Grump in a Kilt by Kait Nolan

Author:Kait Nolan [Nolan, Kait]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Take The Leap Publishing

“That’s my ear!” Gavin’s shriek of laughter echoed off the stone barn as he angled his head, only partly trying to get away from a very curious Buttercup, who thought his earlobe was something fun to nibble.

Charlotte grinned. “That’s what you get for being down on their level.”

He knelt in the grass on hands and knees, cheeks flushed. Bubbles took the opportunity to leap up onto his back for a higher vantage point, baaing her victory over Blossom, who decided to headbutt Gavin in insult. He rolled over to his back, dislodging Bubbles and snagging Buttercup around the middle so she couldn’t keep treating his ear as a chew toy. Charlotte quietly took video of him wrestling with the three of them, as only a boy could do.

She wouldn’t post it anywhere. This was for her alone. And Malcolm. Proof positive that they were doing the right thing. Less than two weeks in the care of people who truly gave a damn about his welfare, and he was a different boy than the one they’d found hiding out in a derelict cottage. That he still had the capacity for joy after what he’d been through humbled her. Not that he’d said much about his experiences. Just casual comments here and there that intimated significant neglect and abuse. He still flinched and overreacted to anything he deemed a mistake. That was years of conditioning that would take a long time to overcome. If she got her way, they’d have the time to deal with that.

After reading the two of them his version of the riot act for acting outside the system, Hamish had promised to make discreet inquiries to explore their options. So far, he’d been able to confirm that there’d been no missing person’s report filed, which wouldn’t exactly look good for Simon Elliot in the eyes of social services or a judge when it came down to it. But they were being excruciatingly careful about how they proceeded. She and Malcolm had elected to be vague about what they told Gavin until they had concrete information. The most important thing right now was that no one would be taking him away. She was pretty sure Malcolm would go to war if they tried.

This paternal side of him was unexpected and incredibly appealing. She’d never have imagined the Grumpasaurus Rex she’d been verbally sparring with since early summer to have such a capacity for patience. It made her wonder what he’d been like as a young father to Miranda, before cancer stole her away. These hints of gruff gentleness suggested he’d probably been a good one. His efforts were sometimes awkward, likely because those skills were incredibly rusty after all these years. But he was trying. And much as that had been a shock, Charlotte believed Gavin was bringing a part of Malcolm back to life that he’d allowed to wither and die out of grief. She didn’t know why he was allowing it, except that just maybe he was ready to start to live again.

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