"And you still dress like a man," Max replied to his sister, deflecting the moment. His eyes then trailed toward his parents, who were giving the siblings time to bond, standing off to the side and watching them with soft smiles.
"Mama," he said quietly as he moved away from his siblings and strode toward her.
In no time, he was hugging her, holding her tight.
"Angel, God, you've grown even bigger and taller. What have they been feeding you in that school?" she chuckled as he swiftly lifted her off the floor and swirled her around, just as he had done with his sister.
"I missed you so much, Mama," he said, his voice thick with emotion. He felt like crying when she stroked her hand through his hair the way she always had when he was just a boy. He wished, more than anything, that he were still that boy.
"I missed you too, my son."
