She looked down at him pitifully and freed a hand from the wheel to stroke his hair gently, nodded a little. "I know, baby, I'm so sorry." Paused at a red light and bent to kiss the top of his head. "Stick around with us for a bit, okay? No one will bother you at the house. I'll take care of you."
He needed her and she'd be damned if she was gonna let her selfish want to be loved by him stop her from being there. Set the car in motion when the light changed, kept her one hand in his hair, massaging his scalp gently. "I do love you, I'll always come. Even if you never love me, kid."