Chapter 26

Twenty-Six

Nick

E than drove Brody and me to the detention center where Austin was being held pending his trial. It was better that Brody see him there than in prison. I’d imagine that would be harder for him.

“You ready for this?” Ethan asked as he parked the car in the lot.

I shifted in my seat, so I could see Brody’s face. “I am. How about you, bud? You can wait here with Ethan if you want.”

He looked a little pale as he took in the large gray building. “I want to see Dad.”

But his voice was uncertain, wavering slightly.

“You don’t have to do this.” I didn’t want to force him. I wanted it to be his decision. That’s what the counselor had said to do. Leave it up to him.

A look of determination came over his face. “I want to talk to him.”

“You can, but then I want to have a word with him.”

“I know,” Brody said, exasperation seeping into his tone.

I’d already gone over it with him several times. It was more a result of my anxiety about Brody seeing Austin in jail than anything else. After exchanging a look with Ethan, I got out.

I’d prepared Brody for the security protocols, the guards, and the locked doors. It was nothing I’d ever want Brody to experience. I hadn’t prepared him for the gray walls and the stale air.

We went through several locked doors until we were brought to a small room for visitors. A guard stood nearby as Austin was brought in.

He looked smaller somehow in the jumpsuit. He’d lost weight.

“Dad?” Brody asked, unsure how to greet him.

“You can’t hug him, but you can talk,” I repeated the instructions from the guard at the front desk.

Austin sat across from us. It was unnerving to see him in cuffs.

“How are you?” Austin asked Brody.

“I’m worried about you.”

“You don’t need to worry about me. I’m doing okay,” Austin said.

I was on edge, worried I’d need to jump in at any second to intervene.

“The kids at school are saying you did those things.”

Austin’s gaze darted from us to the guard standing at the doorway. “I can’t talk about that.”

Brody swallowed.

“How’s school? Baseball?”

Brody smiled slightly. “Uncle Nick’s coaching my team.”

“That’s good, and what about school? Kids aren’t giving you a hard time, are they?”

Our time was limited, so I appreciated Austin hitting the high points with Brody and avoiding talk of why he was there.

“They are. Why do you have to be in here? Why can’t you be like other dads?” Brody’s voice rose.

I laid a comforting hand on Brody’s arm.

“I don’t want to be here, but I made some bad decisions, and I’m dealing with the consequences,” Austin said evenly.

It was probably the most mature thing I’d ever heard him say.

“I can’t make promises. But I want to get home to you,” Austin reassured him.

It wasn’t that I didn’t want him to get out of jail, but things would be different. I wouldn’t just hand Brody over to him. I was involved now, and there was no disentangling me from his life. “Brody, why don’t you say good-bye. I have something I need to talk to your dad about.”

“Yeah, okay.” Brody stood, looking uncertainly at the guard and his dad as if unsure how to say his good-byes.

“Go on, now. I’ll see you soon,” Austin said.

That seemed to snap Brody out of it, and Ethan guided him away. I wouldn’t breathe a sigh of relief until we were outside in the parking lot, breathing fresh air again.

When we were alone, I said, “Brody’s struggling. The kids at school are harsh. If there’s a trial, we might have to move out of town.”

“I don’t want you to do that. I like knowing Brody’s near.”

“You have to do what’s best for him.”

He arched a brow. “And what’s that?”

“Minimize this for him. Do what you have to do to stay out of the media as much as possible. I know that goes against everything inside you, but you need to be looking out for Brody, not yourself.”

“I get that. I see he’s struggling with me being in here, but I didn’t do all those things.”

“But you did something, and you know who else was involved. Can’t you strike a deal to talk?”

Austin’s eyes flashed. “That’s not a bad idea.”

“You planned on going to trial and proving your innocence.”

“Something like that.”

“But that’s the worst thing for Brody, and let’s be honest, you were caught at the bakery.”

His face was pinched. “I’m aware.”

“A jury might assume if you did one, you did it all. If you know who else is responsible, you might be able to get some leniency.”

“I just have a public defender. Those guys are a waste of space.”

I didn’t mention the obvious. They were attorneys who’d worked hard to get where they were. “If you go that route, I’ll hire private counsel for you. But you can’t do that media interview.”

“Seeing Brody’s face. I don’t want to hurt him.”

“Please do what’s right.”

“Yeah, okay. I’ll talk to this attorney you get me and see if they can help me get out of this.”

