“Sir, your son gave me this shirt yesterday” — What the boy revealed next shocked the millionaire
She shook her head helplessly. «I don’t know, sir. He’s just like that sometimes. He dreams. And when he wakes up, it feels real to him.»
Ethan swallowed hard. «Maybe it is real. In its own way.»
He asked if they had a place to live. Grace admitted they were staying in a one-room shelter until she found stable work.
Without a thought, Ethan said, «I’ll help.»
«I couldn’t accept,» she began.
«It’s not charity,» he interrupted. «It’s what my son would have done if he’d grown up right.»
She went quiet, emotion rising in her throat. «Thank you, Mr. Cole.»
Ethan turned to Noah. «You ever been to the park near the lake?»
The boy shook his head.
«My son loved it there. You and your mom should come tomorrow. I’ll show you where he used to race his toy cars.»
Noah’s face lit up. «Can I bring this shirt?»
Ethan smiled faintly. «You better. It suits you more than it ever did me.»
The next day was sunny for the first time in weeks. At the park, Noah ran ahead on the grass, the striped shirt flashing in the light. His laughter carried on the wind. Bright, fearless, alive.
Ethan stood beside Grace, watching. «He reminds me of him,» he whispered.
She smiled softly. «Maybe that’s why you met.»
Ethan nodded, eyes following the boy. «Or maybe Liam knew I needed a reason to come back here.»
For the first time in years, he felt the weight in his chest lift. The laughter, the small footsteps, the sound of life moving again. It all felt like forgiveness.
When Noah ran back, panting, he held out a dandelion. «He said to give you this,» he grinned.
Ethan blinked. «Who?»
«The smiling boy.»
Ethan’s breath caught. «What did he say?»
Noah’s eyes softened. «He said, ‘Tell Dad not to work too late tonight.'»
Ethan’s lips parted, but no words came. He just smiled—broken, grateful, and whole all at once. He took the dandelion gently. «You can tell him I got the message.»
The boy nodded and ran off again. Ethan looked toward the sky, the sun warm on his face.
«Thanks, kid,» he whispered.
And for the first time in two years, Ethan Cole laughed—loud, real, and unrestrained. The kind of laugh that sounded like home.
