Chicago, Illinois, 2006 – “Kelly?” Connor poked his head into the darkened hospital room, light brown eyes scanning it and landing on the bed. “Hon? Are you awake?”
No answer came, and he tiptoed inside, slowly closing the door behind him. He crept up to the bed, where his wife lay sleeping. Beside it, the roll-away cradle had been pulled close.
He turned his attention to the tiny infant inside, who looked up at him with what looked like a scowl.
Smiling, he reached in and picked him up. “With a look like that, you remind me of Mommy,” he said. “Every criminal who ever faced that look from her quaked in their boots.”
“Ha, ha, ha.” Kelly’s sleepy voice startled him and he looked over at her. “Hi, sweetheart,” she said, smiling.
“Hi,” he replied, leaning over and giving her a kiss. “I’m sorry I couldn’t be here earlier.”
“It’s alright. Besides, Chicago isn’t going to patrol itself, you know,” Kelly said with a half-smile. She glanced between their son and him, noticing how the look on his face went from joyful to something she couldn’t quite put a name on. “Connor?” she asked. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” he said, holding out a finger for their son to grasp. “I’m just…wondering if this is how my father felt when I was born. Well…if he was even there.”
“Ah, I see.” Kelly thought for a moment. “Do you…want to find them?” she asked. “Your biological parents?”
Connor sighed and shrugged. “I don’t know,” he said, turning his attention back to their son for a brief moment. When he looked at her again, he added with a small smile, “Right now, I’m content where I am. With you and Liam.”
She returned the smile, saying, “Me too.”
© 2018 H.S. Kylian
(Critiques are welcome and appreciated!)
This post was last updated on May 25, 2019
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