2. Adam
2
ADAM
S quinting, I make my way up the mountain. I was all ready to head up here last night but my parents tried to talk me out of this visit at all, claiming once again that Livvy Hennessy is a tramp and there’s no way that her son could belong to my younger brother, the saint who walks on water and died way too young.
Because he was wild and reckless. And that’s why I know this child is his. Or at least I’m pretty sure he could be. I wish my parents had mentioned him before.
But I know how they are. Convinced that their golden boy couldn’t possibly have fathered a child out of wedlock and barely over eighteen.
I know better. Jesse was a reckless, selfish piece of work that didn’t deserve all the love and attention that they poured over him. They doted on him. But he didn’t care about anybody but himself and his selfish pleasures.
I left for the army a long time ago. I’m just days away from retiring at thirty eight. He was twelve years younger than me and my parents believed that they couldn’t have any more kids so he was a miracle. A golden-haired, blue eyed, beautiful child that smiled and laughed all the time, charming everyone around him.
I’m not him that’s for sure. I’m his exact opposite in fact. Darker, quieter and with a permanent scowl, thanks to some hard-earned lessons over the years.
But those lessons made me the man I am today. Self-sufficient and careful. I’ve got money in the bank that I’ve been saving up towards my retirement on my mountain home.
Until I heard a rumor from a new recruit passing through the area where I was stationed for my last few months. My brother fathered a child. One that was born out of wedlock and my old-fashioned parents refused to acknowledge.
I had a nephew. I’ve always longed for a family of my own. But it wasn’t in the cards. But hearing that I have a nephew that I’ve never met and that my parents don’t recognize. That rocked me to my core.
I have a chance to teach this boy all about my family and my values, not my parents’ and I want it. Hell, if the girl is anything like what my parents say she is, I might be the only possible way he ends up with a good home life.
I might need to find myself a lawyer and take action. For the good of the boy, of course. If my parents aren’t going to take care of the kid, I can. He’s my nephew. My family.
Or at least I think so. I’ll need to look into a paternity test too…just to make sure. I’m not as rich as my parents but I’m pretty solid with my investments and the like. It pays to be sensible about things where money is involved.
I pull in at a cute little cabin that looks almost like a little cottage. Right down to window boxes with flowers hanging over the edges. Bright spots of color dancing against the dark wood of the home. It actually looks more like a home than my own, very large house did when I was growing up.
It looks well-tended and that doesn’t really fit the image of my parents’ description of her as careless and immature.
My eyes run over every bit of the property and I can’t find one thing that needs a huge overhaul. It’s taken-care of and yet a little worn. It just looks…normal.
I step up on the large porch and took a deep breath before I lift my fist and knock on the door. For a moment, I wonder if she’s even home. Until I hear a child giggle and running feet heading for the door along with a woman’s voice yelling. A husky, sexy, sweet voice.
The door flies open and a little cherub of about seven looks out at me, his bright blue eyes alight with the devil. For a minute, it’s like I’m looking in my little brother’s eyes. There’s no question in my mind. This little boy is Jesse’s son.
A woman whips around him and pushes him out of the way. Her snappy hazel eyes glare at me as she pushes her coppery-red curls out of her face. The boy peeks around her hip and smirks at me. “Who the hell are you?”
“Mommy, you said a bad word,” the little boy hisses. She flushes and glares at me as she picks him up and holds his sturdy little body on her lush hip.
“I’m sorry, sweetie. I was surprised. I wasn’t expecting anybody today.”
His blond head nods but he keeps those bright blue eyes fixed on me and I clear my throat, too stunned to think beyond the fact that I have a family.
Well, it’s Jesse’s family. But something about that feels all wrong when I think it.
The redhead glares harder at me and snaps her dainty fingers in my face. “Hey, buddy! Who the….heck are you and why are you banging on my door at this ungodly hour of the morning.” Even the trail of freckles on her dainty little nose are glaring at me. She’s something else.
My lip quirks. I’m guessing she’s not a morning person. It is only seven in the morning so she maybe hasn’t had her coffee. I know if I haven’t had mine, I’m a complete asshole until I do. And being in the Army I saw a lot of early mornings. I learned my lesson to always be prepared.
Which is why I made the stop I did.
I hold up a bag from the little bakery in town and then a drinks carrier. “I brought breakfast and some coffee. A couple of different kinds for you to choose from since I didn’t know what you like. Do you mind if I come in and talk to you for a minute?”
“I don’t care if you’re bringing me ten million dollars in gold bars. You’re not coming in my house until I know who you are!” Her hazel eyes swirl with green and gold sparks and she’s a vision right now, her beautiful eyes narrowed and her lush body ramrod straight. My heart slams into my ribs and I can’t quite catch my breath. There’s just something about this woman. Something that says she’s….important. I push the thought from my mind.
“I’m sorry. Forgive me. That’s insufferably rude of me. I know who you are but you don’t know me.” I juggle the carriers and hold out my hand which she ignores with another glare. “My name is Adam Redfern and I’m Jesse’s older brother. Sam’s uncle.”
Her eyes widen and she pales, one hand reaching for the door and hanging on so tight that her knuckles turn white as alabaster marble.
“Oh no,” she breathes and then slams the door right in my face.
Well, that’s interesting indeed.