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Beau’s question had literally and figuratively knocked ht on my butt In fairness, I isted up under a cubbyhole trying to retrieve a paintbrush when he asked his question, sendingwood floors “It’s where are they honey, and they are where they live In New York” This wasn’t the first time he’d ever asked about ht me by surprise “Why do you ask?”

He shrugged “Just wondering Sylvester is spending the weekend with his grandparents”

I knew the time would come eventually when Beau wanted to know more about his family, but I always assumed it would be questions about his father Those questions didn’t have many answers but these did “You know your ht?”

He giggled and nodded his head, blue eyes lit with aood weird”

“Thanks, but your grandrandpa didn’t think so They wanted me to be one way and I just didn’t fit Eventually we all just thought it would be better if we lived separately” That was the redacted, PG version of what happened, but in a nutshell, it was the truth

“So I won’t ever get to see them?”

And there was the rub I couldn’t keep Beau from them if he wanted to meet them, but I was terrified that my father would reject my little boy the same way he’d rejected me “I wouldn’t say never, but I haven’t spoken to the on my part

“Okay, Mom But you’ll try?”

“For you, I will do more than try, Beau” It was a promise I’d made while Beau was still in the womb, and I had no plans to break it

“Thank you”

“You’re welcome Got it!” I held up the paintbrush triumphantly and Beau clapped

His eyes ide, though, and he looked past h the newly replaced frontandto open the locked door drew my attention and I turned around

“Go to the back, Beau”

“But, Mom I’m not—”

“Now, Beau We’ll finish up later” He nodded and hurried to the back, giving me a moment to collect myself before I went to the door