“I don’t think I like their effect on you,” Liam said in the very tightest of voices.
“Well, you’d better get used to it, son, because I’m hoping and praying that they don’t push to leave right away.”
Liam didn’t respond to that. What would have been the point? His father was obviously amused by the rustic behavior they’d both witnessed, so what good would it do to say anything more?
The funny thing was that as he and his father sipped on their after-dinner cognac, Liam’s gaze kept returning to the open doorway. He wanted to hunt down a certain woman and see what she planned to do next.
That was a dangerous road, and he knew he should stay as far away from it as possible. But he suspected that he might miss some of the warning signs.
Chapter Seven
Whitney tucked Ally beneath her beautiful pink satin coverlet and sat there while the child said her prayers. Bedtime was special, the part of the day she enjoyed with the kids the most. She loved the intimate time with her innocent niece, and Brayden also seemed to let his guard down just the tiniest bit, sometimes even enough to allow his aunt to kiss him on the forehead.
“Please bless Mommy and Daddy, and watch over them. And please take care of my new family, especially my grandpa. Oh, and please keep Aunt Whitney safe, too. Amen.” Ally’s words made Whitney choke up.
“That was a beautiful prayer, my sweet angel.”
“I love you, Aunt Whitney,” Ally mumbled sleepily, and she rubbed her eyes.
“I love you, too.” Whitney read Ally her favorite princess story, “Snow White,” and, after giving her niece a goodnight kiss, she went to find her nephew. He was sitting in his room, listening to music, and, as usual, he refused to acknowledge her.
“Oh, Brayden, you don’t have to be so distant,” Whitney said as she sat next to him. “This is your family. They want to know you.”
“They sure didn’t want to know us for the past ten years,” he said with a pout.
“Honey, they didn’t know you were alive until now, and look how quickly they begged to see you. Maybe it’s time for you to let go of the past and focus on the future instead.” If only she could simply erase all the hurt from the little boy’s life.
“What does it matter to you?” he asked with suspicion. And then fear entered his eyes. “Are you just trying to get rid of us?”
“You know I wouldn’t ever do that. I love you so much,” she insisted. She grabbed his hand and was surprised when he didn’t brush it off. “I just wish you weren’t so angry, Brayden. I want you to be happy again.”
“Whatever. You’re not my mom, or anything like her, so why don’t you quit trying to act like it?”
That broke her heart in half, and she had to fight not to cry.
“I know I’m not your mom, and I would never want to replace her. But I do love you and your sister more than anyone else on this planet, and not a day goes by that I don’t miss your parents as much as you do.”
“Well, I think you just want these strangers here to take us so you can go away like my mom did.”
“Brayden, I can’t even imagine my life without you. I have loved you from the moment I first held you in my arms, and that was when you were only a few minutes old. I love you even more as I watch you turning into a young man. I will never leave you, not ever. I know you’re having a hard time trusting people right now, and you’ve been through more than any child should have to deal with. But in time you’ll know that you can trust me. As an old saying tells us, time will heal your wounds, I promise.” Whitney leaned in and gave him a kiss on the forehead.
“I want to go to sleep,” Brayden said with a suspiciously tight voice.
She could tell he was done listening, so she left his room with her heart heavy. Was she doing more harm than good with her sister’s children? She honestly didn’t know. But she wouldn’t give up on either of them, even if she had to tell Brayden every single day for the rest of her life how much she loved him.
They would all stop hurting so much — eventually. Today wasn’t going to be that day.
Chapter Eight
Whitney didn’t see the extra shine on the newly polished floors, and before she knew it, her feet flew out from beneath her, and the sound of her surprised yelp echoed through the hall as she landed hard.
Tears sprang to her eyes, but with nearly inhuman restraint she managed to push them back. She scooted backward against the wall and decided to stay put for the moment.
“Are you okay?”
Her head whipped up. Of course. It was the man who’d been making her feel unwelcome almost from the moment she’d entered the family home. Okay, home wasn’t quite the word. Maybe estate, or whatever. Rich bastards.