Adopted Son

by Warren, Linda

  “We need chocolate,” Caroline said, and headed for the kitchen.

  Grace kept staring after her parents, not wanting to be the cause of a rift between them. But she wasn’t going back on her decision, either.

  Caroline came back with a half gallon of Rocky Road and two spoons. She had a strange look on her face. “There’s a glass, two spoons and a fork in your sink,” Caroline said. “And there’s trash in the trash can.”

  For anyone else that statement would sound very stupid, but not for Grace. She was known for not leaving dirty dishes in her sink, or anywhere else for that matter. And she emptied her trash daily. It was important to her to be clean, tidy, neat—perfect. But not anymore.

  “There are clothes on the floor in the bedroom, too,” she told her sister.

  “You’re joking.” Caroline ran into the bedroom. “Oh my gosh, you’re having a nervous breakdown.”

  “I am not,” Grace said. “Bring that ice cream back in here.”

  They sat cross-legged on the sofa eating ice cream out of the carton like when they were kids and their parents were away and the nanny was asleep.

  “You made the right decision,” Caroline said in between mouthfuls. “Just in case you needed to hear that.”

  Grace licked her spoon. “I didn’t know if I had enough strength to stand up to Dad, but it was quite easy. There was no way I’d hire Derek Mann.” She took a bite, savoring the almond and chocolate taste. “I was hoping Dad would trust my judgment. Wrong.”

  “Yeah, what planet are you living on?”

  Venus and Mars. Her eyes grew dreamy.

  Caroline watched her. “So what’s going on with you?”

  Grace stuck her spoon in the ice cream. “I’ve been visiting the pediatric ward and it has opened my eyes.”

  Caroline licked her spoon, watching Grace. “How has it done that?”

  “There’s this one woman who sits with her daughter, who had a brain tumor removed. The little girl hasn’t woken up yet and Barbara wants to be there when she does. She has three more children at home, so she doesn’t spend money on food for herself. Her kids might need it.” She paused. “I’ve never seen that kind of love before.”

  “That’s a mother’s love.”

  “I know, and then there’s the flip side. Brady, and what his mother did to him. There’s another baby in a crib who is brain-dead. His father threw him against a wall.”

  “Oh, no!”

  “It’s heartbreaking and eye opening to see all this.” Grace twirled her spoon in the ice cream. “I spend a fortune on shoes and clothes. Barbara and her family are barely getting by and what I spend on shoes alone they could live on for a month. That makes me feel selfish and worthless as a human being, and as a woman.”

  “When I talked to you yesterday, you said you weren’t happy.”

  “No, and I haven’t been for a long time, but when I’m on the pediatric ward I feel alive and needed.” She licked her spoon. “I know exactly how Tuck feels. He saw abused kids come through his home as a child. How could he not want to help? It’s second nature to him.”

  Caroline paused in taking a bite. “You’re calling him Tuck now?”

  “Yes. It’s something I should have done from the start.”

  Caroline swallowed a mouthful. “I get the feeling things have changed between you and Tuck.”

  Grace couldn’t stop the smile that spread across her face. “We went dancing last night.”

  “What?” Caroline sat up straight.

  “We had a great time. We didn’t argue at all.”

  “Oh, honey, please take it slow,” Caroline advised. “Tuck’s a wonderful man, but he’s not the marrying kind. He has plans and dreams in his head and there’s not much room for a woman. He’s the most self-sufficient man I know and that includes my darling of a husband.”

  “We’re just getting to know each other. It’s been nice.” She heard the wistfulness in her voice.

  Caroline lifted an eyebrow. “Thinking of sleeping with the enemy, huh?”

  Grace grinned. “Maybe.”

  “Good for you.” Caroline pointed her spoon at Grace. “You need some excitement in your life. I want to know all the details.”

  “Oh, please.” Grace rolled her yes. “We’re not sixteen.”

  “No.” Caroline laughed. “Thank God for that.”

  Grace joined in the laughter, releasing the last of her pent-up emotions.

  Caroline sobered. “You do realize Dad is going to keep pressuring you. He’ll make up with Mom and he’ll continue to try to get you back at the Whitten Law Firm.”

