Page 121 of Feels Like Home

“I-I didn’t saythat.”

“So, parents who’ve adopted their children aren’t realparents?”

Amanda slaps her hand on her knee and moves to step closer to her husband, who shakes his head lightly ather.

Smartman.

“Stop putting words in my mouth, Christine! You know what Imean!”

“I certainly do not know what you mean.My sonis a good kid. If he punched your kid, it sounds like it was well warranted. Where does a fourteen-year-old learn that type of behavior? Where did he hear those words about Heather? Huh? About his dad and me? It certainly wasn’t from Aidan himself. Because yeah, Heather left. It wasn’t because this boy isn’t lovable. I fell in love with him just as quickly as I did his father and his brother. Heather left because she knew she wasn’t worthy. To me, that makes her a hell of a lot better mom than someone who’s raising a son to spout off nasty things like that to another kid. Especially about something they know absolutely nothingabout.”

Oh damn. My eyes widen, and Ben coughs, seemingly uncomfortable not knowing if he should step in and stand up for his wife or just stay silent, since we all know in this case what Christine speaks is nothing buttruth.

“Patrick. I trust you’ll do something about this? Aidan. You can go back to class, right, Mr. Moore?” She’s confident and in charge in the small room, no one daring to look away fromher.

“Dad?”

“You heard Christine, son. You want to defyher?”

He shakes his head quickly, wide eyes turned my way. “No,sir.”

“Mr. Moore?” Christine asksimpatiently.

He chuckles, probably not knowing what else to say at this point. “Nope. Meeither.”

“Amanda. I sincerely hope you learned from this experience. Ben? Always good to see you. Preston. Make smarter choices. Listen to yourfather.”

And with that, she leans down and kisses Aidan on thecheek.

“Christine…” I whisper, but she hears it. She shakes her head angrily at me, and I’m pretty sure those green eyes just shot fire in mydirection.

“Not now,” she whispersback.

We all watch as she walks out the door, Reece standing on the other side of the office windows. Probably worried for his brother. As soon as he sees Christine, he runs to her, hugging her tightly. I wish I could hear what she’s telling him as she has her hands around his face. He nods, and she gives him a kiss on the cheek and he smiles up at her, like the sun rises and sets on her, and she makes her way back out to hercar.

“Well, she was rude.” Amanda truly doesn’t know how to keep her mouthshut.

I raise my eyebrows at her, and Mr. Moore leans up and shakes myhand.

“That’ll be all, Andy. Aidan. Get a pass and head back to class. Unless you need to head home with yourdad.”

“Nah. I’mgood.”

“What? Why do they get to leave?” Amanda’s whiny voice carries through theroom.

Before the door closes behind us, we hear the authoritative voice of Patrick Moore. “Amanda. Ben. Preston. Stay in yourseats.”

* * *

“Ijust don’t understand.Why was shethere?”

“Because I called her, Dad!” Aidan yells in defense, his face turning red and chest heaving up anddown.

I didn’t go back to work after I left the school, rather came straight home. The boys got home from school an hour ago, but Aidan stormed into his bedroom the minute he walked in. About five minutes ago, I’d had enough and made him come out to the livingroom.

Shockingly, heobeyed.

We sat staring at each other for about fifteen minutes until I cracked. Not being able to hold in myfrustration.

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