Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 68698 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 343(@200wpm)___ 275(@250wpm)___ 229(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68698 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 343(@200wpm)___ 275(@250wpm)___ 229(@300wpm)
Aodhan snorted.
Wake grunted.
Dutch and Danyetta nearly said the same thing at the same time. “Duh.”
I looked over at him, watching as he kept a steadying hand on the baby’s belly.
Then said, “You move on from here. You do your best. You make sure that you’re not going to make that mistake again. And you always trust your family to take care of you.” I looked around the room for a second then moved back to Bowie. “I never had that. You’re lucky.”
Bowie winced. “I heard about your dad.”
My brows rose.
“What?” I asked.
“I heard about your dad. I heard the two people working at your coffee shop talking out back before I did anything.” He winced. “They were talking about how your dad offered them money to leave. To quit.”
That didn’t surprise me at all.
“They’ve apparently been offered money three times now,” he continued. “He sounds like a jerk.”
I winced. “He is a jerk.”
“Sounds like you need someone new to watch your back.” He looked at his father, who was busy watching me on the couch, and not Bowie. “I’m glad my dad found you. He needs someone to take care of.”
At that, Aodhan looked toward Bowie.
But it was Danyetta who said, “You don’t need taken care of?”
“I need…” He paused. “I think I need to quit baseball.”
Wake crossed his arms over his chest, then leaned into his knees with his elbows as he said, “You got any more you need to tell us about him?”
Bowie flushed. “I don’t like him very much, either. He has this new friend that’s been hanging around during practices. Says he’s going to start being our assistant coach for in case the actual coach can’t make it. But he gives me the creeps. He’s always talking about the good ol’ days when baseball was a fun sport and didn’t have as many rules. I think he’s full of hot air, but nobody else seems to have the same problem with him as I do. But the coach and him are so buddy-buddy, I’m scared to say anything negative about him because I want to still play.”
“Bowie.” Danyetta pinched the bridge of her nose. “Why haven’t you said anything about this? Have we ever made you feel like you couldn’t come and talk to us about absolutely anything?”
Bowie shrugged. “I guess I just didn’t want to be a bother.”
“You’re never a bother,” Aodhan replied hotly. “You’re our son. It’s our right and our privilege to worry about you.”
“Well…” He shrugged helplessly.
I sat up, bringing attention to myself.
I reached forward and touched the little fist that was fisting the couch right beside Bowie’s leg and said, “I’m not your parent. But I’m here for you just the same. If you need us, we’re here. Always.”
Bowie nodded. “I’m sorry for doing that to your store.”
I was sorry, too.
But it wasn’t the end of the world.
I did think he didn’t intentionally set that fire.
I also knew that given time, he and his father would have a good relationship. That one day, there would be no more questioning who Bowie would turn to.
“It’s okay.” I winked.
And it would be.
I just had to find a way to fix it.
• • •
“I’m going with you,” I grumbled at him. “We can even take my car. They don’t know it.”
“Sunny’s already there anyway. This won’t be a surprise,” he grumbled back as he all but carried me out of his ex-wife’s house.
“Well, then perfect time to go. Plus, there’s food,” I teased.
He patted my butt, and I laid my head on his shoulder as he all but hauled me toward my car.
“First thing tomorrow, we’re buying you a car that doesn’t blow,” he grumbled as he deposited me into my seat.
“I’ve been putting a lot of my excess cash into a savings account.” I reached over and unlocked his door before he could use the key. “I don’t have the money for a car.”
“You have the money,” he said as he got in, started it, and drove out of the driveway before he could even get his seat belt on. “But that doesn’t matter anyway. Because I’m paying for it.”
The finality in his tone made me roll my eyes.
“Aodhan…” I started, but he reached over and squeezed my thigh, right above my knee. “I think I’m owed this after everything we’ve put you through.”
I didn’t say another word as we drove through town, then out of it, toward the coach’s place of business.
When we arrived, it was to find Sunny still waiting in his car.
“I know you’re not going to stay in the car,” he said. “But I’d like you to at least stay outside. The garage doors are all open.” He jerked his head toward the bay doors that were open. “Sit in that seat right there? I will try to stay close to the door so you can hear.”