The late afternoon sun bathed the Avila mansion gardens in warm, golden light. Xander knelt on the soft grass, his powerful frame relaxed in a way it hadn’t been in years. Alex Jr., five years old and full of boundless energy, was stacking large wooden blocks into a wobbly tower, his little tongue sticking out in concentration.
“Daddy, look! It’s taller than me now!” Alex Jr. exclaimed, clapping his hands with pure delight when the tower reached above his head.
Xander’s heart clenched at the word “Daddy.” It still felt like a miracle every time his son said it. The bond between them had formed quickly and naturally over the past few days. Alex Jr. was fascinated by his father — the tall, strong man who could lift him high in the air, kick a football with him across the lawn, and tell him
