Rowan’s response was to put his hand behind her neck, pull her to himself, and kiss her, soft and sure and full of ten years of longing. Sierra melted into him, her hands fisting in his shirt as she kissed him back with everything she had.
It wasn’t a possessive kiss, like the one nights before, on the sofa, but one of reassurance and depth, one of knowing and being known and maybe even belonging.
Perfect. And right. And?—
“What are you doing?”
He froze, and she did too. Then she turned.
Huck stood there in the sunshine, staring at them. “Why are you kissing my mom!”
Oh. Rowan held up his hands. “I—” Then he looked at Sierra, almost panic in his eyes.
“You shouldn’t kiss her. You’re not—” He marched right up to Rowan. “You’re not my dad!”
Oh.
Sierra glanced at Rowan, whose jaw tightened.
“Huck,” he started.
“I know he’s dead. But…but you can’t just…just show up and…I want you to leave. Right now!”
He stared at Rowan, breathing hard.
Rowan had found his feet. “Huck, calm down.”
“You stay away from her!”
Rowan held up his hands, like he might for a skittish horse. “Son, we need to talk to you?—”
Huck started to back away.
“Huck, honey, come sit down,” Sierra said. She glanced at Rowan, but what choice did they have? “We need to talk to you about something important.”
“About what?” Huck’s voice pitched high, the way it got when he was scared or upset.
Sierra looked at Rowan, who nodded almost imperceptibly. There was no going back now.
“About your father,” Sierra said quietly.
Huck went very still. “My father’s dead!”
“No, honey. He’s not.” Sierra’s voice broke slightly. “Your father is very much alive.”
He just looked at her. Frowned, his breaths coming fast.
Then he looked at Rowan and stilled.
And right then, the entire world seemed to pause, as if finding its feet, the very air still and unbroken.
Huck’s gaze darted between Sierra and Rowan, and then he took a long breath, and his mouth opened.
“Yes,” she said softly. “Rowan is your father, Huck. I should have told you sooner, should have?—”
“No. No—my father is dead. He’s…he’s…” He stared at Rowan.
Then Huck simply rounded and ran.
