Chapter 16
Leo asked to learn how to fight.
That surprised me.
Not because he wanted to.
Because of why.
“So Javier can’t do that again.”
I sat beside him in the gym.
“That’s a fair reason.”
He looked relieved.
“But not the only reason.”
His face fell.
“What?”
“You learn so your body doesn’t panic when someone scares you.”
He nodded.
“You learn how to get away.”
Another nod.
“And you learn that knowing how to fight does not mean you owe anybody a fight.”
He frowned.
“Uncle Javier said real men never back down.”
“Javier was face-down in the grass.”
Leo almost smiled.
Point made.
I taught him basic balance.
Nothing dramatic.
Mia watched from the doorway.
“I want too.”
“Of course you do.”
She came in.
Leo groaned.
“She’s seven.”
I looked at him.
“And?”
He laughed.
Good.
We trained twenty minutes.
Then stopped.
No punishment.
No endurance test.
No old man yelling that pain creates character.
Afterward we ate sandwiches on the gym floor.
Victor watched from the door.
My brother.
Still strange.
Leo looked at him.
“Are you really Dad’s brother?”
Victor nodded.
“Apparently.”
“Where were you?”
Victor looked at me.
Then answered the boy honestly.
“Far away.”
“Why?”
“Because our father made bad choices.”
Leo nodded as if that made perfect sense.
Children accept truth faster than adults when nobody buries it in pride.
Mia looked at Victor.
“Did you know Mom?”
“No.”
She seemed disappointed.
Then Victor added:
“But I heard her recording.”
Mia smiled.
“She was smart.”
“Yes.”
I looked away.
Too much in that sentence.
Later, after the kids left, Victor stayed.
“I could have joined Dominic.”
“Yes.”
“You don’t care that I didn’t?”
“I care.”
He looked surprised.
“I just don’t confuse one good decision with a lifetime appointment.”
He laughed.
“Fair.”
Then he looked toward the door Leo used.
“You’re raising them differently.”
“I’m trying.”
“Our father would hate it.”
I smiled.
“Then I’m probably improving.”
Victor laughed again.
That was how brothers sometimes begin.
May you like
Not with shared childhood.
With shared recognition of what should not continue.
