The pride he feels for his kids is something that can’t be explained most times, but watching them become the people they’re growing into is something he’s sure can’t be understood unless it’s felt. Especially given all they’d been through. His biggest fear was that despite doing his best, he’d screw them up somehow. He’d love them either way, of course. There’s no such thing of perfect and he’s the biggest example of that, his current situation making him feel like a hypocrite at the best of times, but at least he could look to his children and know he did something right and watching his son right now is just testament to that.
He’s listening with a smile plastered to his face until she mentions she recognizes him from high school, but he’s learned about the value of a poker face the past few years so it barely falters. That time is still something of a sore spot for him. It’s not something he’s ever really gone back to address beyond a fleeting and often bitter, “glad that’s over” sort of thing. Coming back here was difficult enough, especially given the reason and what he’d already gotten himself into. Staring the past right in the eye constantly was another ordeal entirely, one he kept mostly to himself at this point. The only other person he could really talk to about it that was around was his ex and that discussion was off the table. Bringing her here was risky enough with how triggering it might be. Another reason he hated it here.
Despite all that he continues to smile and nod. “Yeah, that’s me. So…I guess it’s something things came full circle. This one’s all grown up now.” He points at Matty, who was still a baby by the time he finished high school as he tries to recall if he remembers the woman in front of him from that time. To be perfectly honest, once he found out he was going to be a dad and became so hyper-focused on graduating and working, beyond suffering from the rumors, teasing and pressure and the people he remembers being perpetrators of that, memories of much else fall to the wayside. “I’m sorry, it might take me a minute to recall remembering you. Things got kind hectic back in those days if you know what I mean.” He offers apologetically before following her over to the piece and immediately marveling at the detail. It makes him place a hand to his chest in admiration as he reaches for his son and wraps an arm around his shoulder, squeezing gently. “Wow, you did a great job, Matthew. This is going up in the house for sure. You taught him this?” He smiles as he asks, looking over at her.
“That’s alright, I barely remember half of it. I’m pretty sure we had the same art class, that is if you’re the same kid I’m remember sitting in that corner and making impressive pieces.” Leigh pointed at the opposite end of the classroom next to the desk. The classroom was set up much differently when they were there. Before the new windows were put in it was the brightest place in the room, Leigh always showed up too late to get the seat for herself. “I know people grow out of their high school hobbies but I’m glad you’re still creating, I think Matthew said you guys paint sometimes, I love that.” Leigh stood from the squatting position she was in and patted the wrinkles out of her outfit. Blue jeans and a bright sweater that was topped off with colorful dangly earrings. Of course the DILF wouldn’t remember her, the loner redhead who sat all the way across the room hunched over her drawing pad or smudging some form of paint or other over a canvas.
“Full circle is right, I mean, not for you just that - well, even though I loved this class I hated this school. Not in a million years did I think I would end up back here, in the same classroom none the less.” She explained. “Life is weird like that.” She shrugged.
Leigh tucked her hand under her chin as she studied how his facial features changed when he looked at his son’s work. Pride. Pride and love, care and compassion. She saw it all there on his face. Dani’s smile lit up the room and pulled out a genuine one of her own. Matthew is one lucky kid to have a dad that loved him this much and openly supported him. Sure, Leigh had a good childhood - but she didn’t really get along with her father all that much. Especially when she was in high school and smoked pot on the roof of their house at night(it was easy to reach out her bedroom window), or when she would get busted behind the bleachers at school with a dime bag. She shook the thought as her eyes drifted to Matthew.
“See, I told you he would love it, Matthew.” She reached out and gave him a fist bump. Some kids wouldn’t return her fist bumps, they thought it was lame and outdated - but Matthew always returned hers with a smile. “He was just a little nervous to show it off. He says you’re a great artist, so I could see why.” Leigh ran a hand through her hair as she listened to him.
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