From the moment I first met him, I knew he was a special kid.

I don’t know why, but I could feel it in my bones. Some sort of exceptional connection. Characteristics we shared. A certain look in his eyes. The smirk.

It was all there, yet I never saw the truth.

Not once did it dawn on me because it seemed impossible.

Because I hadn’t seen my boy since he was a baby.

Who knew boys could change so much in just a few years?

I sigh and stare ahead at the schoolyard, wondering when the appropriate time arrives. I guess it never does. When do you ever tell a boy you’re his father? It’s not an easy thing to do, and that’s why I’m so scared.

In fact, I’m terrified.

Terrified of rejection. Terrified he might not even believe it. Terrified he won’t want me.

How has he lived all these years without me? And why did they let him live?

Is it because of Laura?

Is that why she ran away from her dad?

The pieces of the puzzle are falling into place, but the more I think about it, the angrier I get.

I pick up some grass and gaze at it. Nothing makes sense. Laura knew he wasn’t her family … and she still took him in. Did she know he was mine?

I look up and observe the kids running around the schoolyard. He’s out there, playing with them.

My son.

Those two words alone make me wanna take in a big gulp of air.

God, I still can’t believe it.

Is it even true? It must be … Why else would Julio give it up as a final card? He’d never tell me willingly unless his life was on the line. After all, he wanted me to suffer, and this isn’t it. This is the exact opposite because finding out my son was still alive was like picking a piece of fruit from a tree in heaven.

He’d never want me to feel this hopeful.

So it must be true. I have to believe it.

I breathe in and out again, drawing strength from up above. “God … please be with me. I need you,” I whisper into the wind. Then I grab the photo in my pocket and stare at it. When I think about it, he does have the same physical traits as Bruno. Like … a perfect match.

I can’t believe I didn’t see it before. It’s like I was blinded by my own ignorance.

Wiping away a tear, I pull a pen from my pocket and scribble down something on the back then tuck both back into my pocket.

Then I get up and start walking, squashing the pieces of grass I had in my hand and letting them fly away with the wind.

The closer I get, the heavier my feet feel, but I don’t give up. Not until I’m near the fence, gawking at the boy running around the schoolyard with a bucket on his head and using a tiny shovel as a scepter. I smile and laugh, feeling the tears well up again as I watch him play.

Then he looks at me … and I’m frozen in place.

“Hey, Father Frank!”

His voice cuts deep into the coils around my heart. Deeper than it ever has. And for the first time in years, I feel like I can finally see clearly.

He runs toward the fence and clutches it with his little hands, and I smile at the sight of those fingers that I’ve missed for so many years. If I’d only known it was him … I would’ve held him from the start and never let go.

“Hey, Bruno …” I mutter, struggling to keep the tears at bay. “How are you doing?”

“Oh, I’m great! I’m the king of all the kids right now. Look!” He points at his bucket hat.

“I see that,” I say, winking. “You’re the greatest king alive.”

“Do you think so?”

I sink to my knees so I can speak to him on his level. “Of course, and you know what else? I think you’re also one of the smartest.”

“Well, I’m not the best in class right now … especially not with math …”

I chuckle at his comment and at his attempt to calculate something on his fingers.

I grab his hand and squeeze tight. “A king doesn’t need to count. He’s got his people to do that for him.”

“Oh … right!” He smiles so brightly it makes me wanna cry.

“Hey, Bruno … do you think you could step outside the fence for just a moment?”

“I dunno. The teacher might get mad.”

“Tell her I’m Laura’s boyfriend.”

He immediately turns his head around and screams at the teacher as only a kid can. I almost have to plug my ears, so I don’t go deaf.

Grinning, he says, “Okay!” and he runs to the gate.

I stand again and look at him run on those two little legs of his, wondering how I could’ve missed all these years. God … I’ve got so much to catch up on.

I hold out my arms and wait … and when he’s finally here, in my arms, I hug him tightly. The warmest smile finds its way to my face as I hold him closely, wishing I could stay this way forever. I can’t believe he’s really here in the flesh. My son. It’s like a gift from God.

When I release him again, I have to wipe a tear away.

“Are you crying?” he asks.

I was hoping he didn’t see it, but I guess I was too late.

“Oh, no, I … had something in my eye,” I lie.

“If you’re not happy, you have to tell me, you know?”

I raise a brow. “And why’s that?”

He beckons me with his little hand, and I bend over so he can whisper in my ear, “Because Laura said we have to take care of you.”

I snort, shaking my head. “Did she now?”

He nods a few times, grinning again. “But I won’t tell her if you’re sad. I promise.”

I run my fingers through his hair and rub his little head. “Thanks, squirt.”

A car drives up to the school parking lot, and when a window is rolled down, I can clearly make out Laura’s face even though she’s wearing sunglasses to hide.

I know she can see me. I don’t care.

“I think that’s her,” I say.

“Oh?” He turns and puts his hand above his eyes to shield them from the sunlight as he looks out at the parking lot. “That’s her car, yeah.”

“She’s probably here to pick you up,” I say. “But before you go … can you do something for me?”

He turns back to face me. “What is it?” he asks, with one finger in his nose.

I pull out the picture from my pocket and hold it out to Bruno. “This is a very important secret between Laura and me. Can you promise you’ll give it to her without looking at it?”

He slams his lips together and nods vehemently.

“Promise?”

“Promise,” he says.

I hold up my pinky, and we pinky swear on it. Then I pat his back and say, “Go on. She’s waiting for you.”

As he runs off with the picture in his hand, I think of the words written on it, and how she might react when she reads them.

‘I know Bruno is my son.’

She’ll either have the shock of her life … or the biggest laugh. Either way, this isn’t going to go away, and I hope she knows that too.

And as I stare at the car driving off, with Bruno waving at me from the back seat, I can’t help wonder what could have been … and what will be.

Because now that I know he’s mine, there’s no way in hell I’m going to let him go.