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Sam is trying very hard not laugh, because he doesn’t want the kid to think his teacher is making fun of him. But he really wants to. Jack is really fun to listen to. His joyful behaviour is infectious and he’s always meticulous about things he’s interested in. Sam doesn’t mind hearing about every snake species existing. He’s only seven, but he knows what he wants and Sam is pretty sure he knows what he’s doing. Hell, he’s positive the kid would make a better job raising a snake than most adults, with everything he read and researched.
He notices Jack’s mother smiling fondly at him and he turns to her, making Jack stop in his rambling.
“Mom !”
He runs to her and they hug.
“You had fun today, honey ?”
“Yes ! ”
She turns to Sam.
“He behaved ?”
“He’s an angel. A very active one.”
They laugh and he watches them chat. He’s very admirative of their dynamic. He can’t help thinking that his mother would have been like Kelly if she had lived long enough.
“Mom, I think I decided on the snake I want.”
“Jack.” She sighs. “We talked about that, you know I’m terrified of snakes.”
“But you’ll love that one ! I’ll take care of it, and I’ll show you how to feed it.”
Sam is definitely gonna let that laugh out if it goes on. Thankfully, they leave, Jack waving at him with his usual smile. He does have a soft spot for that boy. He’s not supposed to have favourites, but he’s only human.
He would love to have children at some point. He had hoped with Jessica, but then she died and after that, he didn’t met anyone else. At least not mother material. (What was he even doing with someone like Ruby ? Everyone had warned him but he hadn’t seen anything coming.)
“Excuse me ?” An irritated voice shakes him out of his thoughts. There’s a blond man in front of him, whom he never saw before. He looks a bit shaggy to be honest but Sam doesn’t judge.
“Sorry. Can I help you ?”
“I was looking for Jack. Kline.”
“His mother picked him up five minutes ago. Who are you ?”
The man swears and doesn’t answer the question before leaving. Rude. He wonders who he is.
The day after, Jack bursts into the classroom and shouts to Sam.
“I’m gonna have a snake ! I can even name him, because he doesn’t have a name yet !”
“Did your mother change her mind ?” He asks, skeptical.
Jack shakes his head. “My dad came yesterday. He has a snake and he said he would be my snake ! ”
“Your da…” Sam’s mind is connecting the dots. So, the rude man from yesterday is probably Jack’s father. He has never heard of him before. He thought he was totally out of the picture. “I didn’t know it was your dad, I saw him yesterday. He never came before right ?”
“Uh uh. He’s busy, Mom says. But I see him sometimes. He’s weird but he’s nice. ”
There’s definitely a story behind that and Sam is kind of dying to know but he can’t ask that to Jack.
“So, what are you gonna name him ?”
“I dont know yet. I’ll know when we meet.”
The other kids are coming in and he can’t think more about Jack’s dad. He has a good time this day, even if he’s exhausted when the classes end. He chats with Garth, another teacher, while they wait for the parents.
“How’s Bess ? ”
“We’re going to her parents this weekend. I love going there ! ”
“Tell her hello for me. ”
Garth nods and then gives him a side look.
“What about you ? ”
“I’m not doing anything. Maybe Dean is gonna come.”
“That’s not what I’m talking about and you know it.”
“Well, you know. Still looking.”
“I’m sure there’s a nice woman waiting for you out there. You deserve good things Sam.” Garth squeezes his shoulders, his bony fingers digging into Sam’s muscle.
He can only hope his friend is right. But it’s hard to find someone who wants the same things. After Ruby, he met a few women, but it was brief, because they didn’t want the same kind of life. Maybe he has the wrong idea of what he wants.
“Who’s that ?” Garth asks.
Sam follows his eyes to the blond man walking towards them. Jack’s father. He’s shaved today, with a clean shirt. His hair is still sticking out though.
“That’s Jack's father.”
“He has a dad ? ”
“They seem to get along. I don’t know about Kelly.”
Jack is hugging his father, who is awkwardly patting his back, like he’s not sure he’s doing it right.
“This is Sam ! He’s my favourite teacher ! Sam, this is my dad. The snake is his.”
