About the Boy Read Online Free PDF Page A

compromised. “But you have to promise to come home from Sean’s right on time since Grandma will be waiting for you, and then help me unpack tonight without complaining. Is it a deal?”
    “Deal.” Eyes shining, his grin widened. “Thanks, Ma.”
    “You’re welcome.” She smiled, then draped an arm around his slender shoulders. “I’ve got something for you, Rusty.” Reaching for his time capsule with her free hand, Katie hesitated, not quite knowing how he’d respond. “Do you remember when you and Daddy planted this in Grandma’s backyard?”
    He’d only been six when his father had died, and yet, they’d been so unbelievably close, she was certain most of Rusty’s memories of his father were intact. At least she hoped so, for her son’s sake.
    Her worries dissolved as his eyes widened, looking at the time capsule box. She saw the quick glistening of tears before he quickly blinked them away.
    “Yeah. It’s my time capsule treasure box,” he said, reaching out and taking the box from her. “Dad and I buried it right before he left.” Rusty stared at it for a moment, reverently running a hand gently across the top. “We were supposed to dig it up together when Daddy came home,” he added quietly.
    “That’s right,” Katie said, reaching out to lay a hand on his cheek, needing to just touch him. “Well, honey, I promised you when we finally moved into our very own house you could plant it in our backyard, and since we’re moving into our own house today I thought you might like to…you know…” Shrugging, Katie let her voice trail off as she watched a myriad of expressions race across her son’s freckled face, her own heart aching for him.
    Rusty merely stood there for a moment, still and quiet for a change before lifting his gaze to hers. “Ma?”
    “Yes, honey?”
    “Uh…uh…do you think it would be okay if I…uh…just kept this in my new room for a little while?” Shuffling his feet, he rushed on. “You know so I could maybe just…look at it and stuff?”
    She smiled. “Of course, sweetheart.”
    “I’ll bury it in our backyard later, but for now, I’d just like to keep it in my new room so I could…like, see it once in a while.” He glanced up at her. “Is that okay?”
    “Of course, honey. We can make a special place for it on top of your bookcase. What do you think?”
    “Cool,” he said with a grin. He glanced down at the box again, touching the top. “Ma, do you think…do you think Dad…uh…misses me?”
    “Oh, sweetheart.” Katie reached for Rusty, dragging him close to hug. “Of course Daddy misses you, as much as you miss him I’m sure,” she said, resting her head gently atop his head. He was growing so fast, pretty soon he’d be taller than her. With a sigh, she drew back to look at him. “Do you remember what I’ve always told you?” She lifted his chin so she could look into his eyes. “That daddy was always with you, every day, no matter where you went, or what you did?” She laid a hand over his heart. “Daddy’s right here, always, in your heart.”
    His lower lip was trembling, but Rusty nodded. “Do you remember when I was little?” he asked. “And I used to cry because I missed Dad? And you told me that anytime I wanted to talk to Dad I could just…like, talk to him, and that he’d always hear me?”
    “I remember, honey.”
    A sheepish grin flashed as he looked up at her. “Sometimes Ma, sometimes I still do…talk to Dad, I mean.”
    Chuckling softly, she gave him a quick squeeze. “Well honey, let me tell you a secret. I’m much older than you—”
    “No kidding,” he quipped with a lightning grin, giving her a gentle poke with his elbow.
    “Hey,” she protested, giving him a quick affectionate bump back with her hip. “I’m not that old,” she said. “Anyway, my dad’s been gone since I was just ten years old, and as old as I am now sometimes I still talk to him.”
    “Really?” Astonished at the idea,