I gave my son another light kiss on the lips and replied, "I won't tell if you don't. It's our little secret and it will be alright." Scotty started to argue, but I placed a finger over his lips as I often did when he was younger to silence an argument that had gone on too long. "It will be alright, son," I repeated and then I kissed him again, a little more firmly, but still closed mouth.

I let him go and was relieved that while he still looked panicked, he didn't pursue the argument. "Honey, I'm going to go take a shower. Why don't you find a phone...