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Fourteen
Nick got his first look at the kid when Jude’s little friend and coworker stepped around the hood of an SUV that was far too big for her.
Noah was an inch or so taller than she was, around five feet, but skinnier. His hair was golden brown in the setting sun, several shades darker than it had been when Nick had known him before. The kid he remembered was still there, but the look he shot Nick was full of mistrust and…fear.
Robin was at Nick’s side, coming up behind him on the front porch. Her hand, small and light, wrapped around his elbow.
She gave him an encouraging smile. “Go on. I’m sure he has bags he might need help with.”
Linsey was opening the rear of the SUV. There they were. Three battered duffel bags and a single white trash bag.
“Just put them there, Linsey. We’ll carry them in in a moment,” Nick said. He pulled in a deep breath and did what he needed to do. This was going to be his kid. No sense being a coward about it. He stepped off the porch. “Hello, Noah. I’m glad you’re here. We’ve been waiting for you.”
“Where’s Nova?” Noah asked in a voice that cracked.
“Nova fell asleep on the couch. She’s had a long day. I just found out about her today, and she has been with the social workers for most of it.”
“When did you find out about me?” There was such uncertainty in the boy’s tone, Nick’s heart hurt for a moment. This kid had deserved better than this.
“Five minutes after I found out about her. It just took Linsey that long to drive over to get you. I wasn’t going to keep you from your sister any longer than you already had been.” Nick looked into the pale blue eyes that were identical to the boy’s mother’s. “I didn’t think that was fair to either of you.”
Selena had been a redhead with light blue eyes. No bigger than the redhead watching him from the porch. Selena had reminded him a bit of his brother Phil’s wife Becky at first.
Of Robin. Physically, anyway.
The first time he’d seen Selena, he’d thought of Robin. No use denying it.
“You’re Nova’s family. She’s my family. And that means…if you want…I want you to be part of my family, too,” Nick said bluntly. “If that’s not what you want, we can be friends instead. But you will always be welcome with me and your sister. No matter what.”
Noah just stared at him as Robin and Linsey grabbed the boy’s bags.
Nick stepped aside to give Noah room to walk up the sidewalk.
It wasn’t the largest house on the block. But it was a good one.
It would shelter him and two kids just fine.
While they figured all of this out.
Nick waited. Noah took that first step.
