"What's your name, Superman?"
The boy puffed out his chest.
"Miguel."
"Last name?"
"Rivera."
Tom nodded seriously.
"Miguel Rivera."
Miguel nodded back.
Tom held up the drawing.
"You made this?"
"Yes."
"All by yourself?"
Another nod.
Tom studied one of the motorcycles.
"This one supposed to be me?"
Miguel looked closely.
"No."
Tom raised an eyebrow.
Miguel pointed to a much larger motorcycle drawn near the coffin.
"That's you."
The table erupted in quiet laughter.
Even Tom laughed.
Miguel smiled for the first time.
Then Tom's expression softened again.
"You go tell your mom something for me."
Miguel waited.
"You tell her your daddy isn't going to be alone tomorrow."
The child's eyes widened.
Tom continued.
"You tell her we're coming."
Miguel looked at the other bikers.
"All of you?"
Jake answered first.
"Every man at this table."
Snake looked toward Tom.
Tom held his gaze.
Snake sighed.
Then nodded.
"Yeah."
Miguel smiled.
Tom added, "And if I have anything to say about it, your daddy is going to have one of the biggest, loudest, scariest escorts to heaven this town has ever seen."
Miguel's entire face changed.
Children had a way of showing hope without protecting themselves from disappointment.
It appeared all at once.
Bright.
Complete.
Trusting.
"Promise?"
Tom looked him straight in the eyes.
"Promise."
Miguel threw his arms around Tom's neck.
Tom froze.
Nobody at the table had ever seen him freeze like that.
His hands hovered awkwardly for a moment before one settled gently against the boy's back.
"Thank you, Mr. Scary Man."
Tom closed his eyes.
"You're welcome, warrior."
Across the diner, someone sniffed.
Carla turned away and wiped her eyes.
Miguel released Tom and ran toward the door.
The bell jingled wildly when he pushed it open.
Tom stood.
They watched the boy sprint across the parking lot toward the Toyota.
His mother looked up suddenly.
Miguel began speaking before he even reached the car.
He pointed toward the diner.
Then toward the motorcycles.
Then back toward the diner again.
Elena Rivera slowly looked through the windshield.
Tom was standing beside the window.
Their eyes met.
Elena looked horrified.
Tom lifted one hand.
Not a wave exactly.
Something gentler.
A signal that said it was okay.
Elena covered her mouth.
Then she lowered her head again.
Tom returned to the table.
Snake stared at the drawing.
"You serious?"
Tom sat down.
"About what?"
"Tomorrow."
Tom looked around at the fifteen Iron Wolves.
"Anybody got somewhere more important to be?"
Nobody answered.
Snake rubbed his beard.
"This could get complicated."
"Why?"