Page 100 of Falling for Brody

Rhea nodded. "Absolutely. The school already covers that in their forms when I registered him."

Simon nodded. "I can call and have them add a note in Chip's file to make sure that they're on the lookout for anyone out of the ordinary."

Rhea sighed. "Thanks, Chief."

He got up and smiled at her. "We'll do whatever we can to make sure he's safe."

Rhea got up and as soon as she was out of the circle of his arms, Brody was up on his feet, moving with her.

She wrapped her arms around the Chief and Brody had to hide a smile at his wry smile and awkward hug. "This means a lot."

When she stepped back, he nodded. "And Gabriel? I meanUncle Angel?"

Gabriel lifted a brow at that. "Yes?"

"See if you can find any reasons behind this custody case."

Brody was thankful, but Rhea explained what she'd told him before. "If they're wanting money, I don't have much. Whatever was left in Charles' account is all but gone with the move here. Before his death, Charles gave his family a lot of money to help them. I was the one who stopped. I had to take care of us. Oh, are you thinking they want me to pay them support to take care of Chip?"

Simon shrugged. "People will do crazy things when they want something. Let's just be careful until we know what's going on. Okay?"

Rhea nodded in agreement and Brody pulled her into his arms. He meant what he told her. He'd be there for her and Chip. How could he do anything else when he already thought of them as his.

* * *

On Saturday,Rhea and Brody swung by the park to watch soccer practice.

Some of the Search and Rescue team were holding a skills day to encourage kids to join sports teams. Zeke Calhoun, who owned the bar 'On the Rocks' was out there with his son, Tony, and a bunch of kids from the school. They were running passing drills and because there was a lull in calls, Rhea and Brody got out to watch from the curb.

"This is wonderful."

Rhea looked at Brody. "We'd always planned to put Chip in sports but after..."

She stopped talking and continued to watch the kids.

She felt Brody turn to look at her and then he leaned close.

"What's wrong, honey?"

She felt horrible. "Sorry. I don't think you want to hear about Charles all the time."

Brody turned to face her, but he didn't block her view of the kids in the park. "Hey. You can talk about him as much as you want to, Rhea. He was your husband. And he's Chip's father. You don't have to worry about... hiding him from me. I don't mind hearing it."

She looked at him before looking back at Chip. "I don't want you to think that I'm throwing him in your face."

He shook his head, smiling at her. "I don't think that, Rhea."

She nodded and he turned back to the park.

At that moment, Chip caught sight of them and jumped up and down and waved his hands above his head. "Mom! Brody!"

A little girl stopped beside him, and he pointed across the park at her and she could see him talk to the little girl for a moment and then they turned and waved at her together.

"That's so sweet! He's making friends."

"I had no doubts," Brody whistled and then dropped his hand into his pocket for his phone. "Looks like we have a call."

* * *

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