Father And Son

Claire was walking towards me with the baby, then she froze. The expression on her face was a mixture of shock and disbelief. Her gaze was fixed somewhere over my shoulder. I sensed Kieran’s body heat behind me. ‘K-Kieran, is that you?’ Claire whispered. She had a dazed look. Her body started swaying. I rushed forward and relieved her of the baby, in case she fainted. But she didn’t. Someone screamed. Glass shattered to the floor. I looked up. Carole had just walked out of the kitchen. She looked like she had just seen a ghost, which, in her view, might actually be the case. She screwed her eyes shut and started mumbling something, probably a prayer. Somehow, I found that amusing, I bounced my son in my arms. ‘Hi, dear, did you miss me?’ Baby Ken tried to stand up and gave me a toothy grin. Claire took a tentative step forward. Her hand trembling, she reached out to touch Kieran’s face. He stood where he was and let her touch him. ‘Kieran, is that really you?’ Claire’s voice shook. She