13. Sullivan
Chapter 13
Sullivan
“Mindy? As in Danny’s mom?” Nora parked in my driveway.
“Yeah.” I pushed the door open and strode over to my parents’ place, terror riding me every step.
Mindy was on the porch and my dad was standing in front of the door, his arms crossed.
I took the stairs two at a time. “Why are you here?”
Mindy swung around. “You can’t keep me from my kid.” She tried to get past my father. “Danny, baby, come out here.”
I glanced over at the door. Danny was standing behind the screen door, his eyes huge and tear-filled. He shook his head no .
Nora ran up the stairs behind me.
Danny pushed the screen open enough to get by my dad and gave Mindy wide berth. He slammed into me, his arms locking around my waist.
“Hey, buddy. It’s okay.”
“Don’t let her take me.” He pressed his face into my chest. “Please.”
Nora came up and hugged both him and me. “You’re not going anywhere.” She peered up at me. “Right, Dad?”
Relief staggered me as I wrapped an arm around her until we made a unit.
The rumble of a vehicle and unmistakable grown of a motorcycle had me peering over my shoulder. Ripley and Cash ate up the walk and clomped up the stairs to stand behind me.
“What, are you all going to try to scare me?” Mindy tried to pull Danny away from us.
He pulled his arm away. “No. I don’t want to go with you. I want Dad.”
“You heard the boy. You’re not wanted here.” Ripley’s voice was low and mean behind me.
“Now, everyone, calm down.” My dad stepped away from the door and my mom slipped out, the screen door slapping behind her. He wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close. “Mindy, you left that boy with us without a word. Same as when you left with him—not a word. I think family court would have a field day with that.”
“I only left him because I needed to make some money for us.” Mindy’s blue eyes became calculating. “I hear you have some money these days, Sully.”
I stiffened. She expected me to buy him ?
“Get off our porch,” my dad’s voice boomed. “You don’t even deserve to be called his mother. We’ll see you in court. Think a solid family with grandparents, and all these uncles, not to mention a loving woman in Sully’s life will be a match for you?”
Mindy’s face flamed and she balled up her fists. “I’m his mother.”
Danny held onto me tighter, then he turned his face into Nora’s arm. He looked up at Nora, his eyes filled. “Don’t make me.”
“We won’t, Danny. You’re ours.” She met my gaze, and her hazel eyes shone. “Ours.”
“God, I love you.”
Nora’s eyes widened. “Good thing I love you right back.”
Not exactly the way I wanted to tell her, but it was true. The minute she’d opened the door, I knew my life was going to change. I just didn’t realize just how much.
I bent down to look Danny in the eyes. “You’re not going anywhere. I promise.” I ruffled his hair. “Stay with Nora, okay?”
He nodded and looped his arms around her waist.
I pointed at the stairs. “Let’s talk.”
Mindy lifted her chin. “Unless you’re giving me money, there’s nothing to discuss.”
I counted to five, the red rage hazing over my vision. “This is supposedly your son, and you’d say that in front of him? You’re a monster. Get out of here before I call the cops.”
“And they’ll do what? I’m the mother.”
I lowered my voice. “Think Chief Olsen would be interested to know you abandoned him. They might not be so indulgent. Especially since Danny is terrified. No cop would let you near him. No social worker, either. Turn around and never come back. Because you’re right, I do have money now. I’d crucify you in court and you know it.”
Her eyes blazed, but then she looked around.
Cash and Ripley leaned against the railing behind Nora, deceptively at ease, but they didn’t take their eyes off of Mindy.
My parents gravitated to Nora, creating a wall around Danny.
Mindy took off down the stairs and ran to her car. She threw one last furious glare at me before getting into her car and backing out with a squeal of tires.
I didn’t realize how tense I was until her brake lights disappeared and I let out a breath.
Danny broke away from Nora and ran to me. I caught him tight against me and kissed the top of his head.
He looked up at me, so much trust in his eyes. “She won’t be back, will she?”
“I’m going to make sure she never will.” I locked eyes with Nora, and she came over to wrap her arms around us once again. “I love you both so much.”
“I love you, Dad.”
My knees nearly buckled. I wasn’t sure I’d ever hear that again. “I love you too, buddy.”
“Okay, all you boys and Nora come inside. I’ve got ribs in the oven.”
“Oh, now that’s what I missed about home.” Cash slapped me on the back. “Little drama while I was gone, huh?”
I laughed. “A little bit. Glad you’re home, Cash.” I nodded toward my older brother. “Thanks for coming too, Rip. Mom must have called in the cavalry, huh?”
Rip grinned. “Family group chat for the win.” He relaxed his smile as he lowered his gaze to Danny. “We got you, kiddo. Murdocks are always there for each other.” He held out a fist and Danny bumped it with his. “That’s right. I’ll see you inside.”
I hugged Danny. “Mind if I talk to Nora for a second?”
He wrinkled his nose. “Kissing stuff?”
Nora laughed. “Probably.”
My mom waved him over. Her eyes were still a little misty, but they were full of happiness as she urged him inside. The usual sounds of my brothers insulting one another added another layer of relief. I always knew they had my back but seeing it in action today meant a lot.
“So, that was a lot.” Nora settled her hands on my chest.
“I come with a lot of baggage. I don’t think Mindy will be back, but she might.”
She went on her toes and covered my mouth.
I sighed and pulled her closer, breaking the kiss to press my forehead to hers. “I know it’s fast, Nora. I do love you, though. I’ve had feelings for you for a long time. Even before you came back to Indigo Valley.”
“Really?”
“One of the reasons I let things fade with Booker. It was hard to see you two together.”
“Oh, Sully. I’m so sorry.”
“It worked out. Just took a little longer to make you see me.”
“I saw you. And I sometimes wonder if things would have been different if I didn’t marry Booker, but then maybe I never would have come back here. Maybe then I’d never have found you again.”
“You were worth the wait, Nora Baker.” I cupped her face and kissed her lightly.
I heard Danny’s laugh inside and everything settled exactly right inside of me.
“I think Danny might love you just as much as I do.”
“I love him too. I’m pretty stoked about the two-for-one deal.”
“If I didn’t love you before, that would have done it.”
She laughed and wrapped her arms around me. “Life won’t be boring with this family.”
“You’re damn right.”
She smiled at me, and I knew right then that I was going to marry this girl.
I just had to give her a little time to get used to the idea.
Very little time.
I couldn’t wait much longer to make her mine because she was the only one I ever wanted.