Chapter 16

Chapter

Sixteen

December 18 th

4:32 P.M.

Even with the guilt he felt about Jessica getting hurt, Donovan couldn’t help smiling as he parked outside his parents’ house and rounded the car to get Jessica.

Freddie bounced out, his wide, excited eyes taking in the grand mansion. “Wow, this house is huge,” he gushed.

“I think I might have forgotten to mention it has a pool,” Donovan told the little boy then opened the back door and reached in to scoop Jessica into his arms before she could try to climb out herself.

Finally, after agreeing to stay with him while she recovered, she’d managed to get a few hours of sleep, and she’d been discharged a couple of hours ago. After a brief stop at her place to pack bags for her and Freddie, he’d driven them both here. She was nervous about staying here, he got that, but he loved that she was trusting herself with him while she was vulnerable.

“A pool!” Freddie squealed in excitement. “Can I go swimming now? ”

“Sure can. The pool is indoors so you can use it all year round, even when it’s snowing outside,” he said, glancing at the sky and the mass of gray clouds that looked like they could start dropping snowflakes at any second.

“You have to ask Donovan’s mom first,” Jessica told her son.

“She won't mind you swimming,” he assured Freddie as he carried Jessica up the front steps. “She’s very excited you're both staying here for a while. She’s been getting rooms ready for you both, and I think she’s been busy in the kitchen, too.”

“Did she make some of her brownies?” Freddie asked.

“Pretty sure that was top of the list.”

“Yay,” Freddie exclaimed just as the front door was thrown open and his mom and dad came rushing out.

“Oh, you poor thing,” his mom said, beelining directly for Jessica. “I'm so sorry you were hurt, but I'm so thrilled for a chance to get to meet you properly.”

“I'm sorry about how we met first,” Jessica said, shrinking into his arms a little.

“Nonsense. You were just doing your job.” His mom waved a hand in the air, dismissing the entire thing. “And who is this handsome young man?”

“My son. Freddie.”

“I hear you like brownies, Freddie. I have a fresh batch cooling in the kitchen.”

“Can we have some while they're still hot?” Freddie asked, bouncing about excitedly. “Mom always lets me have one while they’re still all warm and gooey.”

“Of course we can.”

“Mom said I had to ask if it’s okay if I go swimming after,” Freddie said in a tone that suggested the notion was a little silly, but he was going to indulge his mother anyway. “Donovan said you have a pool. One that’s inside so we can go swimming all the time.”

“Brownies and swimming, sounds like a fun afternoon,” his mom said, beaming at the child. “Then if you like, you can help me cook some dinner.”

“Oh, no, you don’t have to entertain him. He brought books, and Lego, and some video games, he’ll be quiet and keep out of your hair,” Jessica said.

“Nonsense,” his mom said again. “It’s been far too long since I’ve had a youngster to spend time with. I'm looking forward to getting to know young Freddie here, so you just rest and recover, dear, and don’t worry about a thing. Your boy is in good hands.”

While his mom ushered Freddie inside, with his stepdad following, an amused smile on his face, Donovan carried Jessica inside. “Do you want to have some brownies or go right up to bed first?” he asked.

Eyeing the hall his mom and her son had disappeared down, he could see in her face Jessica was having an internal debate. He knew it wasn't that she didn't trust his family to look after her son, it was that she wasn't used to having a support system like this. She had her partner, and he knew they’d helped each other out over the years, but she didn't have family, so this was new to her.

“I think I might take a nap first,” she finally said, resting her head against his shoulder and making his heart swell in his chest.

Not only was she there, safe and sound, snuggled in his arms, trusting him to take care of her, but she was trusting him and his family to take care of her child as well and that meant everything to him.

Carrying her upstairs, Donovan headed for the room his mom had prepared for her. It was right next to his, and the room beside that was where Freddie would be staying since he knew Jessica would want her son close by.

“This your room?” she asked on a yawn as he carried her into it and over toward the four-poster bed.

“I would have loved to have you in my bed, but no, my mom and I thought you might not be comfortable with that since Freddie is here too,” he told her as he balanced her in his arms and pulled back the covers.

“Thank you.” She caught his hand as he set her down and went to grab the blankets to tuck her in. “For inviting me to stay here, for wanting to take care of me. Not just me, but Freddie, too. For making him feel so welcome here.”

“You are both welcome here,” he told her, sitting on the edge of the bed and palming her cheek. “Whatever happens between us you will always have a home and a family here. I hope one day we’ll fall in love, get married, and add more kids to our family. But even if that doesn’t happen my family will always be there to support you and Freddie.”

“That’s sweet,” Jessica said, her eyes fluttering closed. “I hope we get our happy ever after though.”

“Me too, beautiful,” he whispered as she drifted off to sleep. Leaning down he pressed a kiss to her forehead. As much as he wanted a happy ever after with this woman and her son, there was a pretty big obstacle standing in their way.

His stalker.