~Gail~I had Aiden's school bag on my shoulder and his hand in mine, and we were halfway to the front door when the car pulled up.I stopped.Julian got out.Yesterday's clothes. No tie. The look of a man who had not slept and had driven here anyway. He walked toward us, and Aiden saw him before I could say anything.He dropped my hand."Dad!"That word hit me before I understood it.Aiden said it the way he said everything — simply, directly, like it was already settled — and then he ran. Full speed across the gravel in his school shoes.Julian crouched down and caught him. Held on. Aiden's arms went around his neck, and for a moment neither of them moved, and I stood at the front door with the school bag on my shoulder and my mouth open and absolutely no idea what I was looking at.Julian stood. He looked at me over Aiden's head."Julian," I said. "What is happening right now?""Morning, Gail," he said."Do not morning-Gail me," I said. "Did he just call you Dad?""Yes," Aiden said,
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