Appeal to You (A Beyond the Cove Novel Book 3)

by Jaclyn Quinn

  “Damned if I know.” Ryder looked down at his phone on the counter, smiling when he saw Nina’s name light up the screen. “Hey, Nina,” he said when he answered.

  “Hi, honey…” Nina coughed over and over again into the phone then sniffled.

  “Whoa. You sound awful.” He’d forgotten Eli was leaving early today to get the boys because Nina had come down with a fever and a head cold. “Do you need me to get you anything?”

  She took a labored breath. “I’m hoping you can help. I can’t reach Avery. I know he said—” She broke into a coughing fit, and Ryder waited for her to finish and catch her breath. “He said he’d be in court all day today, and”—she sniffled into the phone—“Chris’s school called.”

  Ryder’s hackles immediately rose. “Is he okay?”

  “It sounds like,” she said weakly, “he’s come down with whatever it is I have. I feel terrible.” Nina fell into another round of coughing. “The school needs someone to pick him up. He probably should go to urgent care. If he’s got what I have, he’ll most likely need antibiotics.”

  “Okay. Don’t worry; I’ll go get him. Avery added me to the approved list at school when Chris moved in with him.” On the outside, Ryder was pretending to have this under control, but on the inside, he was near panic.

  “Thanks so much, honey. I’m going to go back to bed.”

  “Definitely do that, and if you need anything, let me know, okay?” Ryder walked back to his station and grabbed his keys.

  “Stan’s taking good care of me, but thank you.”

  They had said goodbye and ended the call by the time Ryder made it back out to the front of the store. “Shit. Nina’s sick, Avery’s in court, and now, Chris is sick. I gotta go get him and take him to the doctor.” His friends were both giving him weird looks, but he didn’t have time to ask what the hell their problems were. “See ya,” he said on his way out the door. He didn’t miss the smiles Novak and Kenz had given each other. “What the hell was up with that?” he said to himself as he headed to his car.

  An hour later, Ryder sat in the waiting room of the nearest urgent care with Chris leaning his head on his shoulder. The kid could barely keep his eyes open. Ryder was about to lose his shit, seeing as how the waiting room was practically empty. They’d been sitting there for close to forty minutes. He pulled Chris closer and could feel the heat emanating off his feverish body.

  Just as Ryder was about to ask them what the hell the holdup was, a nurse in blue scrubs opened a door and called Chris’s name. “About damn time,” Ryder grumbled, then nudged Chris. “Hey, time to go back and see the doc, okay?”

  Chris lifted his head, his watery eyes heavy-lidded and his freckled cheeks flushed. All he managed was a nod of his head as he let Ryder lead him into the exam room. The nurse took Chris’s blood pressure, which was fine, but his temperature read one hundred and two.

  “Jesus, that’s high. Is that too high?” Ryder asked the nurse nervously.

  The nurse smiled warmly. “Don’t worry; we’ll have your son feeling better in no time.” Ryder sucked in a breath. Son? He was about to correct her when she opened the exam room door. “The doctor will be in shortly,” she said before closing the door.

  It seemed like it took forever for the doctor to finally come in to see Chris. That was plenty of time for Ryder to wonder if Chris had heard the nurse refer to Ryder as his dad—and if he had, what had he thought about it? Seriously? The kid’s practically comatose.

  The doctor gave Ryder a script for an antibiotic for Chris’s ear infection, plus further instructions like getting fluids in him and keeping an eye on his fever. By the time Ryder had the prescription filled and bought some apple juice, chicken noodle soup, and saltines, Chris was passed out in the passenger seat.

  He hated waking him, but he had to get him inside and into bed. Ryder grabbed the grocery bag and Chris’s backpack and helped him out of the car and into the elevator. Fifteen minutes later, Chris was asleep in his bed after eating a few crackers and taking the antibiotic. Ryder made sure the kid changed into his pajamas first so the germ-ridden clothes could be washed. Okay, maybe he was being a bit paranoid, but why take any chances?

  He’d just tossed the clothes into the washing machine when he heard the telltale sound of the front door unlocking. Quickly, he went out into the living room and saw Avery’s worried face.

