“.... Red? You’re bi- you’re.. big, right?”
It’s taken him a moment to realize he’s being addressed, but Red does eventually nod. He won’t break the somber silence his little cousin’s put into play, nor talk until he really knows what’s going on. Genuine questions out of him are pretty rare.
“.... So that means you- so that means y... you’ve done a lotta ‘growin.”
“......... More like a little growing, but.. yeah. What’s on your mind? If- if it’s anything about babies, you can ask your dad that-”
“Then what? Either you’ve got a reason for asking me or not, and I’d rather you speak sooner than later.”
“.... How’d you do your grow- your growing without a mommy?”
“ .... Why’d you wanna ask that, Graham?”
It’s the tyke’s turn to be silent, now, his expression seeping from bashful curiosity to a genuine sadness, too old and too wise for his little face. That, soon, is replaced by the familiar, screwed-up visage of a little one trying way too hard to keep from crying. “Oh, no- no, come here, come on. What’s going on? Talk to me, I’ll- I won’t judge you.”
“I jus- I j- I-,” oh, he’s hyperventilating. Red can’t keep the alarmed look off his own face, rubbing a hand hard down the little one’s back.
“ She- she never came back, Red! She never came back. Red, I w- I wa... I want my momma... I want her to come back. I love daddy but I want her to come ba-ack...!”
And sooner rather than later, Graham is scooped up in Red’s arms, one hand around his back and the other smoothing down his hair. “........ Me too, Graham. I.... I want mine to come back too.”