Terrified because his family is falling apart around him.
And I don’t blame him.
Not one bit.
I crouch down so I’m eye level with him.
“Evan,” I say calmly.Firm.“I was holding your mom’s hand because I care about her very much.I care about you, too.And I don’t want to take her from you.That’s not my plan.”
He sniffs.“You’re not gonna take her?Then what is your plan?”
I don’t hesitate.
“I plan to marry her,” I say.“Your mom is going to be my wife.That means you’re going to be my family.And I promise you—I am never going to let anybody take her from you.And I am never going to let anyone take you from her, either.”
Silence.
He studies me like he’s trying to spot the lie.
“You’d be my stepdad then?”he asks warily.“What if you don’t like me?Stepdads never like the kids in the movies.”
“This isn’t a movie,” I say.“And I already like you.”
That earns me a squint.
“Well,” he mutters, wiping his nose with the back of his hand, “I’ll think about whether you can marry my mom or not.”
A corner of my mouth twitches.
“Fair enough,” I tell him.“I appreciate the consideration.”
Kelly lets out a shaky laugh through tears.
But inside?
Inside, I am ice.
Mike Stevens and his father have been whispering poison into Kelly’s son’s ear.
And that’s not going to stand.
Because no, I don’t justwantKelly.
I need her.
I want her steady.Confident.Untouchable.
And I want this kid to know that when I say he’s not going anywhere, it’s not some sweet line to get into his mother’s bed.
It’s a promise.
I’m old enough to know what those mean.
And I don’t half-build anything.
Not houses.
Not developments.