  “How is he? Is he okay? I’m so sorry; I had to shut my phone off in court, so I didn’t get Nina’s message until fifteen minutes ago, and—”

  Ryder crossed the room and grabbed Avery’s arms. “He’ll be okay, Avery. I took him to the doctor. He’s got an ear infection and a fever. They said he most likely caught the bug from Nina, and then fluid built up in his left ear. It took for-fucking-ever for the doctor to see him. I was about to go Hulk Hogan on their asses, but they finally took him back.”

  He dropped his hands and went into the laundry room, assuming Avery would follow him. Ryder took down the Tide bottle and poured some in the soap tray of the washing machine. “I went to your pharmacy, since they know you there and know all about Chris. He took a dose of antibiotics before he went to sleep.” Ryder sighed and started the machine. “I feel like I have to keep checking on him, you know? Just to make sure he’s okay.”

  Ryder went back out into the living room, again with Avery following behind. “There’s some chicken soup in the fridge and the doctor said you can dilute some apple juice with water so he can get some fluids in him. He mentioned getting him some ginger ale, but you know how Chris hates soda—why the hell are you looking at me like that?”

  Avery smirked and moved across the kitchen to stand in front of Ryder. “You can try to claim all you want that you wouldn’t be a good parent, but what do you think you did today? I’ve been telling you all along that the only thing you were missing was trust in yourself. Well, when your kid is sick, the fear you have about doing something wrong falls away, and all you’re left with is a fierce need to make sure they’re okay.”

  “He’s not my kid,” Ryder whispered, but even as he said the words, they felt like acid on his tongue. “At least, I never thought he could ever be my kid. Jesus, Avery. I was so damn worried about him.”

  Avery cupped Ryder’s face with both hands. “I’m sorry I couldn’t get here in time. I have to be honest, though. When Nina told me you were taking care of Chris, I breathed a sigh of relief.”

  “You did?” Ryder’s heart skipped to some unknown beat.

  “Yeah, I did. I trust you with him, Ryder. Completely. You have done everything possible to make sure Chris was safe from the second you found out he had no one else. And he loves you. You’re already a father figure to him, whether you’d like to believe it or not.” Avery pressed a quick, soft kiss to his lips. “And I know you love him, too.”

  “The thought of anything happening to him…” Ryder shook his head and shuddered. “I don’t even want to finish that thought.”

  “I know, baby.”

  Ryder wrapped his arms around Avery’s waist. “So, you really think I have what it takes to be a dad?” He glanced down, suddenly nervous to meet Avery’s eyes.

  “I do, but like I’ve told you before. It’s not something I’ll ever pressure you into doing. You’re here, and that’s enough for now.”

  Ryder couldn’t get the words out to express how much Avery’s trust meant to him. Instead, he nodded his head and kissed the man he never, in a million years, thought would be his. And that man kissed him back, showing Ryder that he was, in fact, his. Ryder intended on making sure that never changed.

  “Jesus. I don’t think I’ve ever been this nervous in my entire life.” Avery paced his bedroom while Ryder sat on his bed with a smirk lifting one corner of his mouth. The man looked so calm while Avery was scared out of his mind.

  “It’s a big day, but it’s gonna be awesome.”

  “Is he taking my name? No, don’t tell me. I said I’d wait until we were in the hearing, and I’m going
to stick to that.” His damn hands were sweating and his stomach twisted with nervous knots.

  Ryder snorted. “I don’t know why you agreed to that.”

  Avery stopped in the middle of the room with his hands on his hips. “Because I don’t want to pressure him.” He hung his head and let out a small laugh. “Not my best idea ever.”

  Ryder stood up and crossed the room, wrapping his arms around Avery’s waist and immediately setting him at ease. “I think you know in your heart what his answer will be.”

  Avery returned the embrace. “Yeah, I think I do.”

  “You got this. Now, let’s see if he’s ready. We have to be there in twenty minutes. Everyone will be waiting for us.” Ryder took Avery’s hand and led him out of the bedroom. “Hey, Chris! You ready to go?”

