Page 15 of Vanishing Legacy

Noelle tapped his arm. “Impressive, muscle man.”

“All right, enough muscles for now,” Alana interjected, stepping in and pulling Rocco closer. “Time to get to bed.”

After another round of goodbyes, Alana got Rocco settled. She knelt beside his bed and brushed his hair away from his eyes. It was getting a little unruly, even though he’d had a haircut a few weeks ago. Another sign he was growing up too fast. Alana listened to Rocco’s prayers for Penny, his heartfelt concern for the little girl palpable.

“And please keep Mom and me safe forever and ever. Amen,” he said.

“Amen,” Alana said.

Rocco shifted to his side and rested his cheek on his hands. Dark eyes that mirrored her own studied her. “Mom, do you know how Penny is doing?”

“I believe she’ll be fine. Her dad is taking good care of her and making sure she gets checked out at the hospital.”

Alana didn’t want to delve into the emotional toll such an experience could have on a child, but they both understood it all too well. Three months ago, Rocco’d nearly died right before her eyes. The bullet fired by a terrorist may have missed her son by mere inches, but it had left an indelible scar on their lives. Penny and Dr. Thomas would have their own wounds from today. In time they’d heal, but the scar never went away.

“You know, I really like Dr. Cash. He was so nice and he’s cool like Uncle Grey.” Rocco’s eyes lit up as he shifted the conversation. “Did you know he’s lived in Afghanistan and Japan? That’s so awesome.”

Alana smiled at her son’s enthusiasm. “Yeah, he does sound like an interesting person. Kind of like you, always curious about the world.”

Rocco’s eyes twinkled. “You should date him.”

Alana couldn’t help but laugh. “Oh, really? And why is that?”

One shoulder went up in a shrug. “You never go on any dates, and I just think he’d fit in with us pretty well.”

Rocco had never known his father. That hadn’t been Alana’s plan, of course, but he still paid the consequences for her poor choices. She’d always thought she could love her son enough for two parents, but maybe he longed for a loving father in ways she couldn’t fulfill. But no sense in raising false hopes.

She planted a kiss on his forehead. “Dr. Cash is a good man, and I do like Penny. But dating is not on our agenda.”

A deep furrow creased Rocco’s brow. “Why not?”

She had to tread carefully, revealing enough but not everything. He was her son, not her confidant. “Well, I’m not looking to date right now. Our lives are complex as it is, and adding dating to the mix only complicates things.”

“Life isn’t always about perfection, Mom. Sometimes it’s okay for things to get messy, you know?”

The weight of Rocco’s words landed with unexpected force. Perhaps she’d been too focused on maintaining the appearance of perfection and hadn’t given him enough room to enjoy the spontaneity of being a child. It was a hard pill to swallow, especially considering Rocco’s unique qualities. His intellect and talents surpassed her own in many ways, offering him a world of possibilities she’d never had. Yet she couldn’t shake the belief that control and order were crucial for Rocco to harness his potential and navigate life’s challenges.

But that was a discussion for another time. “Messy is fine, but that doesn’t include your bedroom. Tomorrow you need to clean this place up before you do anything else.” She tucked the covers around him and patted his back. “And remember, go easy on Miss Martha’s cookies, okay?”

Rocco sighed and snuggled his head deeper into the pillow. “Yes, ma’am.”

In the dim light of her son’s room, Alana eased the door shut and padded down the hall to her own bedroom. The weight of the day bore down on her. Exhaustion settled into her bones.

The conversation with Rocco stirred thoughts she wasn’t quite ready to face. His childhood was slipping away, and perhaps he finally saw a chance at having a father figure in his life. Cash did seem like a wonderful man. A gentle, loving father whose tender embrace of his daughter stirred Alana’s soul. She couldn’t imagine the kind of comfort and security that would come from being held by a parent like that.

Rocco had experienced that type of love his whole life because she’d given it to him. But her past held a more skeptical truth. One Rocco remained unaware of.

When life turned messy, most people walked away.

Not Alana, though.

Which was why she was determined to make sure Penny Thomas stayed safe until her kidnapper was off the streets. She’d just have to figure out a way to protect Penny and keep her distance from Dr. Cash Thomas.

* * *

SAVANNAH GENERAL HOSPITAL

THURSDAY, 9:30 P.M.

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