Hunter

Never ask a rhetorical question

Hunter

When I asked which DNA would win, that was a rhetorical question. I didn't expect Drew to possess Gail and my traits equally. The kid laughed at the dumbest things, like getting me all wet when I bathed him.

"Andrew, enough," I ordered.

Drew splashed me even more with his bath water and laughed. "You wet, Daddy."

"Yeah, no thanks to you. Did you want a mohawk?"

"Yep." Drew nodded.

I sud his hair and gave him a mohawk while he played. He needed a haircut soon. His hair was becoming unruly. Drew's hair would become a tangled mess if we didn't keep it short. Thanks to a mixture of Gail and my hair color, Drew had auburn hair. It wasn't a bright red like Gail's hair. But he did get her curls and my blue eyes.

I rinsed the shampoo from Drew's hair and washed his body before releasing the water. I wrapped a towel around Drew and carried him to his bedroom so I could dress him.

"Are you leaving again?" Drew asked me.

"Not for a while. Why?"

"You told Mommy you were leaving for a trip."

"I need to help my boss. It'll be a quick trip."

"But I don't want you to leave." Drew pouted and reminded me of Gail when he did.

"I'll be gone a few days tops and return before you notice I'm gone." I finished dressing Drew and put him to bed before sitting on the floor beside his bed and telling him a story.

Drew lay in bed and listened to my story of an anti-hero who rescued the princess. I told him about the anti-hero's many adventures in unknown lands.

"Did he beat the bad guy?" Drew asked me.

"Always."

"Did he return to the princess?"

"Every time. He couldn't let his princess miss him."

"I want to rescue the princess, Daddy."

"And one day, you will save the princess and live happily ever after. Now it's time to sleep. You want to grow up big and strong, don't you?"

Drew nodded and closed his eyes. I got up, leaned over, and kissed his forehead before leaving the bedroom and closing the door. I released a breath because Mason was meeting with dangerous men who wouldn't hesitate to shoot you if you said the wrong thing.

I told Drew it was a few days. But that wasn't the truth. I didn't know how long this trip would take.

******
Gail

Hunter left early the following day with Mason. Drew asked for Hunter when he woke up. I had to distract Drew so he wouldn't get upset. Hunter's trips with Mason were always a gamble. But how do you explain to a little boy his dad works in a dangerous business? You don't.

I kept Drew busy so he didn't question Hunter's absence. A few days turned into weeks without a word from Hunter. I spent time with Drew, so he didn't worry about his dad.

Weeks turned into months. Eventually, Drew quit asking about Hunter. I couldn't tell if Drew forgot about his dad or didn't want to ask and get the same answer.

School started without a word from Hunter. He missed Drew's first day of school. But Drew took it in stride.

After the school day ended, I took Drew to the park so he could play before dinner. I watched him so he didn't get hurt. Drew ran around with other kids until he stopped and looked behind me. His brows lifted in surprise as he scrambled down from the playground equipment. I crouched and held open my arms. Drew ran past me in a blur. I spun around and gasped as Drew ran toward Hunter. Hunter kneeled and opened his arms. Drew crashed into him and wrapped his arms around Hunter's neck.