  In seconds, Chris came out of the bedroom in the new suit Avery had bought him. Ryder had joked about how Chris really looked like Avery’s son now, and man, that sent an amazing feeling through Avery. This is really happening. I’m going to be a dad.

  Chris was beaming with a huge grin. “I’m ready.”

  “Okay, let’s get goin’ then.” Ryder continued to hold Avery’s hand as they left, most likely knowing that Avery needed it. He needed Ryder by his side in all this, because without him, he felt like he would fall apart at the seams.

  When they got to the courthouse, the family was all there. They were all allowed in the room to witness this amazing occasion, and Avery couldn’t be happier. “You have your camera ready?” Avery asked Parker, who had volunteered to record the whole thing.

  “Yup. All set.”

  Avery patted Parker on the shoulder then stepped past him and pulled Nina into a hug. “You’re crying already, and it hasn’t even started yet.”

  “I know; I’m just so happy.” She sniffled, pressing a tissue under each of her eyes.

  “So am I,” Avery agreed. “I think Chris is, too.”

  “Are you kidding? That boy is ecstatic. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him this happy.” Nina kissed Avery’s cheek.

  “Avery?” a soft voice said from behind him. One he would know anywhere.

  Avery turned around and smiled. “Mom. You made it.” He was taken aback, though, when he realized his father was also there, and the smile fell from his face. “Not today. Please, don’t ruin this day for us.”

  “He won’t. Will you, Philip?” His mother’s firm tone was one Avery rarely ever heard.

  Avery’s father exhaled and looked down at the floor, his hands clasped behind his back. “No, I won’t. This is…well, this is a good thing you’re doing, Avery. I may not understand all your decisions,”—gee, thanks—“but this boy will be a Hamilton, and that means something.”

  “This is about more than just adding another Hamilton to the line,” Avery growled, his blood pressure spiking. Ryder turned around at that moment and gave Avery an oh-fuck-no look. In mere seconds, he was by Avery’s side, holding his hand.

  Avery’s father put his hands up defensively. “I deserve that, but it’s not what I meant. I simply meant…I’m going to have a new grandson, and well…it’s time I met him.” When Avery still looked at him skeptically, his father added, “I owe you an apology. The last thing a man wants to hear is that his child is ashamed of him. Your mother has made it very clear that she will not lose her son because of me. Well, I don’t want to lose my son, either.”

  All the fire drained from Avery’s body as he stared at the man who’d ignored him for most of his childhood. Yet somehow, he didn’t sense the man was being insincere. “You really mean that?”

  “I do.” Avery’s father shifted his gaze to Ryder, and again, Avery’s pulse kicked up. “I think we got off on the wrong foot.” And then the man actually held his hand out to Ryder.

  Avery looked around in shock. Are pigs flying? Pigs have to be fucking flying.

  “Yeah, I think we did,” Ryder responded, taking the man’s hand. “It’s all good; guess that’s what the other foot’s for, right?”

  Avery father laughed softly. “I suppose you’re right.”

  “Avery,” Harry interrupted. “They’re ready for us.”

  Avery looked at Ryder nervously then reached a hand out for Chris. “Let’s make this official.”

  It wasn’t the usual tense atmosphere in the courtroom that came with bitter custody battles. The second they all sat down, the judge—whom Avery knew as one of the more compassionate judges—sat at the table with them, instead of behind the bench.

  She smiled and asked Avery a series of questions then addressed Chris with questions like his age and if he knew why they were all there today.

  “So I can have a forever family,” he said softly, and Avery’s heart just about burst.

  “Do you want to be adopted by him?” the judge asked, as if she were asking the weather and not about something that would change their lives from this moment on.

  “Yes,” Chris replied.

  “Do you want your name to be changed, Chris?”

  Avery held his breath, waiting for the answer that had driven him crazy for months.

  A bright smile spread across Chris’s face. “Yes.”

  “And what’s your name going to be?”

  Chris turned his gentle brown eyes on Avery and sat up in his seat, saying loudly, “Christian Michael Hamilton.”

  Avery’s eyes filled with tears and his heart soared. He turned his head and met Ryder’s eyes, seeing that Ryder was just as affected.

  “Do you have any questions, Chris?” Harry asked.