  “I’m aware of his tactics. I can handle it.”

  “I’m always here for you,” Caroline said.

  “I know that.” Grace raised her spoon. “To sisters.”

  Caroline tapped her spoon against Grace’s. “Sisters first—sisters always.”

  That had been their slogan when they were kids and it still held true today.

  AFTER CAROLINE LEFT, Grace sat for a long time thinking about her life. She wasn’t rushing into anything. She would take this time to get to know herself and find out what she wanted out of life. From now on everything she did would be her decision.

  She thought about what Caroline had said about Tuck not being the marrying kind. Well, maybe she wasn’t, either. But she was willing to explore her options.

  Later that afternoon, she headed to Tuck’s. He’d told her last night to let him know how the meeting with her father turned out and she wanted to do that in person. She drove into his driveway and saw he was at the barn, leaning on the corral watching a small boy riding a horse.

  As she stepped out of her car, the spring day embraced her with a freshness that cleared her mind. She took a deep breath and the scent of budding trees and green grasses filled her lungs, boosting her spirits.

  The wind ruffled her hair and she made no move to brush it back as she walked toward him. He wore jeans and a chambray shirt. Her heart wobbled at the sight of his tall, masculine figure.

  Tuck watched her sashay toward him in tight-fitting jeans, her hips swinging with an easy rhythm. His lower abdomen tightened. A few days ago he was angry as hell at her. Today he couldn’t take his eyes off her.

  All day he kept remembering the taste of her lips, the feel of her body against his. His eyes had strayed to the road several times looking for her white car. He couldn’t believe how much he wanted to see her.

  “Hey, Tuck. Look at me,” Dillon shouted.

  Tuck turned his attention to the boy. “You’re doing great. Use the reins to turn her just like I taught you.”

  Dillon pulled on the reins and the horse turned. “This is fun.”

  “Watch what you’re doing,” Tuck instructed.

  Her perfume wafted to him a moment before he looked into her green eyes. He was beginning to associate that scent with her and it did crazy things to his senses. His head spun at the brightness in her eyes. The talk with her father must have gone well because she didn’t look upset. She looked wonderful, almost glowing.

  “Hi.” She smiled, and his heart fluttered like a bird about to take flight.

  “Hi,” he replied. “How did it go?”

  She shrugged. “Not good. He doesn’t understand my position and I don’t understand his. We’re at an impasse.”

  “So you’re unemployed?”

  “Yes, but I’m okay with that.”

  He watched the light in her eyes. “I can see that.”

  “Hey, Tuck,” Dillon called.

  “Come here.” Tuck motioned to the boy, who guided the horse closer to the fence.

  “Dillon, I want you to meet Grace.”

  Dillon raised a hand. “Hi, Grace.”

  “Hi, Dillon.”

  “I’m riding.”

  “Very well, too.”

  “Take the horse to the barn,” Tuck said. “It’s time to rub her down and feed her.”

  “Yes, sir,” Dillon responded and slowly made h
is way into the barn.

  “Is he one of the boys from Big Brothers?” she asked, and he sensed her nervousness.

  “Yes. His father died from a drug overdose two years ago.”

  “Oh, how sad.”

  The only way he knew to put her at ease was to tell her about Dillon. “His mother, Sheila, wants a strong male role model in Dillon’s life so I spend a couple days a month with him or whenever he calls. But he’ll be leaving soon.”

  “Why?”

  “Sheila’s been estranged from her family since she ran away and married Lanny Gibbs against her parents’ wishes. They live on a farm in Kansas and her mother passed away about six months ago. Sheila’s sister tracked her down and it opened the lines of communication again. Her father asked her to come home and Sheila jumped at the invitation. She’s getting a second chance. And so is Dillon.”

  Sam whined at Grace’s feet and without having to think about it she reached down and picked him up.

  “I guess you know that’s a trick of his,” Tuck told her.

  “Yes. I figured that out.” She stroked Sam until he was almost purring.

  “Let’s go see what Dillon’s doing,” Tuck suggested.

  “I’d better go,” she replied. “I’m sure you have plans.”

  “You can’t join us?”

