My Nephews Knocked on My Door at 4 A.M. in Their Pajamas. What Their Parents Did Was Unforgivable

“Come on, let’s go.”

She looked back one more time at Jake and Tommy, at the children she’d lost. I didn’t feel guilty; I felt relieved.

That night I made spaghetti and meatballs, their favorite.

“So,”

I said, sitting down at the table.

“We’re official now. You’re stuck with me.”

Jake grinned.

“That’s okay.”

“Yeah, yeah, you’re a pretty good dad.”

Dad. Not uncle—dad.

Tommy climbed into my lap.

“Can we stay forever?”

“Forever,”

I said.

“Even when we’re old. Even when you’re old and gray and you have kids of your own, this is your home, always.”

Jake looked at me, really looked.

“Thank you,”

He said quietly.

“For not making us go back.”

“You don’t have to thank me for keeping you safe,”

I said.

“That’s what parents do.”

Parents, not uncles—parents. That’s what I was now.

Two years later, Emma called.

“Mark, can we talk? I left Brad. I’ve been in therapy. I’m… I’m better. I was wondering if maybe you can see them.”

“Supervised visitation, same as before.”

“I was hoping for more.”

“No.”

“Mark…”

“Emma, I love you; you’re my sister. But those kids, they’re happy. They’re safe. They call me dad, and I’m not going to disrupt that because you finally got your life together.”

There was silence.

“Can I at least see them?”

“Every other Saturday, two hours, with a supervisor present.”

“Okay,”

She whispered.

“Thank you.”

I hung up. Jake walked into the kitchen.

“Was that Mom?”

“Yeah.”

“Is she okay?”

“She’s trying to be.”

“Do you think she’ll ever really change?”

I thought about it.

“I don’t know. But it doesn’t matter. You’re here, you’re safe. That’s all that matters.”

He hugged me.

“I’m glad you answered the door that night.”

“Me too, buddy. Me too.”