Not every man would admit a children’s book had made a lasting impression. I inched closer. “I loved that story. Horton the elephant did everything required to make sure an egg hatched after an irresponsible bird abandoned it.”

“I mostly remember the story because my mother called the bird a lot of bad names. Mamá is very maternal. She can also cuss like a sailor, usually in Spanish.”

“I like your mother. Maybe she’ll give me Spanish cursing lessons.”

“Be careful what you wish for.”

Now our hips were touching, too. “When the egg finally hatches, after weeks of horror for poor Horton, the creature that emerges is half elephant and half bird. The little bird-elephant and Horton return to the jungle together for a happily-ever-after.”

He slung an arm around my shoulders. “Are you planning to live in the jungle with Arlie and Dale?”

“If I have to. I know who my real parents are.”

“So is Wendy the bird?”

“Only if the bird was barely out of high school and forced to lay the egg when she didn’t want to.”

“They forced your sister to go through with the pregnancy?”

“They made it impossible for her not to. I can’t support what they did on a lot of levels, but you know, Teo—” I opened my arms wide, whacking him softly in the chest. “Here I am.”

He squeezed me closer. I absorbed his comforting warmth before I told him the rest. “When they decided to tell the world I was theirs, the decision opened a rift between them and my sister. They knew it would, but Mom says that by then, they also knew she and Dad would give me the best home.”

I would tell him the rest later. For now, I knew exactly what I needed to do. “Tropicana is a great place to run. Want to try it with me?”

“I thought you might need to. I’m wearing my running shoes.” He lifted his flesh-and-bone leg and wiggled his foot.

“You always wear your running shoes.”

“I fell flat on my face a lot at the beginning. I don’t let vanity get in my way.”

“You know, someday if you fall, I’d like to be there to pick you up.”

“And if I won’t let you?”

“I’ll keep asking. You can’t scare me off.”

He touched my cheek. “You got those dimples from your dad. You know that, don’t you?”

Last night I’d texted him the archived article from the Seabank Free Press about Sean Riley’s death, complete with a photograph of Sean in his camouflage battle uniform. “I always wondered where they came from. No one else in the family has them.”

“I’m sorry he never knew you.”

“Once I’m ready, I may go see his parents. I guess they’re officially my grandparents. But I need to find out more about them. I don’t want to be an unwelcome reminder.”

“You could never be unwelcome.”

That was enough sentiment to make my insides quiver again. I needed to work off the emotion coursing through my body. Teo understood. He grabbed my hand and pulled me away from the car, and in a few moments we were out on the street.