Jake let what Dominique had told him sink in. “Leave him alone,” he finally said. “He’ll be all right.”

“Yes, but will I?” Dominique moved the papers surrounding her and walked to the loveseat in the sitting area of her master suite. “Justin and I have always been close. I’m all he has.”

“Where’s his father?”

“In Philly, preoccupied with an insecure, clingy wife and new family.”

“Does he see him?”

“Once or twice a year. But those two weeks in the summer and whichever holiday is convenient is hardly what bonding is made of. When we first divorced, Leland was more active in his son’s life. But after his marriage and the birth of their first son together, things went downhill. His current wife does nothing to encourage the relationship but I don’t blame her. Leland is his father and no one should be able to talk a man out of taking care of his own child’s needs.”

“So he doesn’t pay child support?”

“He does, but it’s not money Justin longs for. Emotional closeness and physical involvement is what he needs. I used to think I could be both mother and father to my son, but boys need their fathers.”

“So have you called him about this?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

Dominique shrugged. “First there’s the matter of getting past his guard dog, otherwise known as his wife, Patricia, and second, there’s the chance that Leland will do what he’s done for the past five years... nothing.”

Jake remained silent. Dominique understood why. What could he say to a statement like this?

“Jake? You there?” Dominique asked when the silence continued.

“Yeah, I’m here.”

“Oh, I thought we got disconnected.”

“You know I want to see you.”

Memories of last night warmed Dominique all over, and she refused to think about the fact that she’d done what she said she’d never do again. “Me, too,” she whispered. “But you know I can’t leave.”

“I could come over there.” When Dominique hesitated, Jake added, “He doesn’t have to know.”

“I know, Jake. But I made a rule to never have men over here when Justin is home.”

Jake’s voice dropped even deeper. “Rules are made to be broken.”

Dominique figured that Jake was right. She nodded and told him, “Come on.”

On the drive over to her house, Jake pondered the concerns about Justin that Dominique had shared and wondered how he’d feel if it were his child. Jake had no experience in the daddy department. The familiar feelings of hurt mixed with longing rose unbidden. Flashes of life with his father: the football tosses, movie watching, men-only hunting trips with all of the brothers. The worst day of his life—when his mother broke the news that Jake Sr. had died—and the second worst day, his father’s funeral.