“On it,” Hudson replied before he raced out the kitchen.
“He’s such a good boy, Seth,” his mom cooed, gaze trailing after him.
“Like father, like son.” Seth winked.
“Oh, please. You were a handful at his age.” She swatted his shoulder playfully before suddenly turning somber. “I know it was only because you’d taken on so many adult responsibilities.”
“I’d do it all again in a heartbeat.” Seth captured her hand and gave it a squeeze. “Someone had to keep my bratty brothers in line.”
“You did an excellent job,” she announced before bending and planting a quick kiss on the top of Seth’s head. “And you turned into an amazing man.”
Seth stilled. Would she still think that come Monday, once he’d spilled the truth?
“Come on, my beautiful bride-to-be. Let’s go pack that suitcase for tonight.” Carl slipped his arm around his mom’s waist and guided her upstairs. “See you at the church.”
“Goodbye.” Grace blew them all air kisses.
“See you then,” Heavenly promised.
Seth stood, draining the last of his coffee and setting the mug in the dishwasher. Beck and Heavenly followed suit before Heavenly moved to his side, slipping her hand into his. “Ready? Do you have the paperwork?”
“I do. We should get going.” Seth tried not to let his nerves show.
What if Laura was so appalled by his life choices that she refused to sign the paperwork?
Fuck, he had to stop borrowing trouble. He’d cross that bridge when he was pushed off it.
Hudson returned, shoes on as he shrugged into his coat. Everyone else grabbed theirs, too, then they piled into his mom’s SUV as the morning sun climbed in the painfully blue sky.
Seth slid into the driver’s seat. Beck took shotgun while Heavenly and Hudson settled into the back. Once the engine turned over, Seth headed toward the highway, excitement and trepidation warring inside him.
If everything went as planned, Hudson would legally be his son within hours. If not…
He shoved the thought down and pressed the accelerator.
The ninety-minute drive felt interminable. Beck tried to lighten the mood, and Heavenly chimed in with bright observations about the scenery, but the forced cheer only underscored the tension thrumming through the car. Hudson stared out the window, lost in his own thoughts. Seth kept his eyes forward, his mind cycling through a thousand what-ifs.
As if sensing his anxiety, Beck squeezed his shoulder. “You got this.”
Seth wanted to believe that…but the final decision wasn’t up to him.
By the time they pulled into the diner’s parking lot, Seth’s nerves were a tight knot of tension in his gut.
He pushed the door open and ushered Heavenly in before him. Beck followed like a silent sentry watching his back.
Inside, the smell of coffee and bacon greeted them. Seth scanned the small crowd. There, at the big table at the back, Laura stood, looking tense and tremulous. She tried hard to keep herself together, but the second she spotted Hudson, her face crumpled.
She rushed forward, tears spilling down her cheeks as she pulled him into a fierce hug. “Oh, Hudson… I’ve missed you so much. You’ve gotten taller in the last month.”
Hudson hesitated for just a beat. Then he wrapped his arms around her. “I’ve missed you, too, Mom. Don’t cry.”
Seth’s chest tightened. Clearly, this separation had been hard on Laura. And maybe harder on Hudson than he’d thought.
When they finally broke apart, Ted rose, cradling a baby girl with Laura’s eyes and Ted’s chin against his chest.
Then Seth shifted his gaze to Laura, and for a moment, the world seemed to tilt. His past collided with his present, beginning to form a future he was desperately trying to shape.
Laura offered him a hesitant smile, her voice soft. “Wow. You look almost the same. Just…more grown up.”
