Page 43 of Only One I Ever Wanted

Mindy swung around. “You can’t keep me from my kid.” She tried to get past my father. “Danny, baby, come out here.”

I glanced over at the door. Danny was standing behind the screen door, his eyes huge and tear-filled. He shook his headno.

Nora ran up the stairs behind me.

Danny pushed the screen open enough to get by my dad and gave Mindy wide berth. He slammed into me, his arms locking around my waist.

“Hey, buddy. It’s okay.”

“Don’t let her take me.” He pressed his face into my chest. “Please.”

Nora came up and hugged both him and me. “You’re not going anywhere.” She peered up at me. “Right, Dad?”

Relief staggered me as I wrapped an arm around her until we made a unit.

The rumble of a vehicle and unmistakable grown of a motorcycle had me peering over my shoulder. Ripley and Cash ate up the walk and clomped up the stairs to stand behind me.

“What, are you all going to try to scare me?” Mindy tried to pull Danny away from us.

He pulled his arm away. “No. I don’t want to go with you. I want Dad.”

“You heard the boy. You’re not wanted here.” Ripley’s voice was low and mean behind me.

“Now, everyone, calm down.” My dad stepped away from the door and my mom slipped out, the screen door slapping behind her. He wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close. “Mindy, you left that boy with us without a word. Same as when you left with him—not a word. I think family court would have a field day with that.”

“I only left him because I needed to make some money for us.” Mindy’s blue eyes became calculating. “I hear you have some money these days, Sully.”

I stiffened. She expected me to buyhim?

“Get off our porch,” my dad’s voice boomed. “You don’t even deserve to be called his mother. We’ll see you in court. Think a solid family with grandparents, and all these uncles, not to mention a loving woman in Sully’s life will be a match for you?”

Mindy’s face flamed and she balled up her fists. “I’m his mother.”

Danny held onto me tighter, then he turned his face into Nora’s arm. He looked up at Nora, his eyes filled. “Don’t make me.”

“We won’t, Danny. You’re ours.” She met my gaze, and her hazel eyes shone. “Ours.”

“God, I love you.”

Nora’s eyes widened. “Good thing I love you right back.”

Not exactly the way I wanted to tell her, but it was true. The minute she’d opened the door, I knew my life was going to change. I just didn’t realize just how much.

I bent down to look Danny in the eyes. “You’re not going anywhere. I promise.” I ruffled his hair. “Stay with Nora, okay?”

He nodded and looped his arms around her waist.

I pointed at the stairs. “Let’s talk.”

Mindy lifted her chin. “Unless you’re giving me money, there’s nothing to discuss.”

I counted to five, the red rage hazing over my vision. “This is supposedly your son, and you’d say that in front of him? You’re a monster. Get out of here before I call the cops.”

“And they’ll do what?I’mthe mother.”

I lowered my voice. “Think Chief Olsen would be interested to know you abandoned him. They might not be so indulgent. Especially since Danny is terrified. No cop would let you near him. No social worker, either. Turn around and never come back. Because you’re right, I do have money now. I’d crucify you in court and you know it.”

Her eyes blazed, but then she looked around.

---