“This is what your sisters got to see today,” Augie said, stopping in front of a set of doors. He pointed to a large plaque and framed photograph on the wall.
Raz took it in and froze, dumbstruck, hardly able to believe his eyes. “Is this what I think it is?”
Thirty-Four
Erasmus
Helping Hands Boxing Gym
A gift from the Cress Family Foundation.
Next to the plaque hung a photograph. He knew this picture. Years ago, the same photo had run in every major paper in the UK.
“That’s…” he said, his heart ready to beat its way out of his chest.
“That’s you, Meredith, and Sebastian, when he was a tiny thing,” Aug supplied.
He nodded, staring at the image like if he looked at it hard enough, he might be able to go back in time. Of course, he knew the photo. He hadn’t thought about this day in a long, long time. Just looking at it made him smile, and the image cracked open a part of his heart he’d walled off.
The part that held the happy memories of his time with Mere.
“That was the first Cress Family Foundation project. We donated funds to build a facility to house a preschool and after-school program for older kids in East London,” he reminisced. He drank in the image of his wife, smiling at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. He had Sebastian in his arms, and the boy held a paper butterfly, and the lad wouldn’t let it out of his sight. They’d had to slip it from his chubby little hand after he’d fallen asleep. The tension in his body released as he recalled gazing down at his sleeping baby and the abundant gratitude he’d felt in that moment. “I helped Sebastian make the little craft—the butterfly.” He shifted his attention back to Meredith. He’d been so proud of her. She’d put her heart and soul into charity work.
“When did you do this? How did you do this?” he pressed.
“Madelyn Malone introduced your grandmother and me to Ralph and Louise Dagby. Your granny Fin believed the organization was a good match with the Cress Family Foundation.”
“Is that what she was doing while we were in Rickety Rock?” Raz whispered, more to himself than anyone else.
“Finola believes it’s what Meredith would want,” Aug added.
“It is,” Raz whispered, his gaze growing glassy when the door swung open.
“Dad, you’re here!”
Sebastian?
He must be here with Granny Finola and his sisters. He looked the boy over. The kid had on a hairnet.
What was the deal with hairnets here?
“Hey,” he said, taking a knee to be at his son’s level. “I’ve missed you.” His heart felt ready to explode.
“It’s a good picture, yeah?” the lad said, looking up at the photo. “Is Mibby with you? I bet she’d like that I’m holding a butterfly in that picture. You know she and Plum love butterflies.”
How would he explain Libby’s absence?
He cleared his throat. “Yeah, I think she’d loved the picture.”
“Where is she?” Sebastian asked, looking over his shoulder.
“She’s not here. It’s just your dad, for now, lad,” Aug supplied in his, there it is, take it or leave it, Aug way.
“Well,” Sebastian said, then sighed like he was gearing up to take on the world. “We’re on fruit duty, right, Louise?”
Fruit duty?
“You certainly are,” the woman answered.
“Did Augie give you the hairnet?” Sebastian asked.
“I’ve got it right here,” he answered, holding it up.
“They’re almost ready for snacks,” Sebastian explained, but he didn’t have the first clue what the boy was talking about.
“Who’s almost ready?”
His son took his hand and led him into the gym as Louise gestured to the space.
“The Cress Family Foundation purchased every piece of equipment. They’ll be installing a ring in a few weeks,” Louise explained as they entered the massive room. “Thanks to your family’s donation, we’ll offer classes and run an after-school boxing program.”
He surveyed the gym. Heavy bags and speed bags dotted the training area. Plenty of lockers lined the walls. A state-of-the-art weight-lifting area with shiny new equipment sat across from a cleared area with yoga mats on the ground. It was packed with boys and girls, working in groups of two and three. He couldn’t have designed it better himself.
“This is a proper boxing gym,” he said, awe coating his words. “Granny Fin did this?”
“I helped a bit,” Aug added when a lanky boy waved to them.
“Hey, Aug! I’m hitting in small circles like you said to do. Can you check my form?”
“Do you mind, Erasmus?” Aug asked, watching him closely.
“He’ll be fine. He’s with me,” Sebastian answered, taking his hand.
His son guided him toward a sink next to a table laden with fruit and cutting boards. “This is the snack station. First, we wash our hands,” Sebastian announced as they lathered up. He grabbed a paper towel, then scanned the gym. “Isn’t this place great? Granny Fin said Mum used to help places like this. She liked helping kids.”
“She did,” Raz answered, his voice thick with emotion.
“I think it’s a banger of a thing to do. I want to help people, too,” the boy mused, then glanced at the table. “We better get to it. Like Aug would say, no lollygagging. There’s work to be done. Put on your hairnet, Dad. You’ve got plums.”
“Plums?”
Just hearing the word made him ache to have Libby with them.
“I’m cutting up the apples, and you can cut the plums. We’re making fruit salad for the kids to have as a snack after they’re done in the gym.” Sebastian leaned in. “Some kids don’t get many snacks at home. Louise said it’s important we cut up the fruit for them. It’s called helping the community,” Sebastian finished, taking a plastic child-safe knife and slicing an apple in halves, then quarters before adding the fruit to the bowl.
He had one amazing kid.
He fitted the net on his head, stared at the plum, missing his plum more than ever. He picked up the knife, pitted the fruit, and cut it into wedges. They worked quietly for a good fifteen minutes before he spoke. “You’re a lot like your mum, Sebastian.”
His son focused on the work. “You don’t have to talk about her. I know it makes you sad.”
That comment cut like a thousand slashes.
“It used to,” he admitted, emotion building in his chest. “But seeing this place and knowing that it was your mum who started the charity that makes this possible doesn’t make me sad. It makes me remember that we had lots more happy times than sad times.”
“Happy times like when you and Mum would push me on the swing in the garden?”
He held his son’s blue-green gaze. “Just like that.”
Sebastian grinned up at him. “I’m glad you’re here.”
He blinked back tears. “Me too.”
“Sebastian!”
Raz pulled himself together, then turned to find Oscar Elliott running toward them.