“Hello, nice to meet you. ” Sam politely says.
The man is looking at him in a way Sam can’t decipher, frowning, then grunts. There’s a second of eye contact and he seems like he’s about to say something but then decides against it.
“Let’s go Jack. ”
“Can I see the photo again ? ”
Garth waits until they’ve disappeared from view to speak to Sam.
“That’s Jack’s father ? I wasn’t expecting that. They’re so different, Kelly and him !”
Sam doesn’t answer. There’s something bothering him and he can’t figure out what.
Jack comes back with printed pictures of a yellow snake, that he shows to everyone. Sam looks at them and he lingers on the one that has Jack’s father on it. The man has the snake draped over his shoulders and is looking at the camera. Sam realizes that he doesn’t know his name.
“You can keep it if you want. I have others. And you’ll have a photo of Lucifer.”
He doesn’t know why he thanks the child and keeps the photo. It’s probably weird. What’s weirder is that he keeps looking at it, noticing more and more details every time. The hint of a tattoo on his arm. A scar on his forehead. It shouldn’t preoccupy him so much, but it does.
He seemed rude and weird and Sam wants to see more of him. He doesn’t want to stay on that first impression. If Jack says he’s nice, then he is.
“So…huh…it’s nice to see you picking up Jack. He must be happy.”
He does want to see the man but it’s hard to talk to him when he keeps looking at Sam like that. The blond hums. Maybe he doesn’t like talking to people and Sam is bothering him. Jack is gathering his things or something like that – taking forever in any case.
“Kelly told me she was going to Atlanta, when is she coming back ?”
The blond shrugs. “Not sure.”
The man would obviously be somewhere else bit Sam can’t stop his mouth from running. He’s usually not that clumsy, unless he’s talking to a pretty woman he’s trying to impress. (Then he can be a disaster.)
“I never got your full name, Kline is from Kelly, so you’re … huh… Mr … ? ”
Pale blue eyes assess him and he stops breathing for a moment.
“Milton.”
“Lucifer Milton. That’s some name. ”
Blue eyes open wide.
“What ?”
”Huh…”
“Why would the snake get the Milton name ?”
“What ? ”
They look at each other, confused. Then the blond laughs. His face warms up and he smiles to Sam for the first time.
“You thought my name was Lucifer ? Damn, what did Jack said ?”
He’s embarrassed but also glad to see the blond relax.
“He gave me this, and he said it was a photo of Lucifer.” He actually shows him the photo. The photo he shouldn’t have taken. Of course Jack was talking about the snake. Why would he have given him a photo of his father ? More importantly, why did Sam thought he was talking about the man ? “I don’t know what I was thinking.”
“Should have been obvious, all he can talk about is that snake. I don’t know why he named it Lucifer though.”
His eyes are still smiling when he looks up and Sam’s heart makes a weird pattern. He usually doesn’t get nervous with parents.
“And your name is ... ? ”
“Nick. Not as fun as Lucifer I guess.”
“In some legends, old Nick is another name for the Devil.”
Nick blinks.
“Are you calling me the Devil ? ”
“I don’t mean…” It’s typically Sam to sprout some random knowledge. He can’t help it.
“I’ve been called worse I suppose.” Nick shrugs.
Jack comes back. This time, Nick smiles to him when they leave.
“I’m sorry about Nick.” Is the first thing Kelly says when she comes back three days after. “He can be … abrasive. I’m sorry if he was rude.”
“No no, it’s okay. He’s… not that rude.”
“At least he makes an effort for Jack. I’m glad for that. ”
Sam really wants to know what happened between them. Nick said nothing about Kelly and Jack said nothing about his parents’ relationship, so he can o my guess. He’s curious about Nick, because there’s a duality in him, that makes him act like the best father in the world but makes him look like he’d rather run away from his son.
“Is he gonna be there more often ? I mean, for Jack ? ”
“Maybe. He mostly stayed away, but I think he’s coming to terms with… everything. He said he wanted to be there for Jack. But I don’t know if he can.”
“Sorry, but were you married or … ?”