  “No.” She shook her head. “That wouldn’t be fair to Dillon. This is his…”

  Tuck reached for her hand and pulled her toward the barn. “Come on.” They walked into the barn. Dillon was undoing the saddle straps and Tuck helped him remove the saddle. Dillon ran for a bucket of feed and held it so the horse could eat, then Tuck handed Dillon a brush and together they rubbed down the horse.

  “You stay here with Grace and I’ll put Dolly back in the pasture.” Tuck led the horse away, thinking it would give Grace and Dillon time to get acquainted. That was the best way to get to know the boy.

  “Okay,” Dillon replied, and sat on a bale of hay.

  Grace was unsure of what to say or do. This was a kid who’d been traumatized and whom Tuck had reached out to, one of many. What could she say to him? Words eluded her and she wished she’d called first. She clutched Sam a little tighter.

  “I’m nine, almost ten,” Dillon said proudly.

  “Oh, my, you’re getting so old.” Grace stared into his shining blue eyes and her nervousness eased. She eyed the bale of hay and wondered what kind of germs it held. She also wondered what kind of tiny furry creatures made this old barn their home—maybe even spiders. With strength born of sheer determination she walked over and sat by Dillon, refusing to squirm.

  Another tiny step.

  Dillon tipped back his cowboy hat and his blond hair poked out from underneath. “I know. I tell my mom that all the time.” Dillon looked at Sam in her lap. “He likes for you to pet him.”

  “Yes, he does.” Grace scratched Sam behind his ears and felt comfortable doing it. But that urge to wash her hands was very strong.

  “I like Tuck,” Dillon said suddenly.

  “Is something wrong?” she asked, zeroing in on his sad expression.

  “Do you ever have good and bad feelings at the same time?”

  “Sure.”

  “My mom and I are moving to Kansas to live with my grandpa. I’m happy about that ’cause my mom won’t have to work so hard and I’ll get to drive a tractor. But I’m sad ’cause I’ll never see Tuck again. He’s better than a daddy. He’s my best friend. I’ll miss him.”

  “You can call him,” Grace said. Any awkwardness she felt suddenly vanished in her desire to ease Dillon’s sadness.

  “That’s what Tuck told me. It gets really cold in Kansas. I can’t wait to see snow.” Dillon shifted gears quickly, as most kids did. He was sad at the thought of losing Tuck, but Grace knew he would adjust quickly to his new life.

  “Who’s ready for pizza?” Tuck asked, strolling into the barn.

  “Me.” Dillon jumped up.

  “How about if we invite Grace to go with us?” Tuck spoke to Dillon, and Grace knew Tuck was letting Dillon make the decision so she’d feel comfortable.

  “Sure,” Dillon answered without hesitation. “I bet I can beat you at video games.”

  “You’re on,” Grace said, smiling.

  They first went to the movies and saw a family film, eating a bucket of popcorn. Pizza was next on Dillon’s to-do list. Grace watched Tuck and Dillon play video games then Dillon insisted she play.

  The moment was surreal. She glanced around at the families with kids, laughing, giggling, having fun. She, Grace Whitten, stood in sneakers and jeans with her hair disheveled. She had never felt happier in her life.

  Her eyes caught Tuck’s and he smiled. Her heart skipped in the most pleasing way. So much had been missing from her life, but looking into his eyes she was sure she had found the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

  IT WAS LATE when they took Dillon home. Sheila, Dillon’s mother, worked two shifts as a waitress on weekends and didn’t get off until eleven. Tuck told her that he never took Dillon home unless Sheila was there.

  Dillon and his mom lived in government housing and Tuck pulled up to the curb of an apartment complex. Streetlights gave a shadowy view of the old brick two-story buildings.

  “I had a great time,” Dillon said, leaning over the seat. “I’m glad you came, Grace. I so beat you at Hoop Fever.”

  “Yes, you did.” Grace smiled.

  A young woman came out of one of the downstairs apartments. She was thin and didn’t look more than eighteen, but Grace knew she was older.

  “Oh, there’s Mom. Bye, Grace.”

  “Bye,” she called.

  Tuck followed Dillon up the sidewalk and shook hands with Sheila. He squatted and Dillon hugged him, holding on tight. Grace swallowed a lump in her throat. Each day she understood Tuck more and more—the selfless love and devotion he gave to kids like Dillon.

