FIVE DAYS EARLIER

The two-hour drive to Bluffton hadn't been something Willows enjoyed doing. It was hell for him, having to sit in long traffic and pray for it to thin. He'd hurt his back twice during one of those rigorous exercises he underwent in the navy. The wound had healed years ago, but whenever he sat for long hours he began to feel the pain.

His physician had warned him about the side effects of the therapy and the things that triggered the illness. One of them was prolonged sitting; something which had gradually become inevitable in his life.

He hated the drive like he hated waking up on Mondays for work, but what made this tedious drive worthwhile was the thought of seeing his son smiling and running to hug him. After his divorce, his wife Anna moved out of the house and relocated to a place in Bluffton. The court gave her custody of the child. Ronnie was still a minor, and the court didn't think he could take care of the child alone.

He knew the reason Anna was given Ronnie was that she had remarried ,which meant extra support for the kid. Willows hadn't taken the court's ruling to heart although it hurt him Ronnie was away and he only got the opportunity to see him four times a week. It wasn't enough, but he was okay with it. Besides, what could he do?

Not wanting to miss any part of the child's transition, he had made it a priority to visit him during the times the court had stipulated. And today-being the first Tuesday after his retirement-was no exception.

He kept drumming the steering wheel and studying his reflection in the rearview mirror. The traffic was jammy and it wouldn't thin anytime soon. Ronnie needed to find him in good shape, so his appearance had also been a topmost priority too.

Years of fieldwork had left him weak, but not to the extent he was vulnerable. He could still do a marathon and not get tired. He'd made sure to engage in unvigorous exercises and he'd stuck to it. When necessary, he visited the barbering shop for a cut and constantly changed his clothes too. If it were up to him, he was fit to cater to a child. He'd always been fit to do so because to the best of his knowledge, he had good parenting skills.

He ran his hand through his hair, fixed straying strands, and dabbed at the rivulets of sweat forming on his forehead. The traffic finally thinned. He revved the engine and sped off.

Twenty minutes later, he pulled up into a driveway that led to a pretty house with bay windows. It had a porch and a wide garden. Willows cut off the engine, unbuckled the seat belt, and girded himself to face Anna and her husband. He walked to the front door and knocked. He'd been to this place for a while now and every time he felt butterflies in his tummy.

Willows did not get anxious over trivial matters, but this particular place made him nervous. The reasons were obvious. He didn't like Anna's husband. He wasn't jealous of him. No! Why would he be jealous of him? He just didn't like him around his son. That's all.

The Formica door slid open, bringing him to the present. A tall woman with dark curly hair stood at the threshold, her expression hostile. She wasn't happy to see him, and Willows didn't give a heck.

"Hello, Anna," he said. After the divorce had been finalized, they'd used first names.

Anna folded her arms across her bosom and muttered, "What do you want?"

"What else? If not to see my son."

"It's not yet time. Besides Ronnie has flu. He can't receive any visitors."

Her uncouth manners irritated him, but knowing his son was sick and she didn't even phone to tell him dispelled the anger. Without a word, Willows walked past her and stepped inside a big living room that displayed decent decor. A burly man was sprawled on a couch, his face hidden behind a newspaper. When he heard footsteps, he lowered the paper and peered at Ethan as though he was an interloper.

Ethan said, "Hi," and without waiting for him to respond, he darted toward the staircase. He knew the house like the back of his hand, so he decided to suit himself. Anna frowned and trailed him.

Ronnie's room was a typical growing child's room with every item placed in the appropriate place. In a moderate bed, a lanky kid of about eight years old was sleeping. He wore white pajamas and a Mickey Mouse spread was covered halfway across his small body.

Ethan ran to his bedside and sat slowly. Ronnie's eyes flickered open and he grinned. "Daddy! You're here!" He moved his hand forward and reached for his.

Ethan intertwined his fingers with his and said, "Yes. How're you feeling?"

"Sick."

He gently touched his forehead. His temperature was neither too cold nor too hot. He sighed and ruffled his dark scrawny hair. "I'm sorry."

"Dad. When are you going to move in?"

It sent Ethan into a revert. During most of his visits, Ronnie had asked him this question over and over. It saddened him Ronnie hadn't learned to accept reality. He still had this fantasy his parents would one day come back together. Ethan didn't have an apt answer to this question and he never would.

He didn't answer immediately, but instead changed the subject. "How's school?"

"Fine, but I couldn't go today. The doctor said I'm very sick."

"Yes. Sick people don't go anywhere. They stay in bed."

"That's what Mommy said too."

He fondled his cheek. "And she's right."

