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“I just don’t like being treated like a little kid.”

“You’re not. You have responsibilities around here, and you get paid for them. I think you’re a very grownup nine-year-old.”

“Then—”

“But guns are for adults. Period.”

Cody’s chin stuck out and he crossed his arms over his chest. “Don’t you think my father has any say in it?”

“Not when he’s been gone for seven years.” Dani forced a sad smile at her son. “I’m not trying to stop you from growing up, you know, I just want to make sure that you do it one step at a time.”

When Cody realized she wasn’t about to change her mind, he bravely fought off another round of embarrassing tears.

“I know you’ve missed your dad, and I hope that the two of you can make up for lost time,” she said, wondering if she really believed her own words. “But you’re my responsibility and I have to do what I think is best for you.”

“Even if Dad disagrees.”

“Yes.”

He studied his remaining waffles and pushed them aside. “Would you let me live with Dad?” he asked suddenly.

Dani’s stomach dropped, but she tried not to show it. Though she couldn’t imagine her life without Cody, she managed to meet his inquiring gaze with steady eyes. “I don’t think so,” she said honestly. “Oh, I suppose if you were really unhappy with me and I thought Blake would do a better job of being a parent, then maybe I’d agree that you should live with him. But I think it’s a little too early to make that kind of decision, don’t you?”

“I don’t know.” He couldn’t keep the anger out of his voice.

“Well, there’s one thing you’d better think about.”

“What’s that?”

“I won’t be threatened. And I won’t let you play me against your father.”

“What do you mean?”

“Exactly what I said. As long as you’re with me, which I hope is for a very long time, we do things my way.”

“And I don’t have any say in it.”

She shook her head and laughed. “You know that I always listen to you, don’t you?”

He shrugged his shoulders.

“Sure you do. And neither of us wants to argue anymore. So, let’s put it aside for now. I fed and watered the animals for you this morning. I figured you might want this last day off to do whatever you want. Tomorrow’s a school day.”

“Don’t remind me,” he groaned, but picked up his plate and carried it to the sink.

“If you want, you can have Shane over or maybe one of your other friends.”

“Thanks, Mom,” he said, as if understanding she was trying to mend fences. “But I don’t think so. Dad said he’d come by. Maybe we can go fishin’ or somethin’ .”

“Maybe,” Dani agreed, silently telling herself it was the boy’s right to be with his father.

“You won’t get mad?”

“Not unless he tries to give you the gun again.”

“Good.” Cody went outside and Dani finished her coffee. A few minutes later, she was hanging clothes on the line when she heard the sound of an engine coming down the drive. Bracing herself for another confrontation with Blake, she hurriedly snapped a clothespin on the last corner of the sheet just as there was a knock on the front door. She glanced out the window and recognized Chase’s Jeep.

Thank God!

Source: www.allfreenovel.com
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