“You’ll say, ‘Hell no, mister, you’re far too young for that.’”
“I’ll want to say that when he’s sixteen, seventeen, eighteen…”
Sam pulled back from the hug and sat in the other chair. “The best thing you can do is educate him or her about the reasons you’re saying no without terrifying them about the world we live in.”
“How exactly does one walk that fine line?”
“Carefully. I have no doubt whatsoever that by the time that happens, you’ll be more than up to the task.”
“I wish I were as confident.”
“I’ll be there to help you through it. I promise.”
“You’d better be, because I’m going to need all the help I can get.”
“Let’s not dwell on the future. Let’s celebrate the baby on the way who’ll make all our lives so much sweeter just by existing. I can’t wait to meet my little niece or nephew.”
“His aunt and uncle, the first couple,” Freddie said with a laugh.
“Nah, we’re just Aunt Sam and Uncle Nick to him—or her.”
“I’m gonna be a dad,” he said with a look of pure wonder.
“I couldn’t be happier for you and Elin.”
“Thanks. We’re pretty happy, too.”
“Stay in that place for as long as you can, and don’t worry about the future. You’ll be ready for it when the time comes. We’ll make sure of it.”
“Thank you for always being there for me.”
“Likewise. If Mike’s the big brother I never had, you’re the little brother, and you’re stuck with me forever.”
“That’s fine by me. What’s our next move on the case?”
“Malone and I are going to talk to Asher Mayfield.”
“Make sure he never walks free again,” Freddie said fiercely.
“That’s the plan.”
* * *
Holding hands, Brooke and Nate walked toward Ethan’s room, where Tracy was outside the door, sobbing.
“Mom, what’s wrong?”
“Luna Ahern is dead.”
“No,” Brooke said. “No.”
“She is, and now your brother’s name—and Tomas’s—will always be linked to the murder of a young girl. That’s where we’re at.”
“But he had nothing to do with her being killed,” Brooke said as a sense of panic overtook her. That couldn’t be Ethan’s fate. They couldn’t let that happen.
“Do you think the court of public opinion will care that he had nothing to do with it when they have text messages from his phone, luring her to her death?”
“But he said he didn’t send those texts. Brecken or his father did it.”
