Free Midnight Caller by Diane Burke Page A

forever-after role. Any nominations come to mind?” He grinned and winked, melting her heart with those chocolate eyes of his.
    “Besides,” he said, his tone sobered, “any man can father a child, but it takes something special to be a dad. I never wanted to take the test—and fail.” The honesty and intensity in his expression pierced her to the soul.
    The front door burst open and they heard Jack lumber down the hall. “I hate this walker,” he yelled and slammed his bedroom door behind him.
    Erin jumped to her feet, but Tony placed a hand on her forearm.
    “Please. Let me. Jack told me he was having problems with some boys at school.”
    “He told you? ”
    Tony shrugged noncommittally. “It was man-to-man stuff.”
    “Man-to-man? Are you crazy? That’s my five-year-old baby in there and you—” Her body temperature rose to lava-spewing levels.
    “Erin, calm down.”
    “I will not calm down. You have no right to—”
    “I know I don’t.”
    His sudden acquiescence took the wind out of the verbal storm she was about to unleash.
    “I’m not trying to step between you and your son,” Tonyassured her. “I just think, based on my prior conversation with Jack, I might be able to help. Let me try.” He waited for his words to have an impact.
    Erin knew her emotions were in danger of flaring out of control but she didn’t care. How could he talk with Jack about a problem at school and not tell her? And why did Jack go to him in the first place? Does he miss having a dad more than she thought? What should I do, Lord? I know what I want to do. I want to tell Tony to mind his own business . She glanced at the man sitting quietly, waiting for her decision. No, I don’t. He grew up without a dad. He understands better than me how Jack feels .
    Erin lowered her gaze and nodded permission.
     
    Tony heard muffled crying behind the door. He rapped lightly and, without waiting for an invitation, entered the room. The boy lay facedown on the bed, his face buried in a pillow.
    “Hey, buddy.”
    “Go away.”
    Tony pushed the walker to the side and sat on the bed.
    “Tough day at school?”
    “I don’t want to talk about it. Go away.”
    Tony picked up a box of tissues from the dresser and saw Jack peeking at him from beneath his folded arms. He dumped the tissues in the trash, reached into his back pocket, withdrew a clean, white handkerchief and offered it to Jack. “Here. I think it’s time you had your own grown-up handkerchief.”
    Jack’s hand reached out for the folded cloth and a ghost of a smile touched his lips. He sat up, swiped at his nose and stopped crying. “Men use handkerchiefs, not boys.”
    “That’s right.” Tony smiled.
    The boy’s expression darkened as he seemed to be remembering the events of the day but he didn’t cry.
    “Did your friends dump you again today to play ball?” Tony asked.
    Jack shook his head side to side.
    “What, then?”
    A tiny whisper filled the room. “They went bike riding.”
    Tony’s heart seized at the pain vibrating in Jack’s voice. He knew he shouldn’t be letting himself get attached to the boy. It was one thing to play a video game or spend a day at a theme park. It was quite another to be offering advice and comfort like he was his real dad.
    “I can’t play ball. I can’t ride bikes.” Jack’s shoulders sagged. “I hate being different.”
    “Everybody’s different.”
    Jack looked at Tony, doubt, anger and disappointment all scrunched together on his face.
    “It’s true,” Tony assured him. “Every person on earth is a one-and-only model. No two alike.”
    “Uh-uh. Twins aren’t different.”
    Tony grinned. “Uh-huh, even twins.” He ruffled the boy’s hair. “Twins might look alike, but they’re different people with their own feelings and their own talents and their own way of doing things. Just because people look alike or even dress alike doesn’t make them the same person, does it?”
    Jack shook his head.
    “Let