Chapter 10
ten
Leo
Iwalked into my house to find my brothers sitting on the couch waiting for me to return.
Both of them stopped mid-conversation at the sight of me, and I knew they were waiting to find out how my visit with Luke had gone.
“How’d everythin’ go tonight?” Holden asked and took a sip of his drink as he waited for me to respond.
I couldn’t help but smile at the thought of Luke’s reaction to the gifts I’d given him.
“He’s such a great kid,” I told them as I took off my shoes and walked around the love seat and sat down.
“How’d he take meetin’ you?” Brooks asked.
“He jumped into my arms like he’s known me forever,” I told them, still unsure of how I’d gotten so lucky to have that type of response from him. While Carolina had told me he knew about me, I didn’t expect him to react the way he did.
“Wow. How’d that make you feel?” Holden asked as he leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees.
“Like I don’t deserve him,” I whispered, withholding tears.
I wasn’t an emotional man by any means. Well, I didn’t show emotion when I was around others, but I couldn’t hold this in no matter how hard I tried.
A few tears fell, and I turned my head to hide them and brushed them away quickly, hoping neither of them noticed. Only I wasn’t so lucky.
“I never thought I’d see the day,” Brooks said, and I eyed him curiously, so he’d elaborate.
“You’re changin’. Just a few days ago you were jokin’ at the bar, and before me sits a serious, but happy, Leo. I can’t explain it, but I’m happy for you,” Brooks said with a smile.
“How’d Mom and Dad take the news?” Holden asked. I hadn’t gotten a chance to discuss anything with them because I’d been at Carolina’s the night before and they weren’t home when I got back.
“Shockingly well. Mom cried, of course, but they both just want to meet him,” I explained.
I had left the letters she gave me in the truck because I knew my brothers would be waiting for me, and I didn’t want them to see the letters and ask questions.
“That’s understandable. Why don’t you see if you can bring him to Sunday dinner?” Brooks suggested.
That wasn’t a bad idea, but I wasn’t sure if Carolina would agree. We hadn’t discussed having him by myself yet.
“I’ll see what she says. I don’t know if she’ll go for it, but it’s worth a shot,” I told them. Now that they’d put the idea in my head, I pictured Luke sitting around the table with all of us, and I wanted that more than anything.
Crap. I don’t even have a booster seat for my truck. I’d have to remedy that, or she definitely wouldn’t agree.
“How do you feel about seein’ her again?” Brooks asked.
That was the million-dollar question.
When I was around her, I tried not to think about her and only focus my attention on Luke. I hadn’t let my mind wander that far because nothing good could come from it.
“I’m not goin’ there. She told me I could see Luke whenever I wanted durin’ the week as long as I gave her notice, and that I could get him on Sundays. We can coparent and continue the way we are,” I told them.
“Has she given you any reason as to why she didn’t tell you about Luke?” Holden asked.
“Just that she wrote letters that I never received initially. I talked to Mom about it last night, and she handed me a stack of unopened letters. Other than that, she hasn’t mentioned why she’s back yet.”
“Have you read them?” Brooks asked.
No. I was too scared to read them. I already felt like it was all my fault that I’d missed seven years with my son. I didn’t know if I could handle the contents of those letters without the guilt weighing me down even more.
I just shook my head, because there was no way I could admit that to either of them. They’d likely understand, but I’d never forgive myself, and I didn’t want to hear their justifications.
“Do you know what caused her to return?” Holden asked again.
“No, she hasn’t said, and I don’t see where it’s my place to ask,” I admitted.
“Maybe you should ask. Especially if it pertains to Luke,” Brooks said.
He had a point.
Maybe one day soon I’d feel comfortable enough to ask her.
“What about the rings on her hand?” Brooks asked.
Now, that was another story. I wanted to know where this man was and what his relationship was with our son, but again I was too scared to know.
The thought of another man raising my son didn’t sit well with me, but not for reasons you’d think.
It was because I failed to read those letters she kept sending, and if my son had bonded with another man, or looked to him as a father figure, I’d only have myself to blame.
“She hasn’t mentioned it, and again, it’s not my place to ask.
If she’s married, she hasn’t mentioned him, and Luke didn’t mention him tonight either,” I told them, hoping they’d drop it because I couldn’t risk thinking about it.
It’d make me think of other things, like how she’d moved on, and my mind going there wasn’t an option.
I couldn’t think that way. We’d raise Luke as coparents, and that was it.
“When are you goin’ to tell Ainsleigh and Gentry? You might want to do that soon before someone else tells them,” Holden said, his voice full of concern for our baby sister.
“I’ll get with them in a couple of days.
Hopefully, I’m seein’ Luke again tomorrow,” I told them.
I didn’t know how Ainsleigh would react to finding out about Luke.
Hopefully, she would be as understanding as our parents and brothers.
But I knew one thing. She wouldn’t be happy knowing she was the last to find out.
“Do you have any more pictures of him? I can’t wait to meet him,” Brooks said, and I happily took out my phone to show them the photos Carolina had sent me.
“He looks just like you. It’s crazy,” Holden said in awe as he stared down at the photo.
“Watch out world; there’s another Leo Courtright,” Brooks joked, and I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Lord, help us all,” Holden said as he laughed as well.
I took one last look at the photos of us; my eyes focused on the one of Luke hugging me as we first met. I’d cherish that memory forever.