A Second Chance

Mother's Day card

Zachary went to his room and Jessica went back to the living room where Danny was.

Danny turned around and saw Jessica in tears.

"Baby, what's wrong?"

"Zach gave me my Christmas present."

"Was it that bad?"

Jessica turns the pillow towards him and Danny pauses.

"Oh... Ohana..
Nobody gets left behind... Or forgotten." He whispers that last part.

"Daniel, I don't know how I've gotten so lucky..
I never thought in my life that I would fall in love with any other man besides Sam, and I never imagined loving another child like my own.  Zachary reminds me so much of my boys.  They all have a heart of gold.
The card he gave me.. The words he spoke.." Jessica choked up a bit.

"He's amazing, Daniel."

Danny smiles softly and wraps his arms around her.

"He loves you so much.
You know, Grayson wanted a dad so bad.. And Zachary... The poor kid has always wanted a mom.. I remember how hard it was when ever kids would talk about their moms, or ask why he didn't have one.. I would have to explain that he has a mom.. It's just different.
Mother's Day in school was always the hardest... Kids would be making cards for their moms, or grandmothers.. My son had neither."

***

2007.
A few days before Mother's Day.

After Danny got out of school for the day, he picked Zachary up from aftercare.

"Hey bud! How was school?" Danny picks him up and kisses his cheek.

Zach looked down and didn't answer.

"Hey what's wrong? Is everything okay?"

He nods his head and Danny says, "How about I take you to McDonald's and we talk about it?"

"Okay.."

Danny sits Zachary's happy meal down in front of him, but he didn't even acknowledge that it was there.

Zach looked down and fiddled with his thumbs.

"Zach. Can you tell me what's bothering you, please?"

Zachary looks at Danny with red watery eyes.

"Today in school we had to make cards.."

"Cards? Well that's not so... Oh." Danny sighs and pauses for a moment.

"Come here, bud."

Zachary hips out of his chair and runs over to Danny.

He puts him on his lap and Zachary lays on his father's chest.

"Zach.. I know this is hard.. I don't even know what to tell you.. I'm so sorry."

"I told my teacher that I don't have a mommy, so she said to write one for my grandma.. But we don't see her anymore." He bursts into tears.