Page 49 of Secret Baby for Mr. Grump

“My father thinks it’s a discipline issue,” Allie said, and her voice sounded even sadder now. “He thinks I spoil Caleb, and that’s the way he gets what he wants out of me, but I don’t think so. I mean, you saw him today. He didn’t leave home because he wanted me to get him an Xbox or something. He looked terrified when he hugged me.”

“Yes,” I agreed. The boy’s eyes didn’t hold any trace of manipulativeness or stubbornness, and I’d met manipulative kids before. What I saw was fear, a terror that most people wouldn’t understand, one that was only relieved when his mother wrapped her arms around him and lifted him into her embrace.

“We’re seeing a child psychologist together,” Allie noted. “She thinks that…she thinks that something possibly traumatized him when he was very young, and that’s why he’s like this now. But I have no clue what it might be. I swear he was a happy kid, and all this stuff is recent. I watch him most of the time, and when I can’t, Athena does, or our neighbor, Mrs. Winchester, does. And neither of them has ever reported anything particularly traumatic happening to him.”

“They both live alone?”

Allie nodded against my chest. “My sister is perpetually single and has no interest in dating, and Mrs. Winchester only sees her nephew every once in a while now after her husband died. The nephew is Scott Winchester. He has a job in Abilene. He only comes into town for the holidays and leaves right after.”

“Hmm.” I made a note to look into this nephew, feeling like something was shifting in my gut. If he’d touched my little boy or hurt him in any way, I was going to end him.

“What days do you go to the psychologist?” I asked.

“Used to be Tuesdays and Thursdays.”

“Used to be?”

“Yeah.” She sighed heavily. “The psychologist let us go because she felt like there was little improvement with her treatment plan.”

“She just gave up?” Anger spiraled through me.

Allie shook her head, her soft hair tickling my skin.

“No,” she said. “She just didn’t want us to waste our money if the sessions weren’t helping Caleb. She did recommend us to a psychologist a few towns over, but…he was way too expensive. I can’t afford him on one salary.”

“I’ll take care of it,” I told her.

“It’s okay,” she said. “I know you can’t afford much either. I’m not expecting you to suddenly take over all the expenses.”

“I said I’ll take care of it,” I enunciated, feeling the strain in my voice. Even if I only had two nickels to my name, there was no way I was letting Allie and my son suffer. I would always take care of my family.

But I didn’t know how to mention that I was no longer the poor man she thought I was. It wasn’t so much that I wanted to keep it a secret, but at this point, I’d kept it in for too long, and it was just awkward. And this wasn’t the time to talk about it.

But she did need to know that now that I was back, she would never want for anything else in her life. Everything, even her littlest whim, I would give to her.

“I’ll take care of all your needs from now on, you understand? Anything that has to do with you or Caleb, anything you want at all, you let me know, and I’ll take care of it. You’re mine the same way he’s mine. Anything your heart desires, I’ll give it to you, even if I have to move heaven and earth for it.”

I couldn’t offer her much before. But now that I had the means, I was going to spoil the hell out of her. And my son was going to receive the best of everything, including the best doctor money could buy.

Allie was quiet for a few seconds. “I thought if I asked, you’d call me a gold digger again.”

Heavy regret sank into my gut. “I’m sorry I said that.” She looked up at me then—as though surprised by my apology. “I didn’t mean it. I was an idiot. I came back and didn’t know how to face the fact that I had left you behind. So I took all my stupid insecurities out on you. I don’t know if you noticed, but I’m not very good with people.”

“That’s an understatement,” she muttered, and I laughed.

“I’m sorry,” I said, and this time, I felt her amusement as she pushed up and stared at me incredulously.

“Did you just apologize to me again? Twice in one night?”

“Yeah,” I said with a chuckle. “I’m told that’s what you’re supposed to do when you’re wrong.”

She shook her head. “Sure, I just never thought I’d see the day.”

“Ha ha.” Unable to bear to be apart from her any longer, I put my hand gently on the back of her neck and pulled her down for another scalding kiss.

* * *

I could senseCaleb’s awkwardness the next morning at breakfast. I had insisted on staying despite Allie’s protests because I wanted to make him get used to me as quickly as possible. I was his father. And he wasn’t going any longer without one, even if he didn’t know it yet.

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