Father Formula by Muriel Jensen

Author:Muriel Jensen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

Trevyn looked at the snapshots of the McKeon family that Peg had spread out on the coffee table and knew they’d make a wonderful family portrait. If it were summer and the weather was more dependable, he’d take the photograph out on the beach somewhere, with them grouped on the rocks or around the driftwood that collected near the cliff.

But he’d probably have to do it indoors, in this room rather than in his studio. Or maybe on the porch.

He struggled against a yawn. Peg had stuffed them with a pork roast, scalloped potatoes, fresh green beans, asparagus and homemade rolls. Cake and ice cream for dessert had put the boys into ecstasy, but he was about to expire with repletion.

Alexis had been charming through dinner but had grown quiet since. She’d told the McKeons about David and Athena, about Gusty, and about her studio and her friends in Rome. Consequently, she’d talked more than she’d eaten, so he didn’t think she was suffering from after-dinner weariness.

She’d simply withdrawn somewhat and, though she answered questions and smiled, he guessed she was lost to them.

They left shortly before ten with cold pork for sandwiches wrapped in tinfoil and half the cake in a plastic carrier and the rest of the carton of ice cream.

That was how his mother had always sent company off, he remembered. With leftovers and the memory of her openhearted hospitality.

Peg hugged each of the four of them in turn. Charlie hugged Alexis, then shook hands with Trevyn and the boys.

“Worried about Gusty?” Trevyn asked as they drove home through the dark night. Rain spattered the windshield and sprinkled the road as the headlights picked out the center line. The boys sat sleepily in the jump seat of the truck.

“Always,” she replied quietly.

“Is that why you’re so quiet?”

“No. I just feel quiet.”

“I’m sure Peg meant well,” he said, giving her knee a fraternal pat. That is, he intended it fraternally, but the touch left him feeling anything but. “Still, I wouldn’t take anything she said to heart. Everybody’s different. You can’t make blanket rules to cover all of us.”

“I know.”

That was all she said until he pulled into the garage.

“Houston, we have a problem,” Brandon said, and laughed as Trevyn turned off the motor.

“What’s that?” Trevyn asked.

“Brady’s asleep.”

Trevyn laughed. “Must have been that second round of cake and ice cream. I’ll get him inside.”

“He’s no lightweight, you know,” Brandon cautioned.

“Yeah. But neither am I. You lead the way, I’m right behind you.”

Getting a limp Brady out of the narrow space afforded by the jump seat was a problem, but Alexis helped by pushing from the other side. The boy didn’t even stir.

Trevyn slid him out and lifted him into his arms, following Brandon as Alexis closed the truck door, then the garage.

Brandon had opened the front door of the house and Trevyn went upstairs with his burden. Alexis was right behind him.

“If you can get him out of his good slacks and sweater,” she whispered, “he can sleep in his underwear.

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