He played with Donovan for a while before Rosa’s nerves got the best of her and she went over to where they played in the sandbox.
“I must take him home,” she told Daniel.
Daniel nodded. “Yes ma’am.”
I knew that he wanted to argue, to ask for five more minutes. But I knew that he knew very well what risk those five more minutes held. Blowing out a heavy sigh, he stood and scooped Donovan up, brushing sand from his clothes. He brushed his right hand over the child’s smooth cheek. I knew that he was savoring the feel of his skin, storing it away from the times when he wouldn’t be there.
Rosa looked around again, her face worried. She also stayed close to Daniel as if she still thought he’d make a run for it with the boy. He wouldn’t. I was fairly certain of it. “Please,” she said again.