She looks down, then nervously laugh, scratching her nape.
“Nothing like that. I won’t say it to Jack, but it was an accident. We didn’t really know each other and to be honest, it wouldn’t have worked between us. He’s not good with people. He has a lot of family issues. But he’s trying his best with Jack, so I’m grateful. ”
It makes sense. He understands better why Nick doesn’t seem at ease when he comes to pick up Jack, surrounded by families. Why he’s looking at Jack like he might disappear at any time.
He doesn’t expect to meet Nick in a bar. He’s playing with a glass he hasn’t touched yet, shoulders hunched. Sam hesitates, then walks to him.
“Hey Lucifer. ”
It’s not very funny but it still makes Nick smile.
“Jack’s favourite teacher. What brings you here ?”
“I’m a friend of Benny, the bartender. What about you ?”
“I’m trying not to drink. Probably gonna fail.” Sam knows people who drink. Two to be exact. He sits next to Nick and grabs his glass. The blond arches an eyebrow then relax and lets go of it. Sam puts it aside. “Sorry.”
Sam shakes his head. “Wanna take a walk ? ”
The blond nods after a while and they go outside. He’s silent, looking down, hands buried in his pockets.
“How’s Jack ?”
“Good I think. You know, it’s funny how he doesn’t resent me. I would if I were him.”
“You gave him the snake of his dreams.” Sam chuckles.
“Ah ! It helps, right. You have kids of your own ? ”
“No. Not yet. I’m… desperately single as my brother would say.”
Nick hums. There’s a flash of something in his eyes but he can’t tell what for. They end up at Sam’s, for some reason. They drink apple juice – Sam tries to give him some water with cucumber but Nick makes a disgusted face and says he’s not here to be punished. The blond has a leg tucked under him, his shoes next to the couch.
“I hate my father. I just want to be, not like him, at least. But I’m no good at this fathering business.”
“Where’s your father ?”
“Dunno. Haven’t spoken to him since years and we fought.”
“Then you’re doing better.”
There’s a hopeful gleam in Nick’s eyes this time.
“You know, I should be jealous. Jack talks a lot about you.”
“He does ?”
“Oh yeah. Sam is taller than everyone, Sam is so smart, Sam has a brother, Sam here, Sam there. I feel like I know you and it’s only been a few days. Didn’t tell me you were this hot but I guess he can’t see it.”
Sam is busy to laugh and it’s actually the sudden change in Nick’s posture that makes him go back on the last words. The blond is still, looking everywhere but in Sam’s direction.
He shouldn’t have taken the photo. And he shouldn’t even think of flirting with one of the kid’s parent. But he can’t pretend he’s not attracted to Nick. It took him some time to understand that, but now the man is putting it into words, it seems obvious. But he’s not sure what to say. So he gently presses his fingers on Nick’s cheek to make him look back at him.
None of them say a word, and after a few breaths, Nick closes the space separating them. He barely has the time to enjoy it before it’s over.
“Sorry. It’s a bad idea.”
He’s already up, ready to go and Sam grabs his arm, panicked.
“Don’t go.”
Nick throws a hesitant glance, visibly torn between what he wants and what he thinks he should do. Sam gets up and takes his face between his hands.
“Please.”
It takes some time for Nick to get comfortable with the idea of dating Sam. But it’s going great. They decided not to tell Jack right away, but Kelly wasn’t fooled even a second.
“You’re good for him. I’m so glad he’s finding his way. And Jack will be thrilled, of course !” She says, sipping her tea. She cornered Sam one day and dragged him in a coffee shop to have a little chat. “And maybe you’ll go see that snake because I won’t.”
Nick is a good father, even of he thinks he’s a failure. If only he had let himself the chance from the beginning. But better late than never. Jack is overjoyed to have him in his life as a permanent fixture and it’s not because of Lucifer. Not only.
“So, are you moving in or… ? ”
They’re comfortably spooning under the big, fluffy blanket that Nick made Sam buy. He spends more time here than in his own flat and he has the keys, so really, it would make more sense of he lived here.
“Thought you’d never ask.”