Chapter Forty-Six

Jaxsen nodded and wiped his eyes. “Yes, Daddy.”

“Do you understand the magnitude of what you did today?”

“Y-yes, Daddy. I understand. I’m sorry.”

“I know,” he sighed before asking his final question. “Considering what you did, do you feel this is punishment enough to make you never do something like this again?”

Jaxsen nodded, gnawing on his bottom lip. “Daddy?” His voice was strained and choked.

“What, sweet boy?”

Jaxsen took a couple deep breaths before asking, “Are you still mad at me?”

“No, baby. I’m relieved you’re not hurt. But I’m also very disappointed.”

“In me.” He stated it as fact not in question, though the question was in his eyes.

“Some, yeah. Mostly though, Jack, I’m disappointed in myself.” Jaxsen, by this point dried his tears, began tearing up. This comment felt to the boy like being stabbed in the heart.

“Why? I’m the screw-up.”