Page 17 of Rescued Hearts
I turned, my arm draping over the back of my chair. He was hopping down the stairs with wild bedhead and a face-splitting grin. His happiness was infectious, and had me pushing Levi’s texts to the back of my mind.
“Morning, baby.” I smiled and waited for him to climb into my lap. But he didn’t. Instead, he went over to his uncle. Emmett made room for him like it was second nature and handed him a piece of toast, watching as he ate.
I arched a brow at my brother. “Oh, so you’ll share with him, but not me?”
Emmett glanced around as if it were obvious. “Yes.”
“I wanna do karate,” Luke announced out of nowhere, licking his lips. “Can I do karate?”
Emmett and I froze. I blinked. Did he just say karate? Like, splitting boards and black belts kind of karate? “What?”
“Henry pways karate. He said I couwd do it with him.”
I leaned back in my chair, crossing my arms. “Did he now?”
“Yeah, so I’m gonna pway it with him.”
It appeared I wouldn’t be involved in this decision; my son’s mind was already made up. That was something he got from Jeremy. Once his mind was set on something, he’d do whatever it took to make it happen. In Luke, it was adorable tenacity. In Jeremy, it was obsession fueled by control.
He wrapped his tiny fist around Emmett’s fork and shoveled some eggs into his mouth. “Can I do it? I wanna be strong wike Emmy.”
Sold. Instantly. And I knew by the way Emmett’s expression softened, he was sold, too. Emmett would probably hand over his life savings to that tiny boy without a second thought if he asked.
“I’ll talk to his mama and see what she says about it, okay?” He started wiggling like a little worm in Emmett’s lap, ecstatic. My smile was unstoppable then. “That doesn’t mean yes, just yet.”
He kept bouncing with excitement and stole some more of his uncle’s breakfast.
As much as I wanted to give this to Luke, I was apprehensive. I didn’t know the first thing about karate, but I knew hitting was a part of it, and I wasn’t sure how I felt about Luke being involved with something like that. He’d already seen so much violence. Too much. I wasn’t sure if this would add fuel to the fire or be a good thing for him. But Henry seemed like a happy, sweet boy, and my instincts told me that having an activity like this would be good for Luke in more ways than one.
After texting with Anna and spending a small fortune on sign-up fees and an adorable gi, Luke was signed up for karate by late afternoon.
“This is the cutest thing I think I’ve ever seen,” Claire said, grinning at Luke from the couch where she sat curled up with Beau. We were being held under duress while Luke high-kicked across the living room, his little curls flopping with each movement.
“It is pretty damn cute,” Beau chuckled. I shot him a glare for swearing while I took pictures. “Sorry,” he murmured softly.
I opened my texts and sent a picture of Luke with his gi on in the store and doing a high kick in the living room to our familytext chain.Guess who’s starting karate with Henry tomorrow!!The replies were instant. Savannah and Brittany hearted the pictures. Colt sent a thumbs-up.
Delilah Chase:now i know who to call when the booty call won’t leave
Delilah Chase: but for real…so fucking cuuuuuttteeeee!!!
Weston Tate: Badass
Anna Roberts: We’re so excited!! Henry is beside himself
Joseph Roberts: Yeah he woke the baby up he screamed so loud lol
Emmett Hayes: 4 year olds can’t clean up your dating disasters Delilah.
Emmett Hayes: When’s the first match? I’ll be there.
Delilah Chase: kiss my juicy ass emmetti’ll be there too bug. just lmk
Claire Hayes: Same for me and B
I grinned,beside myself and loving that we had this support system now; all these aunts and uncles for Luke to look up to, to turn to if he needed something. It was everything I could’ve wanted.
Almost.
