Page 47 of The Biggest Secret
“I can’t believe he did that. He didn’t tell me.”
Billy gives me a ‘duh’ look. “CJ, come on, Take Charge did what he does best–take charge. Would you expect anything less?”
I guess I wouldn’t expect anything less than Adam giving one hundred percent to his son. In the back of my mind, I always knew he would, even if I didn’t allow myself to believe it at the time.
“Just be careful Billy and don’t use my kid as a prop to find a girlfriend.” I shake my finger at him and raise a brow.
“I wouldn’t dare,” he replies exaggeratingly with wide eyes, then he breaks into that famous smile. “Besides, I’m over that phase of my life.”
This piques my interest. “Oh yeah? Got someone in mind?”
He shrugs. “Not really, I just think I need to figure out what I want. I’m getting too old to keep playing around.” He leans in close to me. “But don’t tell the Principal, I don’t need him giving me homework or book reports to help sort it out!” He winks and gives me a quick kiss on the cheek, flips Dom back to right side up and he throws his little arms around me.
“Bye baby boy, don’t give your uncle a hard time today!”
“Uncle B!” Dom yells. I grab my purse and head out the door,finding it hard to recall how I used to do this alone. I’ve become quickly accustomed to this family again and I don’t know if it’s a good thing or bad.
* * *
Hours later I’ve gotten Dominic down for the night and I fall onto the couch next to Adley. She’s messing around on her phone.
“Hey, watch this.” She hands me her phone and turns up the volume. I see Billy on the screen with Dom.
“Adley! Why did you film them?” I’m appalled that she was stalking them.
“I didn’t film them, per se, but it’s the ring camera I set up for when I’m writing and have to watch Dom. I’m always afraid the clicking of the keys on my laptop will disrupt his sleeping so I put it on in his room and watch from out here.”
Giving her the side eye, I pull the phone closer and see Billy is in the bedroom with Dom and they’re racing his little cars. Turning up the volume, I listen.
“I gotta tell ya, kid, I’m glad you exist. I know the intro was a little rocky. Well, maybe not rocky for you, you got your shit straight.” I cringe at Billy cursing in front of my son. “I mean, you got bottles coming, clean clothes, even a breast or two to hang onto.” I roll my eyes and grin as Adley dissolves into giggles. “But I think, you are going to be the glue that keeps them together. For quite some time, your dad was a little lost. Everyone saw it except him. The days were just passing him by, but something special was missing. He didn’t know what that was until you showed up. You’re a big miracle in a small body, kid. Once you arrived, you changed his world for the better. He found what he never knew he needed in you, Dom.” He leans closer to my son, smoothing his blond curls away from his eyes and I choke up at his words. “Don’t ever tell him I said that because he likes to be needed so he’ll say he was just fine, but I know he wasn’t.” He pauses again. “It’s how I feel sometimes only I know I’ll never get what I want. I don’t think she feels thesame way because I’ve been such a screw up. I may look like a good time kid, but it gets lonely.”
Oh, Billy. This breaks my heart. I always felt that about him. He’s the baby of the family and insecure in a way, so he overcompensates by being the playboy. I don’t think that’s who he really is though. But his mention of ‘she’ makes me wonder about our conversation earlier today. Maybe there is someone he’s thinking about.
“Anyway, you come from good stock. The Casanova’s are one of a kind. You’ll be fine even if they do let you hang out with me from time to time. Someone’s got to teach you how to get in trouble the right way, you know? And when we have too much fun, well, that’s what Uncle Tom is for. He’ll bail us out, don’t you worry.”
Dom looks up at him with a serious look on his face, nodding right along with everything Billy says. It’s heartwarming watching their little interaction even if Adley was being a peeping tom. They sing some silly clean up song, which surprises me that Billy knows and as they leave the room, I hear Billy making plans to go to his mother’s house to raid their fridge. I hear Dom answer back “Wes go!”
I hand the phone back to Adley. “God, Ad, I was such an asshole.”
“Well, good news is that you’re becoming less of an asshole now. Maybe it’s all the sex you’ve been getting.” She nudges me.
“I’m still not telling you details. I won’t end up being a character in one of your books!”
“Oh, sister, you’ve already had a starring role!”
Chapter Thirty
CHELSEA
Tonight is the Championship football game at the high school. Jackson has been at the field all week prepping his team for tonight. Francesca stopped by earlier, wearing her ‘Gage’s Fiancé’” jersey, and dropped off a couple of shirts for Adley and I. She even had a little t-shirt made for Dominic. The back reads ‘Gage’s Nephew’. I love that everyone has a Gage’s fill-in-the-blank shirt to wear and show support for the town’s favorite coach.
“I just talked to Adam, and he said he’d be here after work to pick you guys up and head to the field. I’m going over earlier, but I’ll see you there,” Francesca says and turns to head out.
My heart rate spikes. After work? What time is that? Will he really be here, or will he get so involved with work that heforgets us again?
“Girls! Come set the table! Your father said he’d be home soon, so I made dinner.” Adley and I rush into the kitchen, grab plates and silverware, and hurry over to the dining room table, trying to set it as nicely and quickly as possible. Dad being home for dinner is a treat, he’s always working late and has meetings he’s running out for. The house smells so good; I love when Mom makes pot roast and potatoes. She says it’s one of dad’s favorites.
I hope he’s in a good mood tonight.
