Doc Holiday by Debra Dixon

Author:Debra Dixon [Dixon, Debra]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-307-80457-0
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 2012-11-07T00:00:00+00:00

EIGHT

When Taylor and Noah appeared in the doorway, Drew felt the world grind to a halt, as if nothing else could be decided or enjoyed until he’d made peace with his son. Waiting had been a purgatory of sorts—tense and lonely and full of hindsight. Three or four times he’d gotten as far as the stairs before making himself return to the living room. Each time, he’d had to remind himself that his son trusted Taylor. And so did he.

It was hard not to trust her. She had a way with people that made them want to get closer. No, it was more than that. She was an emotional magnet for lost souls; she knew what people needed and gave it. Even before helping the homeless became fashionable, she’d turned the high school Christmas float into a toy factory for underprivileged kids. Every year, the float was loaded with toys donated by the crowd en route.

As he watched her standing beside his son, Drew realized she always gave much more than she got. Like this Christmas. Like patching up his mistake with Noah. Maybe that was the secret to loving someone—to give more than you took.

The second Noah let go of her hand, Drew dropped to his knees and held out his arms. Rushing into them, Noah buried his face against his dad’s chest. Drew rocked from the impact, but steadied himself.

Lord, it felt good, holding his son, knowing he hadn’t destroyed the bond he’d been working to build since he got him back. He raised his head and mouthed a heartfelt “thank you” to Taylor. She shrugged as if it were nothing, but he knew better. To him it was everything, and he wouldn’t forget.

After squeezing his son tight, Drew managed to get out his carefully rehearsed speech—the one he’d written and rewritten in his head during the last forty-five minutes. “I didn’t mean what I said about trading you in, Noah. I want you here, with me. You’re my son, and I’m going to hold on to you for a long, long time because I love you, and nothing is ever going to change that. Ever.”

“Promise?”

“Cross my heart,” Drew said. When Noah hugged him again, Drew glanced over at Taylor, who nodded her approval, which meant almost as much to him as his son’s understanding.

“I didn’t know it was a game, Daddy,” Noah told him, looking up and claiming his attention again.

“Well, it wasn’t a very good game, and we won’t be playing it again, buddy.”

“Oh, but I know what it means now. It’s okay. Taylor says I’m not supposed to believe you when I’m upside down. Those are all the things I’m not supposed to worry about because you’re bigger and stronger and won’t let them happen. It’s sort of like you’re saying ‘I love you’ but backwards.” He turned his head. “Isn’t it, Taylor?”

She nodded. “Absolutely.”

“See?” Noah said to his dad. In a very patient voice he asked, “Got it now?”

“Got it.” The last bit of

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