Chapter Fifty-Five
Alan
While Adam drove me to the airport the next morning, he remarked, “So, Mom and Dad seem to really like Jessica.”
“And Lainey.”
“And being grandparents.”
I chuckled, thinking about how Mom had practically arm wrestled Carol last night over who got to hold Ruthie after she was done with the bottle. “I love that biology doesn’t matter to them.”
“Why should it? It doesn’t matter to me. Lainey and I will always honor Shawn’s legacy—but Conor is my son now, too.”
“I know. And Ruthie’s going to be my daughter.”
“What’s the deal with her biological dad?”
“He’s not in the picture, by his own choice.”
“Wow, what a fucker. But Jess is better off.”
I nodded. “Yeah, that’s what she said.”
“So, are you going to adopt Ruthie?”
“Um… I don’t know? We haven’t talked about that.”
“But you would.”
“In a heartbeat. What about you? Are you going to adopt Conor after you marry Lainey?”
My brother made a face. “Welllll… that’s a little more complicated. We have the O’Briens to consider. With Conor, they still have a piece of Shawn. I think they’d view it as an insult if we changed his last name, and neither of us want to upset them. They’ve been really good to Lainey—and me.”
“I respect that. Although, what would happen to Conor if, God forbid, something happened to Lainey?”
“Oh, Lainey already took care of that. Getting kidnapped lit a fire under her to make a will, and she named me as his guardian. And since Jade and Brian are going to be his godparents, they’re the backup if something happens to both of us.”
“Do the O’Briens know that?”
“I don’t think so, but honestly, I think as long as they still got to spend time with their grandson, they wouldn’t be mad. They love being grandparents, but they’re getting up there in age. It would take a lot of energy to raise him. A lot more than a day of babysitting.”
“That’s a good point.”
“What about Ruthie?” he asked. “Does she have godparents?”
“I don’t think so. We haven’t really talked about it yet.”
“Dude… it sounds like there’s a lot of things you haven’t talked about. Have you told her about your “consulting” work?”
“No.”
I hated admitting that out loud.
“Don’t you think that’s something you should tell her before you get married?”
“Absolutely not. I’m not giving her a reason to call off the wedding.”
My brother looked over at me with narrowed eyes, “No, just a reason to divorce your ass.”
“Look, I’m giving my notice this week. I’ll have to do two more jobs, tops, and then I can make a clean break. She won’t even have to know.”
“Are you listening to yourself? You don’t think she’s going to notice if you’re gone on two jobs?”
“Well, we signed a six-month lease, so she’s going to be in Haven Springs for at least six months. When I’m gone, she won’t know if I’m in Lancastle or Baghdad.”
Adam shook his head in disgust. “I’m telling you, bro; that’s a mistake.”
Probably, but what other choice did I have?