Page 194 of Not Over You

“Hang on a minute there, bud. This is my friend Rachel. Rachel, this is my adopted son, Marcus.”

My hand goes to my chest for a second, then I extend it to Marcus who’s watching me carefully. “M—Marcus, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

CHAPTER 12

Maddy is next to Rachel the next instant. “And I’m Maddy!” She shakes Marcus’s hand. “Hey, I was just going back in the shop for a few minutes. Would you care to come with me and get some ice cream? I make most of the flavors right here.”

Marcus beams a wide, bright smile at me. “Is it okay?”

I nod, “Sure,” as I fish out some money and pass it to Marcus.

Maddy lays her hand on Marcus’s shoulder. “It’s on me this time. Come on, Marcus. So, do you like bubble gum or chocolate chip cookies or caramel?”

The last thing I hear the kid say is “Are you kidding, I like them all!”

The moment I’ve been so unsure about has arrived.

Rachel’s face is stuck in an expression somewhere between shock and uncertainty.

“I’ve been trying to find the right time to tell you about everything.”

She swallows and rubs at her temple. “Did his... ankle or leg or whatever is wrong, keep you from calling?”

“Yeah. The last couple of days have been hell. You wouldn’t know it, but he had emergency surgery. I left here and drove home in record time. After that call it was a blur.”

Rachel nods, her eyes skate away. Light catches in the beads of moisture on her lashes.

“I’m sorry, I should have called. My phone died after I got there and I haven't memorized your number yet. I only had the car charger and that wouldn't work in the room. I tried calling as soon as we were headed home.”

Her eyes rise to mine and her voice is thick when she speaks. “It’s okay. You don’t have to explain.”

“Do you need to sit down?”

“I think so, yes.”

“How about the tailgate of the truck. We can talk while they have ice cream.”

She glances at the truck. “Alright.”

I walk beside her as she crutches her way over. “How is the ankle?”

“Better. I’m getting rid of these crutches tomorrow.”

“That’s good.”

I flip down the tailgate on the truck and boost her up. The truck rocks as I climb up beside her.

“When did you adopt Marcus?”

“A year and a half ago.”

Her eyes are soft when they turn toward me. “Can you tell me about it?”

I find my eyes drifting off into the middle distance. “His father was my partner. He died in the line of duty—a car crash. Ryan was a widower. Marcus’s grandmother became his guardian. She’s almost eighty and she knew she was too old to give Marcus the life a young boy needs.”

Her eyes are misty when I look at her again. “Hunter, I’m sorry I jumped to conclusions about you.”

I shrug a shoulder. “A lot happened that we haven’t talked about. Even way back after that summer. If we had talked more, I think we could have… I don’t know. Maybe we could have figured something out.”

---