  Chris shook his head. “No.”

  The judge gave Chris a warm smile. “So, do you think I should make it official, then?” she asked jokingly.

  “Definitely,” Chris said without an ounce of doubt in his voice, grinning broadly.

  Looking down at the paperwork in front of her, she announced, “Mr. Hamilton, you have properly filed a petition with the court for adoption. Based on that and the report I’ve received from the Department of Child Protection and Permanency, which recommends the finalization of the adoption, I will enter a judgment of adoption today. This will establish the same relationship between the child and the adopting parent as if the child had been born to the adopting parent.” She looked up. “Congratulations.”

  The room erupted in cheers and Avery stood up, immediately welcoming Chris into his arms. It was official. They were a family.

  “Who’s ready to celebrate?” Nina asked, getting cheers from the group. “Everyone go home and change and meet back at the boardwalk in an hour. Sound good?”

  “Sounds perfect, Nina,” Avery replied. Turning to his parents, he added, “I don’t suppose you brought something to change into?” He’d told his mother about the party, but he wasn’t sure if they could stay.

  His mother nodded. “As a matter of fact, we did. Can we change at your place?”

  “Of course.” If he knew his parents, his mother would change into a less formal, but still high-end dress, and his father would trade out his suit jacket and button-down for a polo. But his parents’ attire wasn’t what mattered. The fact that they were here supporting him was a huge stride in the right direction.

  The three boys stood in front of the bench on the boardwalk bearing the names of Kevin and Maggie in remembrance. Ryder knew it meant so much to Avery that they wanted to show Chris. It was an initiation of sorts.

  “You’re like our cousin. That’s so cool,” Dylan said to Chris. “Since Uncle Avery is your dad now.”

  Chris looked up at Avery with a shy smile. “Yeah, I guess so.”

  Ryder had a feeling it was going to take a bit for Chris to call Avery dad. Avery had even assured him that he didn’t have to, even though Ryder knew nothing would make him happier.

  Over the past few months, Ryder had really taken a step back and looked at the whole situation. If he was honest with himself, he could admit to being pretty damn good at taking care of the kid with Avery. Ever since the first night Ryder had stay
ed at Avery’s, he’d barely spent a night at his own place. Avery had questioned Ryder a month ago about just getting rid of it, but at the time, that felt like a huge fucking step.

  Now, it didn’t feel so daunting. Actually, it felt kind of right, but he’d been struggling to find a way to bring it up again. His fucking luck, he’d bring it up and Avery wouldn’t want that anymore. You know that’s not true.

  By the time they made their way down to the beach, the party had begun. They weren’t allowed to have a cookout on the beach, so instead, they’d gone the six-foot-sub route, along with cold salads and nonalcoholic drinks.

  Ryder picked up a plate and loaded it with food, seeing Chris follow his lead. He really did fit in seamlessly. Turning to his left, Ryder gave Parker a look as Parker stared up at the boardwalk. The man looked…well, a combination of spooked and pissed, if that was even a thing. “Parker, you okay, man?” He followed his friend’s eyes, furrowing his brow when he saw a guy standing there.

  The blond man had his hands in his pockets as he stared down at Parker and didn’t look away. There was a determined set to his jaw as he watched Parker.

  “Yeah, I’m good,” Parker finally answered, looking away from the guy and focusing on Ryder.

  “Who’s that guy?” Ryder asked as he checked to see if the man was still there. Yup. Still there and still staring at Parker.

  “No one important,” Parker responded absently. “So, Chris,” he said, changing the subject, “how’s it feel to be a Hamilton?”

  “So cool. This is the best day ever.” Chris asked Ryder, “Can Dylan and Nick sleep over tonight?” The he took a huge bite of sub.

  Ryder shifted his gaze for a second, catching the teasing glint in Parker’s eyes, before responding, “I don’t see why not. As long as Novak and Eli say it’s cool.”

  “Yeah!” Chris exclaimed. “I’m gonna go ask them.”

  After Chris took off, Ryder looked back at Parker. “Okay. Wipe the stupid grin from that ugly mug.”

  Parker shrugged and said innocently, “I didn’t say anything.”