“You won’t get out of it, but maybe they’ll reduce your sentence if you cooperate. It’s the best-case scenario.”

“I’m not a bad guy.”

My jaw ached with tension. “I know that.”

I’d seen glimpses of the man he could be at times. But it never lasted.

“I want to be better.”

“I want that for you too. But I’m not going anywhere. If you get out, I’m in Brody’s life. I want the best for him.”

“I figured that.”

“You’re not going to fight me.”

“You’re good for him. You’re there for him in a way I couldn’t be. I just want to be involved.”

I stood, eager to get back to Brody. “I’ll make some calls. Find a good attorney for you. But you need to hold up your side of the bargain.”

“I’ll call off the interview and keep a low profile.”

“You do that. Take care of yourself.” I turned and strode toward the door, almost desperate to see Brody and make sure he was okay.

“Nick?”

I turned to face him. “Yeah?”

“Thanks for taking care of him. He’s everything to me.”

He had a funny way of showing it.

“You’re welcome. I love him like he was my own.” And I was about to have another baby. Our family was about to expand. I could see everything clearly now. Brody living with me. Getting a court to declare him mine. Setting boundaries with Austin.

As I walked outside into the sunlight, the weight of being in that jail and near Austin lifted with each stop. By the time I walked into the sunshine, joy filled me. I was excited about my future. I wanted Brody to have safety and security. To know that I wasn’t going anywhere. That Abby and Hunter were in our lives.

That we weren’t going to move at the first sign of trouble. I knew exactly what I needed to do.

Brody sat with Ethan in his car. Getting in, I asked, “You okay?”

Brody paused for a few seconds like he was considering it. “Yeah. I’m glad I went.”

“Good. Me too.” I exchanged a look with Ethan.

“You good?”

“I’m great. Let’s go home.”

Ethan nodded, satisfied with my answer. As he pulled into the driveway, I said, “You know a good realtor?”

“Juliana Breslin. She’s who everyone’s been using.”

“Can you get me her number?”

“Are we moving?” Brody asked from the backseat.

Turning to face him, I said, “I want to buy this house.”

Brody’s eyes widened. “We’re staying?”

“It’s up to you. If you want to move, we will. But I’d like to stay. I want to see Abby and Hunter and stay in my hometown. I want to coach your baseball team. I think this thing with your dad will blow over. And if not, we’ll deal with it.” I could pull him from school for a while until things died down. Drama never lasted forever. I could be patient.

“Did my dad agree to stay out of the news?”

“He did. I’m going to get him a good attorney to help him.”

“Thanks, Uncle Nick.” Brody unbuckled his seatbelt and looped his arms around my neck. It was awkward, and there wasn’t much room to maneuver, but it was the best hug I’d ever received.

“You’re welcome, buddy.” Tears pricked my eyes, and I didn’t bother to hold them back. It was important for Brody to see a man show his emotions.

We got out of the car and headed inside. Brody bounded outside to let off some steam in the yard.

“You think he’s going to be okay?” I asked Ethan.

He nodded. “With you in his corner, he’ll be fine.”

“I hope I’m making the right decisions,” I said as I grabbed waters from the fridge and handed one to Ethan.

He accepted the bottle and unscrewed the cap. “I think things will work out.”

“I hope you’re right,” I said, taking a long pull of water. I never wanted to be inside a jail again. I hoped that was the last time I’d need to talk to Austin in person. It was necessary for Austin to see how his actions affected Brody. And Brody needed to see his dad was okay. Austin’s assurances would go a long way to doing that.

Ethan clasped my shoulder. “You’re following your heart. You can’t go wrong.”

I tipped my head back. “Abby’s pregnant.”

Ethan sucked in a breath. “What are you going to do?”

“I’m doing it. I talked to Austin. I’m getting him an attorney. Hopefully, he’ll strike a deal, implicate the others, and get a reduced sentence. He’ll do his time and come out better on the other side. I have to be optimistic he’s capable of changing. At least for Brody’s sake.”

“Are you happy?”

I thought through the roller coaster of emotions I’d experienced since Abby came to me. She was so strong. So vulnerable. She expected me to leave. “I can’t even explain the feelings. I’m happy, content. I want to take care of her, the baby, Hunter, and Brody. I want us to be a family.”

“Does she trust you’re going to stick around?” He leaned a hip against the counter.

