Chapter Forty-one – Not a Moment Too Soon #2
Her voice trailed off upon seeing our serious faces.
“What’s wrong?”
No one said anything for a few seconds, but as I watched, the hurt and anger on Luca’s face disappeared in a breathtaking smile.
“Just, you know, me calling my mom out on her shi—stuff.”
Akela tried to sneak into the house, and Luca laughed, pushing the dog back outside. “No way, boy. You can’t come in here all wet like that. Grams will make me clean the entire house. Let’s take you and Bowie to the mudroom and get you guys dry.”
He grabbed Akela’s collar and stepped back out into the snow next to Andie.
I finally was able to clear my throat enough to call his name, and he looked back at me with eyes too wise and grown-up for a thirteen-year-old.
“I’m good, Dad. Really. I meant everything I said. Everything I want is right here in Swift Rivers.”
He took off running for the door farther down the deck that led to the mudroom, instead of the dining room, and both dogs gave chase. He laughed, and it eased the pressure in my heart.
Andie brushed off her jacket and looked from me to my parents standing over my shoulder, eyes worried, and the hole Eden had tried to recreate with her call sealed right back up.
She was worried about Luca and me. She wanted what was best for us.
I could only agree with my son. Everything I wanted was right here.
I reached out and wiped snow from her cheek. “I love you.”
My dad snorted, and my mom giggled and then slapped me on the back of the head. “In or out, Coop. I’m not paying to heat the outside.”
Andie’s eyes darted to my parents, but then she smiled. A full, real smile that was just as breathtaking to me as my son’s had been. She grabbed my hand and kissed the palm. “Let me just go help Luca with the dogs and get out of this wet gear. I’ll be right in.”
She shut the door in my face and took off after my son.
I stared, heart banging with all the hopes and dreams I’d had last night in her arms, with all the emotions that had almost left me in tears.
The doorbell rang, perfectly timed to stop me from embarrassing myself more.
“I’ll get it.”
But I heard both my parents laughing again as I moved through the house toward the front.
As I went, I made plans for our day. A long ride with Luca and Andie, lunch with my parents, an actual date tonight, and another night spent tangled in Andie’s arms.
All those plans were burned to hell the moment I opened the door.
Andie’s half brother stood before me. I knew him because I’d looked him up the first time she’d told me about him.
He was an inch or so taller than me with warm, tanned skin and dark hair smattered with gray at the temples.
Golden-brown eyes took me in silently, curiously.
Finally, after a long moment, he offered me a hand.
There was a nasty scar that went from the knuckle of his index finger down between his thumb and over the palm.
Evidence that he’d lived through some of his own traumas.
I shook it, my grip firm but not attempting to prove anything.
“Thank you.” His words were deep and guttural and full of emotion. “For helping her in ways I couldn’t. In ways she wouldn’t let me.”
My throat filled with more emotions, and I had to clear it before responding.
“You helped her escape. She wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you. I owe you for that. For allowing her to find her way to me.” And damn if more tears didn’t try to escape.
He smiled. A large smile that had his eyes twinkling.
“I was pretty sure of it, from listening to Andie and from when you and I spoke, but seeing it myself, knowing you love her as she deserves…it’s a relief.” He shrugged. “Means I won’t have to find a way to murder you in your sleep.”
“Dad! Is it okay to come in now? I need to pee!” a voice called from the large SUV parked in my parents’ drive.
Dawson turned toward the vehicle, and I took in the carload of people.
An icy-blond-haired woman with a pixie cut sat in the front seat, while three teens were spread out in the back.
One had the window down, the same white-blond hair as her mother’s sticking out from beneath a lavender beanie in two long braids.
“Give me a minute, and we’ll head out to the resort!” he hollered back.
“If you’re looking for Andie, she’s here,” I said.
He looked back at me, sighed, eyes rolling up to the sky and back.
“I tried to come down here by myself. I wanted to see Andie before heading over to Fresno to check on Dick and handle his shit. But Vi didn’t want me dealing with any of it alone.
And the kids are out of school for the holiday, so they all demanded to come too. ”
A laugh escaped me, and he shot a glare my way. I covered my mouth to stop it and said, “Bring them all in. Andie will want to see you.”
“You sure? We’re a lot,” he said with a shrug.
“I’m sure.”
“Come on, then, you bunch of rugrats,” he hollered out.
Car doors sprang open, bodies piled out, and they were halfway to me when a cold body pressed into mine from behind. “Your mom asked me to come see who—Dawson!”
Andie vibrated next to me, as if she was going to take a half step toward him before stopping herself.
Sadness at the way she’d hesitated struck me all the way down to the bone.
These were siblings who’d never been allowed to be a family.
A brother and sister who’d rarely hugged and never teased or built memories together.
And yet, this man had still shown up for her, been there when she’d needed someone most.