"'If you was here, then it is,' the child says.
"At that his father smiled—and that was the first real, real look that had come into his face. And he looked around slow to the rest of us.
"'I wasn't never the kind to hev a kid,' he says. 'The drink had me—had me hard. I knew I'd got to find somebody to show him—about growin' up. I'm glad you're goin' to.'
"He shut his eyes and Chris threw himself forward and patted his face.
"'Daddy!' he cried, 'I wanted to tell you—I had that hot ice-cream an'—an'—an' tea on a litty wagon....'
"Robin drew him back, hushed him, looked up questioning to Insley. And while we all set there, not knowing whether to leave or to stay, the man opened his eyes, wide and dark.
"'I wish't it had been different,' he said. 'Oh—God....'
"Chris leans right over, eager, towards him.
"'Didn't he say anything back?' he says.