“That’s what she’s worried about. I have to prove to her that I’m the guy who wants to be at her side. That’s why we’re staying in town and I’m buying this house. There are enough bedrooms for all of us to live here and grow. I’m handling Austin’s situation. I’m going to go for custody of Brody. I want us to be a family.”

“You think she’ll believe it?” Ethan asked.

I ran my hand through my hair. “I screwed things up the other night when I said I was leaving town. I have some work to do.”

“It sounds like you do.”

“But I have time. I’m not leaving.”

He raised a brow. “You got a plan?”

“First, I’m going to ask Ben and Brooke to watch Hunter and Brody, so we can talk.”

Ethan tipped his head to the side. “That’s your grand gesture? Talking?”

“First, I wanted to settle things with Austin. Then I want to buy this house. When I first inquired, the owner was interested in a rent-to-sale situation. And then I want to tell Abby she’s my future. Her and the baby. Hunter and Brody.”

“That’s not half bad. I wish you luck.”

Gratitude filled my body. “Thanks for being there today and every other time I called.”

“We’re more than cousins. We’re friends.” Ethan hugged me, something we rarely did but was sorely needed at that moment. I needed reassurance that I was on the right track.

“You think Abby will come around?” I asked when I followed him outside.

Ethan was thoughtful before finally saying, “I think so. It might be a hard road to get there.”

I stuffed my hands in my pockets, rocking on my heels. “I’m prepared to do anything. To wait until she trusts me.”

“Then you’ll do just fine,” Ethan said before opening the door to his car.

I watched him drive away, hoping he was right. I was an ass on the phone. I didn’t even think before I talked. I was only concerned about myself and what Brody and I were going through. I hadn’t taken the time to be careful of her feelings and what she’d think about us moving.

As I walked inside, it hit me all over again. Abby was pregnant. I was going to be a dad. It was like I had everything I’d ever wanted. Brody, a home, and now, a future. I just had to secure it. Show her I loved her and was here to stay. The best way to do that was through action.

First, I called Ben. Ethan forwarded me the realtor’s information, and I contacted her next. Lastly, I called my attorney to discuss expediting the custody matter since Austin was incarcerated. Then I asked her for a referral for a criminal attorney.

By the time I was done, Brody was parked in front of the TV, and I was starving.

“How are you doing?” I asked, sitting next to him.

“I’m starving,” he said, not even glancing away from the screen.

“Me too.”

“Are we staying?” His question was hesitant.

“Are you on board with that?” I asked, considering his expression carefully.

“I don’t want to leave. I just want the kids to leave me alone,” he said forcefully.

“I think that’s going to get a lot better soon. Your dad’s going to do the right thing. He’s going to talk to the police about who’s responsible for the other break-ins.”

Brody’s forehead wrinkled. “He didn’t do it?”

I gathered my thoughts before I responded, “I think he got into some trouble. Started hanging out with the wrong crowd. Got into something that was bigger than he thought.”

Brody nodded. “Okay.”

“Are you interested in living here permanently?”

His eyes widened. “We can?”

“The owner was interested in selling when I inquired about renting. I have a realtor checking into it.”

“I like it here.”

“Nothing’s going to change.” Yet, I wasn’t being honest because everything would.

We hadn’t discussed telling the boys about the pregnancy, not when it was still so early. “How do you feel about Abby being in our lives more?”

“Would I get to see Hunter more?”

“Yes.” Was that the only reason he’d be okay with it?

“Then yeah, that sounds okay.”

That was probably the best I could hope for at eight. He liked hanging out with Brody, so he was cool with it. But I knew he liked Abby too. He’d never had a mother in his life. Abby might be that person for him.

My heart was full, expanding with the love I had for Brody, Abby, and Hunter. After living so many years by myself, waiting to pick up and leave at any minute, it felt good to put some roots down.

I wanted to be the guy they could count on to stick by them, to support them. Now, I just needed to convince Abby.

“How do you feel about hanging out with Hunter tonight at his aunt’s house?”

Brody shrugged. “Sure. Whatever.”

“I need to talk to Abby about some things,” I hadn’t meant to discuss that with him.

Brody blinked as he considered me. “She your girlfriend?”

The kids teased each other about having girlfriends at school, but I wasn’t sure how much Brody understood.

“You okay with that?”

Brody shrugged before turning his attention back to the TV. “If she makes you happy.”

“She does.” I just needed to convince her. Her trust was blown, and I couldn’t blame her. I’d done exactly what she was afraid of all along. I’d let her down.