Page 11 of The Bad Boy's Homecoming
“Repay me for what?You don’t owe me anything.We’re family.”
“Dec, I know I let you down when I didn’t finish law school and come home to work with you.I know you believe in my art, but you also wanted another lawyer in the family.”
“Well, honestly, Missy, I want you to do what you love and if it can pay the bills then all the better.I was excited for you to study law because you wanted to, but I’m more excited about your art because it’s your true calling.Besides, I still have two more shots at finding a partner in the firm.”
Missy smiled thinking of her nephews.“Just another twenty years until they can finish law school, pass the bar, and work for you.”
“Ya, maybe I better look for some part-time help before then.But for now things are at a good pace.”He sat back and narrowed his warm dark-brown eyes on her.“So if everything is okay, why do you look worried?”
She pressed her fingers over her brow.“Do I?”
“Yep, in fact you look just how you did when you arrived home after leaving law school last year.Worried, and maybe a little scared.So how about you tell me what’s really troubling you this time?”
She let out a deep breath and wrapped her arms around herself.
“Um, Mrs.Hart’s grandson arrived in town unexpectedly this morning, and I don’t think he trusts me living at Hart House.”
“Who, Levi?The Bad Boy of Baseball?He’s in town?”Dec sounded speculative.
“Ya, and apparently Gran, I mean Mrs.Hart, gave me his room so when he arrived we had a little run-in.”
“Missy are you telling me that man was inappropriate?”
“No, no, no, but I may have thrown a vase at his head.”
Declan’s eyes went wide right before he burst into laughter.“Did you hit him?”
“No, he’s faster than I can throw but the vase broke and then Mrs.Hart stormed in with a shotgun I didn’t even know she had.”
Declan’s amusement turned into full-on whooping laughter, so hard he held his stomach and tears streamed down his cheeks.
“Oh my gosh, I would have paid money to see that.Mrs.Hart pulling an Elmer Fudd on her own grandson.I mean I’m sorry.You were probably terrified.”
Now as she thought about it, she laughed too.Levi probably had a right to be a little annoyed with her.
“The thing is, I feel bad staying in his room, and Mrs.Hart put him in her sewing room on this small twin bed she has in there.”
Declan’s laughter started up again, and he pulled out his phone.“Did you tell Wesley about this?I wonder if he knows his famous brother is back in town.Why isn’t he staying in his own house?”
“He has a house in town?”
“No.He built a house out on the family land years ago.He actually designed it himself—it’s pretty impressive.”
“Huh, well maybe he was worried about his grandmother but now he’ll go stay there.Since Mrs.Hart made it clear I was not to move a thing out of my room.”
“I’m sure he will, or he’ll be heading right back out of town.Spring training has already started.I’m surprised he’s even here at all.”
“I guess I won’t worry about it then, but I thought maybe I could stay with you and the boys a few nights just to give them some space.”
“Well, you’re always welcome here and the boys would love it, obviously.Just pack a bag and I’ll have your room ready.”
“You mean the pull-out couch is still available?”she teased.
“Comfiest couch you ever slept on.Of course college kids aren’t that picky.Maybe famous artists are.”
She stood up and grabbed her bag.“Maybe I’ll bring a few canvases out here and paint Daria’s roses, since they’re showing off.”
Declan’s smile fell a little, but he looked out at the flowers, as if he could picture his deceased wife tending to her flowers like they were her babies.
