Jamal's car pulled to a stop in front of the house just as Callan and Josh settled in front of the TV watching a cartoon.
The living room was warm and bright with laughter. Josh sat on Callan's lap, laughing loudly at something silly on the screen while Callan pretended not to understand the jokes, earning playful slaps from the little boy.
Josh's head snapped to the door when it opened. "Daddy!" Josh shouted the moment he saw Jamal step inside.
He jumped off Callan's lap and ran so fast Callan was afraid he'd fall. Jamal barely had time to open his arms before Josh leaped into him. Jamal caught him with a loud laugh.
"There you are!" Jamal said, lifting him high. "You missed me that much?"
Josh nodded fast, talking very quickly. "Daddy, I played outside with a butterfly, and Mommy gave me juice, and I saw a dog, and—"
"Slow down," Jamal said through a laugh as he tried to kiss Josh's cheek, but the boy kept turning his head to talk.
