Reckless Hero

Anna laughed softly. “Parenting isn’t a perfect science. You’re going to make mistakes. You just have to learn from them and keep going. For what it’s worth, I think you’re going to be a great dad. Plus, I’m here to help make sure you guys develop a sturdy father-son relationship.”

“Thanks for saying that.” I sighed. “I didn’t mean to go off on you like that this afternoon. It was just a lot to take in, you know?”

“I know, and I understand. I probably wouldn’t have handled it much better if I was in your shoes.”

“I want us to be like a real family…”

“I’d like that too,” she said quietly.

For the first time since I finding out I had a son, my mind relaxed and I felt like things were actually going to work out.

CHAPTER 20

Anna

I wiped my sweaty palms down the front of my full-length jeans as I watched Garrett and Tucker get ice-cream from the vendor.

It was bright and sunny Saturday morning and we were all at the nearby park. Other families were running

around and spending quality time together.

A few days had passed since Garrett had recuperated from the stomach bug. After the doctor had given us the all-clear yesterday, Tucker and I had talked and agreed to tell Garrett the truth.

I was nervous and excited, and I thought Garrett would take the news well. He did, after all, want a guy in his life. And it helped that he was already in love with Tucker; he hadn’t stopped talking about him since the first day they met.

The two had been spending every available moment together. Even now, as they returned to me holding three ice-cream cones, I could see that Garrett was already adopting some of Tucker’s mannerisms.

Still, I worried things would fall apart at any second. I had stayed up late more than once, afraid that Garrett would be upset with the news.

I was sitting at one of the lunch tables situated strategically around the park. Garrett came to my side and sat down while Tucker sat opposite of us and handed me a vanilla-cherry ice-cream cone.

We made small talk as we ate. Tucker and Garrett discussed a cartoon show, allowing me to observe the interaction between the two of them for the most part.

Tucker was very patient and loving with Garrett, speaking as if he truly valued his opinion in their discussion—which I could tell he genuinely did.

I was a little unnerved by how hot I found him in daddy mode. Though there were other things on my mind, it didn’t stop me from secretly lusting after him.

I covertly checked him out. He had on shorts and a simple t-shirt that highlighted the hardness of his body, while sandals covered his feet. His outfit was almost identical to Garrett’s, who had only dressed after seeing what Tucker was wearing.

I, on the other hand, was in a floral sundress.

As it turned out, I wasn’t the only one to notice Tucker’s good looks. I had seen a few of the other moms and passing women checking him out and had ground my teeth more than once to suppress my jealousy even though I knew I had no right to feel so possessive over him. I had no claim to him and their admiring looks only made the fact more glaringly obvious to me.

Tucker and I hadn’t spoken of a romantic relationship between us since he found out about Garrett; it seemed we were both afraid to broach the subject.

Despite my efforts, my heart had become hooked on him again. I didn’t think I could stand hearing him say he didn’t return my feelings, so I left the subject alone.

Our tissues were thrown in the bin and our ice-creams devoured when I looked at Tucker and nodded, seeing the question in his eyes asking, Is it time?

Clearing my throat, I looked toward Garrett. “There’s something we would like to tell you,” I said. I tried to keep my tone calm, but judging from the way he curiously cocked his head to the side, he knew this was serious.

“Tucker is your daddy,” I blurted out.

After a whole week of carefully contemplating how to deliver the news, that’s how it came out.

Even though we were in the middle of a park filled with people, everything seemed to go completely silent as both Tucker and I watch Garrett carefully for his reaction.

He seemed to be mulling it over in his mind. Finally, he said, “Is that why we have the same last name?”