Forever After (Unrestrained 5)

“Yes,” I said and handed her a mug of decaf coffee. I bent down and kissed Sophie on th

e cheek. “I’m going to run to the drug store and get a toy for Liam. I saw it there the other day. Brenda replied to my email, inviting me over for coffee this morning. I guess Liam has a doctor’s appointment this afternoon, so the morning works out best.”

“It’s so nice of her to offer,” Kate said and smiled, no doubt amused at how eager I was to see my son. “I hope Maureen’s willing to let you see Liam more.”

I sighed. “She’s in Borneo with Chris, so I guess they’re reconciling. Chris wants to move back to California.”

“Oh, Drake, you didn’t say anything about that,” Kate said, frowning. “That's too bad for you. Here I thought you and Liam would be able to establish a relationship.”

I shrugged and put my empty bowl in the dishwasher. “I don't want to deny Liam access to Chris. He's the only father Liam has known.”

I went over and kissed Kate while she put Sophie in her high chair. On her part, Sophie was a bit fussier than usual, but that was to be expected. The Tylenol seemed to keep her more comfortable so I checked the time.

“Can you give her another dose of Tylenol?”

Kate nodded. “Yes, she’s due.”

I went to the door and started to pull on my boots, eager to go to the store and buy Liam a toy.

Kate took the bottle of Tylenol and measured out a dose and Sophie was only too happy to suck it down out of the dropper. When she was done, Kate left her and came to the door to say goodbye.

“Say hello to Brenda for me,” she said after we kissed.

“I will, and thank you,” I said as I pulled on my coat and scarf.

“You don't have to thank me,” Kate said, adjusting my scarf.

“I do. You contacted Brenda back before Christmas.” I smiled and I remembered Christmas Day when I could see Liam. “It’s because of you that I’m even able to go and see him.”

“I’m glad I did,” Kate said. She kissed me once more and then opened the door.

“See you in a couple of hours,” I said.

“Have fun and give Liam a hug for me.”

“I will,” I said and with one last glance at where Sophie sat in her chair in the kitchen, I was gone.

My visit with Liam was enjoyable and made me think of how much I had missed of his young life because Maureen had been unwilling to let me know he was mine. She had suspected as much, but given our separation, and her affair with Chris, she had hoped the child was his.

I could understand that, but I still felt cheated of years I could have spent with him. I understood only too well how it felt to not have a father around and wanted to make sure that whatever relationship I had with Liam, I would make the best of it.

"Where's Sophia?" Liam asked when I entered the apartment. He glanced around me as if looking for her and frowned when he didn’t see her.

"She couldn’t come today," I said and handed Brenda my coat and scarf. While I removed my boots, I smiled at Liam. "She has a cold but as soon as she's better, I know she'd like to see you again. Maybe we can get together."

"Before we go back to California," Liam said and nodded.

I handed him the gift I'd bought him – a Lego Star Wars plane. "This is for you."

Liam took it and went to the living room, where Brenda had a tray with coffee and cups set out. There were small cinnamon buns on a tray as well.

"Have a seat," Brenda said. "Can I pour you some tea?"

I nodded and sat to watch as Liam unwrapped the gift and then stared at it wide-eyed. "It's an X-Wing," Liam said, his voice sounding impressed. "Can you help me put it together?"

For the next hour, Liam and I put the Lego spaceship together, with Liam telling me about Star Wars and him flying it around the room once it was finished. As I watched him play, I couldn’t help but think about him moving back to California with Chris and Maureen, once they returned from Borneo. I felt a pang of regret that all this time had been wasted and Liam and I had barely gotten to know one another. When my time was up, I rose to leave with reluctance.

"When is Maureen back?" I asked quietly while I went to the closet to get my coat.