Chapter 22

“He always wanted to learn, but thought it wasn’t manly enough, right? That people would say shit. But he knew he was going to die, so what difference did it make? The only thing he managed to complete, right before the cancer took hold and he could barely stay awake because of the pain, was the hat.”

A few silent tears leaked out of his eyes, and I crushed him against me, holding him so tightly I wasn’t sure he could breathe. But I knew that was exactly what he needed by the way he clung. Several minutes passed while he got himself under control. Then he pushed me onto my back again and climbed on top of me, fitting his face into the hollow of my neck.

“He died three years ago, and I miss him every day.” I could barely hear him speaking into my skin.

“But when you wear the hat, you feel him with you.”

“Yes.” He shuddered, and some of the tension fled. He knew I understood, and that made him feel better.