Page 113 of Alec’s Dream

Then Alec made the snap decision to give Caleb some more truth. “Rory is six. Thanks to you, she’s been shielded from what’s been going on around her. Pisses me off that while your mom tried her best to shield you, you saw and heard more than you should’ve. And I do not blame your mom for that. I am not mad at her about it, so I don’t want you to think that. I’m simply pissed that a twelve-year-old who should be worried about school, studying, and sports is more worried about the two girls in his life because he’s seen and heard too damn much. With that said, the time for you to worry about them is over. That’s my job now. I worry about the family, you worry about school and playing ball.

“But more than that, because of what you’ve done, your sister trusts me. She doesn’t know any better. But you? I need to earn yours. I swear to you I will. I will not let you down, Caleb. I won’t hurt your mom. I won’t yell at her and be mean to her. And that is not because I’m promising you I won’t. It’s because a man who cares about a woman doesn’t hurt her—he busts his ass to make sure she knows down to her soul she is loved, cherished, and protected.”

“I want to live here.”

The left side of Alec’s chest started to warm. Maybe it wouldn’t take as long as he thought to get Caleb to open up to him.

“That’s good, because you already do.”

“I’m ready to go in now.” Caleb hesitated and Alec braced. “Thanks for talking to me.”

“Anytime, son. Let’s get in there.”

Alec and Caleb made their way to the house. When he opened the door and walked in, the warmth that had started in his chest turned into a burn.

33

I had never been more thankful than I was when I heard Alec’s SUV pull down his long lane.

Mom and Dad had already been there for over an hour. Mom gushed over Joss. That was, she’d scooped up the little girl and started spoiling her after she hugged, kissed, lectured, and paled at the sight of the thankfully faded bruises.

Dad on the other hand did not pale, his face hardened and anger rolled off him. Then the third degree started. I filled him in on everything that had happened—start to finish—and left nothing out. Not even Jameson going down to Florida to have a word with Doug.

I’d expected some sort of backlash from my dad for Alec’s friend warning Doug to stay out of Maryland, meaning away from Rory and Caleb. I was essentially taking my kids away from their dad. Something I thought I should feel guilty about but couldn’t summon up the emotion.

Doug had put them in danger, and not his normal danger—grave danger. He’d crossed the line a long time ago, but his newest activity was the last nail in his already buried coffin.

When my dad muttered “Pleased to hear that, Macy” in a deep gruff voice that conveyed just how happy he truly was, I was thankful, yet pissed that my dad sounded so relieved Doug wouldn’t be around to hurt Caleb and Aurora anymore, it overcame him.

My big, strong Daddy showing that level of emotion made my ever-growing hate for Doug grow even more.

So needless to say, I was on tenterhooks for a variety of reasons, one being my parents were meeting Alec for the first time, but also I was spent from my dad’s prodding. Therefore, when Alec’s SUV pulled up, I wasn’t anxious anymore. I needed him, Rory, and Caleb.

I needed my family.

But when Rory bounced into the house, full of energy and excitement sans Caleb and Alec, I started to get nervous. Then my sweet daughter helpfully told her grandparents all about Alec. How she was so excited to live at Alec’s house. How Kennedy and Jameson lived next door and had a dog. How Alec had told her she could paint her new room any color she wanted—which was news to me. How Alec played catch with Caleb. How Alec was my manfriend. She further told my parents that Aunt Becky thought Alec was mighty fine—though Aurora wasn’t sure what that meant. Thankfully.

Needless to say, Aurora filled the fifteen minutes Caleb and Alec stayed outside with chatter, giving Alec her seal of approval. What she didn’t do was ask her grandparents about their vacation.

“And… he saved mommy from the bad guy just like he said he would.” Aurora finished with her hands on her hips.

Before anyone could comment on her dramatic conclusion, my sweet, exuberant, boisterous daughter asked, “Now that we live here, and Alec’s your manfriend, and he’s buying us a puppy, and helping Caleb with football, does that mean that I’m Jossy’s big sister?”

That was when Alec and Caleb decided to come into the house. All eyes swung to them, still standing in the entryway.

Alec wore a glorious, blinding smile.

Caleb looked like he was going to laugh.

My dad made a choking sound.

My mom simply beamed.

Kill me now.

“Hey, Gramps, Gran. Cool you guys are home. Now you get to meet Alec.”

“Boy,” my father grunted and my son, knowing his grandfather, knew what my dad wanted.