“You’ve grown a foot since I last saw you,” I remark, waving him over. “How did I miss that?”
Ilya’s face clouds over. He doesn’t move from his spot. “Because you haven’t been around.”
That’s a gut punch. One that I should have expected.
He shifts in the light and I see that there’s a stubborn set to his jaw. He’s angry with me. And he has every right to be.
I beckon him over to me again. He hesitates for a moment before he walks over, chin held high and proud.
“I know I’ve been a lousy uncle,” I admit.
He looks at me like this might be a trap. Like he’ll be in trouble if he agrees.
“The thing is, I’m not as brave as your father. I can’t face things head on the way he could.”
Ilya shakes his head. “Papa always told me that you were the brave one.”
Every muscle in my body tightens.
