Secrets and Surprises

This story is for Father's Day, which I know was a couple of days ago if you celebrate it like me. I actually wrote this the day before Father's Day but I only got to type it up today, so sorry about the lateness of it. I saw this prompt and knew I had to include some good ol' Tom and Benny cuteness ;) Hope you enjoy!

Based on the writing prompt: 'Write a scene starting with the line: "Where did you find that?"

"Where did you find that?"

The boy instantly spun around, concealing the object that Tom had only caught the briefest of glimpses of behind his back. "What?" His smile was a little too innocent.

"That."

Benny played dumb. "What?"

"That. The object you're unsuccessfully attempting to hide behind your back," Tom gestured with an easy laugh.

Benny returned his laugh nervously. "I'm not hiding anything behind my back."

"Sure." Tom rolled his eyes to show he didn't believe him.

His son took an unconscious step backwards. "I'm not! This is my - my homework."

"You don't sound so certain," Tom noted.

"I am certain!"

"Are you sure it's not your school report?"

"I am certain," insisted Benny earnestly.

Tom feigned confusion. "Certain of what?"

Benny opened his mouth, then faltered, apparently forgetting what they had been talking about. "Um -"

His father grinned. "Oldest trick in the book. Well, one of the oldest, anyway. Works every time. Confuse your opponent utterly. So, what are you hiding from me?"

The boy hesitated before sighing. "It was supposed to be a surprise."

Now Tom was intrigued, if he hadn't been before. "What was?"

Before the younger boy could reply, another voice cut into the brief silence from behind Benny, sounding amused and slightly exasperated at the same time. "That's low, Tom. Tricking your ten year old son." Lexi came out from behind the kitchen door, not quite smiling but coming close. Her long blond hair was tied back behind a green patterned bandanna, strands of it escaping and framing her face.

"And what exactly were you doing listening behind the door?" Tom countered.

Lexi looked slightly sheepish. "Seeing if Benny would manage to lie to you. Which I predicted he wouldn't, since he's a terrible liar. Like you."

"And you call me low," grinned Tom.

Lexi gave an expression of mock horror. "Touché. I assume you've already got all the required gifts for your father?"

"Of course," Tom assured her. "And your dear father?"

Lexi made a face that detailed her exact feelings. "Don't even ask. I'm still working on it, let's say."

"Happy Father's Day, Dad," came the quiet voice, accompanied by a tiny tug on Tom's sleeve. His son was proudly holding out a battered looking cupcake and a distinctly homemade card.

"Benny wanted to wrap the cupcake up, as he was convinced that presents had to be wrapped for them to be proper presents," informed Lexi.

Benny looked sorrowful. "Sorry, Dad. I wanted it to be a surprise for later."

Tom picked up the boy and whirled him around, being careful of the cupcake. "There's nothing to be sorry about, Benny!"

When he was set down again, his son's face lit up. "You like it?"

Tom smiled reassuringly. "It doesn't matter how you wrap it, a present's still as special as ever. I love it. I'm not even sure how you wrap a cupcake, anyway."

Benny giggled, obviously relieved.

After reading the card - shaped like a football and reading 'I scored a goal in getting YOU as my dad!' - Tom placed it on the fireplace in the middle of the living room wall. "There. Pride of place. You're the only son I've got, anyway."

Benny hugged him tightly, unaware that he was squishing the cupcake even more. "Happy Father's Day, Dad!"

"Happy Father's Day, buddy."