  And to Brady.

  A moment of guilt pierced her, and she wondered if Tuck had forgiven her for her part in the Templetons’ winning custody of Brady. Tuck didn’t hold grudges; she was sure of that. But still, she wanted to hear him say the words—that he didn’t blame her.

  Tonight they had to talk. She had to know how he felt about her.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  THE SILENCE on the drive home was nice, pleasant. Grace knew Tuck was thinking about Dillon and that he’d soon be leaving. Tuck gave so much of himself to these kids that she wondered if there was any room for a woman in his life. He truly was a special person—she was just beginning to see how special. Not many men could do what he was doing.

  Tuck stopped at a red light. There was something sensual about riding in a pickup at night with a man. A man she was attracted to. The cab smelled of coffee, leather and pure masculinity, which was reinforced by a pair of spurs dangling from the rearview mirror.

  “I know there’s a story behind those spurs.”

  “Pa gave them to me when I got my first horse. He said, ‘Son, I’m giving you these spurs, but a real man doesn’t need spurs. All he needs is a gentle hand and a kind heart.’ No way was I going to use those spurs after he told me that, so I hung them in my room. When I got my first truck, I hung them on the rearview mirror and that’s been their resting place ever since.” The light turned green and Tuck drove on.

  “Why do you think he gave them to you then?”

  “Because I’d been asking for them. I saw cowboys wearing them in some old movies that Pa used to watch. I wanted to be a cowboy, but I’m sure Pa was trying to teach me one of life’s many lessons—a gentle hand and kind heart wins every time.”

  “That’s the way you are with Dillon.”

  “The way I try to be with all the boys I mentor.”

  “Dillon is sad he’ll never see you again.”

  “I know, but I’ll call him often. He’ll adjust.”

  “But you’ll miss him.”

  “Yes, but that’s life.”

  She licked her
lips. “Like Brady?”

  He drove into his carport. “Yeah, like Brady.” He turned off the ignition. “Want to come in for a while? I have Oreo cookies.”

  She wanted to talk about Brady, but now her mind was on other things. “I never turn down an Oreo.”

  Climbing out of the cab, they went into the house. Tuck flipped on lights as he went. Sam scurried from the den, sliding on the hardwood floor in his haste to reach them. Dee followed more slowly.

  Sam whined at her feet.

  “Will you stop that, you big baby,” Tuck scolded, opening a cabinet. Sam wagged his tail, evidently knowing what Tuck was doing. He opened a couple of boxes of flavored snacks and handed Sam and Dee a treat. They gobbled them up. “Now back to bed, guys. It’s late.”

  As if understanding every word, Sam and Dee trotted to the big dog basket in the den and curled up inside it together.

  “They sleep together?” Grace had to ask.

  “When Dee’s in the house, they do. They don’t know they’re supposed to be enemies.”

  “Oh.” Grace nodded. “Caroline took pictures of the two of them. I remember her showing them to me.”

  “She gave me one. It’s in my bedroom.” He opened the refrigerator. “Now for the milk and an Oreo or two.”

  She kicked off her sneakers and sat cross-legged in a chair, feeling relaxed and at home. The thought shocked her, but only for a moment.

  Tuck brought the loot to the table. Removing his hat, he sailed it toward a wooden hat rack. It landed perfectly on a hook.

  “Wow. I’m impressed. You’re so talented.”

  He popped off the top of a plastic milk container. “Sometimes I make it and sometimes I don’t,” he said, pouring two glasses of milk. “It doesn’t take talent, just luck.”

  Opening the bag of cookies, Grace asked, “Did you buy these especially for me?”

  “Yep.” His dark eyes twinkled. “I sure did, ma’am. My Ma taught me good manners and to always feed a lady.”

  She giggled as she twisted off the top of an Oreo. The sound was scintillating to Tuck’s ears. He’d never heard her laugh so carefree, so young at heart. Her tongue darted out to lick the sweet filling and he watched, captivated. If anyone had told him a month ago that Grace Whitten would be sitting in his kitchen eating cookies and milk and looking sexier than he’d ever seen her, he would’ve asked what they were drinking.