Page 64 of Embracing the Change

“I know,” Jamie murmured.

“She’d never forgive me.”

“I know.”

“And I would have had to live with that decision, but even knowing it was the right one, it would have destroyed me.”

Jamie let out a deep sigh and repeated, “I know.”

Judge pushed his forehead in Jamie’s neck, and Jamie gave him a moment.

“It didn’t happen that way,” his son said.

There it was.

“No. It didn’t,” Jamie confirmed.

He felt Judge nod against his skin.

Then he pushed away, stepped away and finally gave some attention to his dogs.

“Can you take them out while I shower?” he asked.

“Absolutely,” Jamie answered.

“I need you to drive back,” Judge admitted.

“I can do that,” Jamie agreed.

A shaky smile hit his son’s mouth. “Stepmom?”

Jamie’s return smile wasn’t shaky. “Eventually.”

“I guess, once you get your head out of your ass, you don’t mess around.”

“Nope. And stop talking to your father that way,” Jamie mock scolded.

Warmth hit his boy’s brown eyes. “I love you, Dad.”

Damn, he’d been so caught in all he’d lost, he hadn’t taken time to recognize his many blessings.

He was learning.

“Love you too, buddy. Now go shower.”

Judge nodded and headed to the stairs.

Jamie grabbed the leads hanging beside the front door and took the dogs out.

When they got back, he fed them and the cat, Venus.

And when his son came downstairs, they went to get his daughter-in-law a donut.

It was that afternoon.

Duncan and Genny, Tom and Mika, and Jamie and Nora were drinking cocktails in Duncan and Genny’s great room.

Dru, Sasha and Mi were hanging at the hospital in case Chloe needed anything.

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