Anna burst into the room. She concealed the frown with a smile as she paced to the bed and joined them. Tucking her hair behind her left ear, she crouched over him, said, "You're awake," and kissed his forehead.

"Yes, Mommy. Daddy came. Please tell him to stay."

The child's request made them share a tense look. This was exactly what Anna wanted to avoid. Ethan's visit to the house was unhealthy for her relationship with Ronnie, and she'd desperately searched for ways to prevent him from seeing his son. It was selfish, but she wanted nothing to do with him.

In a soothing voice she said, "Son, you know he can't. He's got work."

Ronnie stubbornly shook his head. "But Daddy's retired. He doesn't work anymore. You told me that. Remember?"

Her eyes narrowed. She didn't want to contradict him, so she wholeheartedly admitted he was right. She pulled a face at Ethan and gestured to him it was time to leave. He didn't argue with her. The visit was already getting awkward with his son requesting him to live under the same roof with his ex-wife and her husband. He kissed his cheek, spent minutes saying goodbyes, and then showed himself out of the room.

Anna put Ronnie to sleep. After she felt sure he'd slumbered, she left the room and found Ethan in the hallway. She walked briskly to him and snapped, "Why can't you understand Ronnie doesn't need you in his life? You're causing him more pain each time you come and go."

Although she was right about the second statement, he didn't agree with her that being out of Ronnie's life was the best.

"Ronnie's my son. There's no way I'd let him grow up without his father by his side."

"He's got one now."

It hurt Ethan Alex had assumed his place, and Anna had accepted it, but as much as he hated to admit it, Ronnie had a father now. It wouldn't hurt if he had two fathers.

Ethan glared at his ex-wife. A woman he'd once been madly in love with and was willing to sacrifice anything for her. At the wedding altar, they had vowed nothing would separate them except death, and any time he remembered it, he felt bad it wasn't death that tore them apart but work.

"I'm not leaving my son so it'd be better if you start putting up with my presence."

"Don't push me to the wall. I will file a restraining order if I have to. I've rebuilt my life. I have a husband. Why don't you have the decency to stop pestering us?"

"As long as Ronnie's here I will keep coming!"

"We shall see about that," she sputtered and looked menacingly at him. After she relaxed, she said, "You should leave. You disgust-"

She heard the creak of a door and paused. They whipped their head in the direction of the room. Ronnie stood by the door, his small hand clamped to the wall.

"Son, why're you up? You should be sleeping."

Anna moved hurriedly toward him, Ethan following her. Ronnie walked closer to them.

"Mommy?"

"Yes, dear. What's wrong?"

"Are you angry?"

Anna's brows arched. She wondered why he'd ask that. Then it occurred to her he might have overhead their verbal fight. She bent down and stroked his hair.

"No, darling."

He peered at his father and said, "Is Daddy angry?"

Anna knew he was because she was the one who angered him. The question made her look at Ethan. She'd forgotten how handsome he looked whenever he was mad. For a moment, she wondered why she should care about his looks. Since there wasn't a trace that suggested he was furious, she said to Ronnie, "No, he isn't."

"Why were you arguing then?"

"We weren't arguing. It's just grownups' talk."

He nodded mischievously. "Do grownups sound angry when they're talking?"

Anna figured there was no point in lying to him when he already knew exactly what was going on. After he'd heard them, he put his thoughts together.

"Come on, buddy!" Ethan chipped in. "You should be in bed because you're sick." He walked to his side and carried him into his brawny arms.

As they took him back to his room, he mumbled, "I don't want you and Mum to argue."

"We won't argue anymore," Ethan assured him.

"Promise?"

"I promise."

They reentered the room, and he gingerly placed him on his bed. With his right hand, he directed his leg to one side and the head to the pillow. Then he pulled the spread toward his upper torso.

A cold wind wafted into the room. Anna got the windows closed.

"It's time to sleep," Ethan said.

"Uh-huh." He toyed with the fringes of the sheet as Ethan kissed him goodbye.

"Are you going to stay?"

Ethan fell silent. "I can't, darling. There's someone I need to meet. It's urgent, but I promise I will come back for you."

Ronnie's face dropped, but he managed a short-lived smile. "All right, Dad. Take care of yourself." He jerked forward, kissed his cheek, and fell back on the pillow.

"I will."

"Sleep tight, sweetie," Anna told him. "I'm in the kitchen. Shout my name if you need anything."

"Yes, Mommy."

They left the room together. Anna closed the door behind them. In the hallway, Ethan's phone rang. He pulled it out and answered the call. It was his old pal from the navy, Ted Baker, and he sounded terrified.

"Ethan, I'm in trouble, and I need your help."