Beau reached out a hand and touched Robbie’s arm. “Robbie, I know we don’t know each other very well yet, but I want that to change immediately. I’m going to the court to take official custody of you and ask them to declare me your legal guardian. Then I want to take you home with me.”
Robbie lifted his head, his large eyes blinking as he digested the words. “You don’t live here?”
“No. I live a few hours from here.”
Robbie’s eyes snapped to mine. “But . . . she lives here?” Confusion furrowed his brow. My gut clenched, wondering how Beau was going to handle this one.
“Yes. This is April’s house.”
“B-but.” Robbie’s lip quivered again. “I thought you guys . . .”
Beau smiled. “We’re going to figure that all out, Robbie. Don’t worry, okay? All you need to know is April and I are both going to be here for you.”
My heart jumped in my chest. We’re both going to be here for you. His words reverberated around my head. We hadn’t had a single conversation about what was going to happen once Beau was ready to go home. After all, his band had been staying here since he’d been hospitalized and they all had to get back to their real lives soon.
So he was saying I’d be included in their life.
Their life.
“I’m sorry for running away.” Robbie twisted his hands in his lap.
“You scared us,” Beau said. “Next time you’re upset, can you promise me something?”
He nodded, worrying his lip between his teeth again.
“Don’t run away. Talk to me. We’re both men, right?”
Robbie grinned at being called a man. “Yeah. We’re both men.”
“So men stay and talk. We can figure whatever it is out, together.”
“Okay.” Robbie shifted his eyes to me. I smiled and reached out for him. He moved gingerly and wrapped his arms around me. He looked back at Beau. “I’m really going to be Robbie Oliver Anderson?”
“That’s right. Did you know that’s my middle name, too?”
“Really?” Robbie said. “That’s so cool.”
“Do you understand what your dad meant by what you heard him say?” I asked.
Robbie nodded. “Yes. I’m sorry for not believing you, Dad.”
“You don’t have to be sorry for anything.” Beau shifted on the branch. “But hey, can we get out of this tree? It hurts my a . . . butt to sit here.”
Robbie giggled. “I know that word.”
“I’m sure you do,” Beau said. “I’ve heard you say quite a few of them. But you aren’t saying them anymore, son.” He held on to the branch and helped me up. I reached the ladder first and reached for Robbie, settling him on the ground. I stood behind Beau to make sure he got down okay and then all three of us stood under the tree, crisis averted.
“Dad? Can you do something?”
Beau slung his arm across my shoulders and kissed my temple. His fingers began tapping a beat on my shoulder, and I smiled. There was my Beau. “Of course, buddy. What’s up.”
“Can you teach me to drum when we get home? I liked banging on the drums with your band.”
Beau grinned. “Hell . . . heck yeah! That’s my boy!”
Robbie whooped and led us into the house. Beau laced his fingers with mine as I closed the door behind us. “I want you with me.” His words were laced with promise and meaning. Whatever we needed to do, I’d make it happen.
Beau
“I NEED YOU,” I said into the receiver.
“Are you okay?” Concern laced her voice, and I fucking hated it.
“Yes. Can you bring the band with you?”
“Okay,” Natalie said, uncertainty drawing out the sounds. “It’s probably a good idea anyway because they’re going batshit crazy worrying over you. I barely kept them away from April’s house last night. The only thing that stopped them was knowing Robbie needed to have time. We need to make a plan on when we’re returning home. Allan’s been on my ass to schedule some events in New York and LA, too, but I’m trying to put him off.”
“That’s going to have to wait. I’m not going to be traveling for a while. How soon do you think you can get over here?”
“Let me see what Bex and Johnny are up to. I’ll call you right back.” Natalie paused. “How are you doing, Beau? Really? And how’s Robbie?”
I was glad she’d given April and I last night and today with Robbie, especially after the crazy events of this morning. After we’d recovered from the near-fatal mistake I’d made with that comment, we’d settled in together quite well. I learned that Robbie loved hot dogs and hated peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.