hesitates as he tries to remember. “She said to stay away from mean people.”
“Has he been doing this for long?” I ask.
He nods as he stares out the window.
“Owen, I want you to do something for me,” I say as my eyes flicker between him and the road.
“What?”
“Next time he says he’s going to hit you, I want you to do this.” I hold my hand up and then make a fist. “You do this with your hand and you tuck your thumb around the outside.”
He frowns.
“Can you do that for me? Show me how you do your hand?”
He makes a fist.
“Now, tuck your thumb around the front of your fist.”
He does it.
“Next time he says he’s going to hit you, you hit him first. You pull your arm back and hit him straight in the nose as hard as you can with your fist.”
He frowns.
“Bullies will only pick on you if they know you won’t fight back, Owen.”
He frowns at me.
“You don’t put up with crap, mate. If someone’s going to hit you, you show them you’re not scared, and they won’t be mean anymore.”
He watches me.
“Next time he says something, you do that, and I promise you he won’t be mean again.”
A trace of a smile crosses his face. “I might get into trouble.”
“It doesn’t matter.” I smirk. “It’s better than putting up with crap.” I pull the car into the parking lot. “Now, let’s go and buy our new skateboards.”
His eyes widen with excitement.
“You and me are learning how to skateboard this morning. How does that sound, buddy?”
“Good.” He smiles cheekily and makes a fist at me.
I smile broadly and hold my fist over to the back seat and he hits it with his.
Game over. This kid’s got me already.
It’s 2pm when the doorbell rings. Owen and I have been skateboarding up and down the driveway for hours. He’s actually pretty good and has natural balance.
It’s time for my family to meet my son, and it feels weird to be honest.
“That’s them, Owie.” I smile.
His little hands wring in front of him nervously and I smile to reassure him. Ashley was right, he is timid. We head to the front door and find Joshua, Tash, and their five kids. The kids are bouncing balls and the two younger boys are wrestling, as always.
Joshua has wild kids and I guess I didn’t realise how wild until I met Owen. I thought all kids were the same. My mother and Murph are with them and I open the door in a rush.
“Hello,” they all yell and Owen cowers behind my leg.
“Hello.” I smile as I pull Owen out from behind me. “This is Owen.” I present him.
Joshua and Natasha’s faces fall when they see him, and Joshua instantly chokes up. The resemblance Owen has to me is uncanny. “Say hello, Owen.” I smile.
He forces a scared smile as he clings to my hand for dear life. “This is Uncle Joshua and Aunty Natasha, and this is Grandma, and this is Murphy,” I introduce.
They all step forward and shake his hand one at a time.
“You look like your dad.” Joshua smiles with a cheeky wink. “You poor thing.”
Mom bends and grabs him into an embrace and kisses him. “Oh, he’s beautiful, Cameron.” She smiles happily. “I’m so happy to meet you, little man.”
Owen wriggles out of her grip and comes immediately back to my side, grabbing my hand for reassurance.
Natasha smiles and puts her hand on her chest as she gets teary. “You’re gentle like your dad, Owen.” She smiles.
“We’re not gentle, are we? We’re tough.” I smirk as I swing his hand in mine.
“These are your cousins. Jordy, Ellie, Blake, Joel, and Jackson.” The kids all stand in a row as they sum up their new cousin.
“Hello.” They smile and Owen cowers deeper behind my leg.
“Come in. We’ve got lunch ready, haven’t we?” I smile down at him.
Owen stays silent as the kids all run off like maniacs through the house. It’s going to take him a while to get used to all this action. My family is full on.
It’s just gone 5pm and Joshua and I are sitting at the fire pit drinking a beer. Tash is inside with Murph, while Mom and the kids are all playing chase in the yard around us.
I shake my head. “She was there after I told her not to go.”
Joshua sips his beer with a murderous look on his face. “So, let me get this straight. You paid her rent for