Page 50 of Hidden Memories

“Hey.”

“I need to go to the hospital in Mount Hamilton…”

Heat rises up my throat, I think about the farmhouse, the car… “Are you okay? What happened?”

“I hurt my wrist. It might be broken.”

Heat creeps up my neck. “How did that happen?”

“It’s a long story. But Julia said there are usually long lines for anything non-emergency at the hospital. Julia is taking me and she found someone to man Heritage, and… she suggested maybe Theo would want to stay behind… with…” she hesitates, “…with you. She said you’re good with kids, and there was stuff for him to do there? I asked him, and to my surprise, he said he’d rather be with you than at the hospital.”

“Oh yeah? A kid would rather play on a ranch with me than sit around breathing in disinfectant and armpits in the ER waiting room? Yeah, that is a surprise.”

A subtle laugh reaches me through the phone, and it feels fucking good. Too good.

“He isn’t quick to trust strangers is what I meant. So… would you be able to babysit this morning? I know it’s a lot to ask.”

My heart skips. I saw the little man taking the measure of me at Julia’s. It warms me inside that Theo’s decided I’m a decent alternative to the ER. But it’s not ideal at all. I like to focus on Owen one hundred percent when he’s around. And I have my appointment with the social worker…

But resistance has always been futile.

“Of course. I’ll wait at the gate.”

I thought Owen was a quiet one and a hard nut to crack, but Theo? He’s a little like a friend of mine from back home—Dash. Not a big talker. Comes across as a lone wolf, doesn’t want to need anybody. But after I encourage Owen to give him a few rides in the wheelbarrow, he’s loosened up, and I have to say, Theo unfurls Owen in return.

The favor ends up being my pleasure. I could get used to this feeling of a little crew. I always imagined myself having a family. Even when my Kat dream hit the hills, I stopped wanting to be a husband but never a dad. Having these two run around, laughing, throwing things at each other? It’s like rewatching the best parts of my childhood. It makes me think of times with my brothers and how important it is for young men to be around other young men. I learned a lot from my brothers.

I wouldn’t be the same without them.

Theo and Owen climb a tree. Owen is higher and offers Theo a hand.

“Are you sure?” Theo asks, extending his hand anyway.

Owen wiggles the hand he’s extended. “I got you. It’s really stable up here. It would be a good spot for a treehouse. Flat. Lots of places to sit.”

Theo takes Owen’s hand, and Owen hoists the younger boy up.

The boys have a lot in common—both are reserved, both struggle to trust.

I know why Owen is guarded, but what about Theo? I would have assumed an only child of Kat’s rich daddyandhusband would have ended up silver-spooned, demanding,and confident at least. Theo’s not like that at all. He’s as wary and careful as Owen. Is it his nature? Or did something happen to make him this way?

I check my watch again. It’s getting close to ten, and my social worker assessment is at eleven-thirty. Having Theo here is fun for both me and Owen, but I don’t want the social worker marking down that I have another kid around. I explicitly said there were no kids in my life. I can’t afford there to be any discrepancies on my application. I can’t let anything stand in the way of Owen and me having this chapter together.

They should all really be back before my appointment, but it’s cutting it fine. How would I explain Theo to the social worker?So, there’s this ex-girlfriend of mine who walked into town and needed my help with her kid…Now there would be a kid in the picture and me in a dubious relationship?

The foster application was thorough to the bone. I had to discuss all my relationships. My brothers and dad will be checked out, too, since they live on the premises. I can’t have undeclared people in my life.

My phone rings, interrupting my worries.

It’s Julia. My chest stills.

“Hey, Jules.”

“Hey. I wanted to let you know Kat sprained her wrist. She’s just signing paperwork, so I thought I’d buzz. It’s nothing too serious, thank goodness.”

I let out the breath I was holding, more worried about her than I’d like to admit. “Good to hear.”

“But there’s something I wanted to tell you…” She sighs on the other line. “Your dad, when he found her, said he’s pretty sure the so-called accident was a setup.”

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