looked at Nathan.

"How long has this been going on? This boy who has been mean to you?" Nathan said, looking at Milo.

"Since school started," answered Milo.

"Since the first day of school?" Nathan said, frowning. He took Milo's hand and gently squeezed it.

"I didn't want to bother you or Mommy about it. I was afraid I was gonna get into trouble," says Milo.

"Well, Mrs. Smith is to blame here. Not you. But don't ever be afraid to stick up for yourself. Bullying is not okay. And you know that right?" Nathan said.

Milo nodded his head. Nathan smiled and said, "Come here buddy." Nathan and Milo hugged. Nathan kissed Milo's forehead.

"I love you so much," says Nathan.

"I love you too, Daddy," Milo answered, smiling.

Nathan closed his eyes and he kissed his son's forehead once again. He rocked him gently back and forth. He kissed Milo's forehand one last time. Nathan sighed and he and Milo continued to hug.