To Honor and To Protect by Debra Webb

Author:Debra Webb [Webb, Debra]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2015-05-20T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

It didn’t seem possible, but the mixed feelings followed Drew through the rest of the afternoon and into the evening. Getting to know his son, even if Andy didn’t understand the real relationship yet, had been astounding. The kid wanted to know everything about everything. With every question, Drew fell a little more in love with Andy.

He thought the opposite might also be true, but he didn’t dare ask Addi to confirm it. While he was trying to be respectful of her concerns and boundaries, he was eager for Andy to know the truth. Hell, he was an adult and he still ached knowing his dad was gone. From his perspective, it could only be a good thing for all of them if Andy knew he had a real father.

As she started nudging Andy through the bedtime routine, Drew offered to take care of the reading time.

She scowled. “Don’t you have to check the perimeter or something?”

“I can read first,” he pointed out.

She didn’t look impressed by his suggestion, but Andy begged, adding big puppy-dog eyes to the drawn-out “please.” Drew wasn’t sure which of them was happier when she gave in.

“Just the comics,” she said, shooting Andy a don’t-mess-with-mom look where he waited on the bed.

It was impossible to mistake her meaning, and Drew fought the urge to argue. “Just the comics,” he agreed. “Tonight.”

He couldn’t figure out why Addi was avoiding such an important conversation. Sure, Andy would have questions, but he’d also have two parents at his disposal to provide answers. She’d lost her own parents during college, a year or so before they’d met. She had firsthand experience with the gaping emptiness of losing a parent. Why couldn’t she see her way clear to give her son a dad?

But she had almost done just that by nearly marrying Everett. She’d turned the bastard in, but Drew wondered how much she’d loved him.

“Turn the page,” Andy prompted.

“Oh, right.”

“I can wait if you’re still looking at the pictures.”

Drew had no idea what had happened to the story line. He quickly skimmed the panels. “No, I’m done.”

“Okay.” Andy didn’t sound very convinced, but he turned the page and kept reading. “Do the sound effects,” he said. “Please.”

Drew complied, embracing the role with the same gusto his dad had used when Drew was a kid. He nearly burst with pride when Andy gave him a big thumbs-up when they finished. “Take it out to Mom, please? She’ll want to know how it ends.”

“You got it.” Drew tucked Andy into his sleeping bag on top of the mattress. “We’ll be just outside if you need us.”

“’Kay,” Andy said, yawning.

Drew turned out the light and eased the door closed as he stepped out onto the porch. He’d expected to see Addi, but the space was empty in both directions. For a moment, Drew panicked that she had been found and kidnapped.

“I’m over here.” Her voice drifted up from the stairway.

He walked over, settled on the other end of the wide step and peered up at the sky.

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