Down the Hidden Path (12 page)

There was a moment when Gray’s face froze as if time itself had stopped, but then her brow furrowed and her mouth became an O shape and the saddest sound he’d ever heard clawed from her lips. “No. No, Miah. You can’t.”

Oh, but he could. “I’ve got twelve years to make up for.”

He was so focused on Gray he’d forgotten Wilson until the man spoke. “Of course, Mary Grace is an important part of David’s life. If you will look at document six, you’ll see specific instruction concerning her.”

Miah flipped through pages until he found a document titled “Instructions to Guardian of Minor Children of William and Angela Olson.” It outlined their wishes about Mary Grace being consulted regarding the manner in which David would be raised.

Wilson lowered the paper in his hands. “It’s also important for David’s well-being that she be involved. She’s been the most important part of his life aside from his mother and father.”

Miah hated that he liked the feeling rising in him; it was something akin to revenge. That wasn’t typically in his nature, but this was unconscionable. “Sure. She can come visit.” He sniffed. “We’ll work out a schedule or something.”

She shook her head, her face a wash of fear. “Please, Miah. Don’t do this.”

He stood. “Do what, Gray? Take the opportunity to get to know my son?”

“Please,” but the word was lost in a sob.

His heart squeezed. In his lifetime, he’d never caused any woman the kind of emotional torment Gray was displaying. Her eyes were swollen and red, fear and shame volleying in the depths of her silver gaze. Her face was a tear-slick mask that read absolute devastation. In a word, she was shattered. His fingers itched to reach out, but reality bit at his consciousness, reminding him that for the past twelve years, he’s had a son. And no one bothered to tell him. He turned away from her, clearing the vision of her pain from his mind.

Miah swallowed the lump lodged in his throat. He directed his attention to Wilson. “How soon can I pick him up?”

David made a point to eat all of the bacon cheeseburger, even the lettuce. His appetite hadn’t been great since the accident and he knew Gray was watching him to make sure he didn’t get too skinny. Something else was wrong with Gray. Something besides everything they were already going through. As he’d gotten older, he’d learned to see it. She fidgeted, just like he did when a teacher was getting ready to hand back a graded test and he wasn’t sure how he’d done. There was a time he would have just brushed it off. But things were different now. He was different now. With his dad gone, David was the man of the house. “What’s up, Gray?”

From the sink, she spun to look at him. A smile first, but it faded, and David could tell she wasn’t looking forward to whatever she had to say. But it was okay because he could be there for her. He could help her. He was practically a grown-up and had been dealing with grown-up problems since the moment he’d jerked the door open and found a policeman on the other side.

The kitchen chair scraped against the hardwood floor as she pulled it out to sit. David liked sitting on the other side of the table because the floor was crooked and he could shimmy his weight back and forth and rock the chair all the way to the kitchen door. It was cool.

Gray took a deep breath. “I have some news for you. You’re going to get to meet your biological father.”

His biological father. That couldn’t be right. His mom had told him the birth father wasn’t in the picture and never would be. “But Gray—”

She held up a hand. “Let me explain everything and then you can ask every question you have, okay?”

He closed his mouth, but there was a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach. “He can’t be a good person. I don’t want to meet him.”

Gray threaded her fingers together on the tabletop. “He
is
a good person, David.”

David stood up. “He can’t be. Or I would have met him already. My mom swore to me that he was never,
ever
going to be around.” His teeth clenched; his skin felt hot but also cold and he shouldn’t be yelling at Gray, but he couldn’t help it.

“That wasn’t his choice, David. He didn’t know about you. He didn’t know he had a son until today. That’s why I was called to Mr. Granger’s office.”

“Why didn’t he know about me?” David clamped his hands on the edge of the table.

“Because I never told him. I should have. I wish I had because maybe—” And then Gray dropped her head. It was a long time before she spoke, and when she looked up to meet his gaze, there was a new strength there. “David, Jeremiah is a good man. And you will be fortunate to have him in your life.”

David chewed his lip for a moment. He wanted to believe her. Even if he was mad at her. Even if she should have told his birth dad and hadn’t. He moved to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. “It’s okay, Gray.” It nearly broke him to say it because he didn’t think he could deal with any more changes. But right there, with a tummy full of his favorite dinner, he made a decision. If he was going to be the man of the house, he needed to act like it. And that meant being strong like Gray. No matter what.

Gray pulled it together, if only marginally, as she packed Bill’s largest suitcase with David’s clothes. Yet again, she was getting ready to let go of the only thing in the entire world that mattered. Slipping through her fingers, like dust on a windy day. Once more, she’d say good-bye to her child so he could go live with someone else. Both their hearts had broken anew when she told him what had happened at Wilson’s office. Not only would David be meeting Miah for the first time, he’d be moving in with him.

When David rounded the corner by grabbing the doorjamb and sliding into the room, she painted on the smile she’d been practicing for two days since the meeting with Wilson. “Get your books?”

He dropped his weight against the doorjamb. “I don’t want to go, Gray.”

Her heart squeezed because she knew he was trying to be strong. But this was all so unjust, uprooting him again. She moved to David and took his face in her hands. “I know. But it’s time for you to get to know him.”

He pulled from her and crossed the room to drop in front of his bookcase. “I don’t need him. I have you.”

“But I’ll be there the first night, maybe the second.” She’d begged Miah to let her stay a day or two until David had acclimated. He’d reluctantly agreed. He’d also agreed to let her stay on as Caleb’s therapist as long as she was gone before school got out so he and David could have time to bond. But he’d also promised her access to her son. It had been Bill and Angie’s wishes and Miah was willing to respect that. Miah wasn’t a cruel person, and he must have realized her depth of commitment to David.

“You’re going to like Jeremiah. He’s a really good guy.”

“If he’s so great, why didn’t you ever tell me about him? Why didn’t you want him to know about me?” David pulled the manga books from his low shelf.

“I knew Bill and Angie were going to be great parents for you. Jeremiah and I were just kids back then. I was scared that telling him might mess up your future. It was stupid, but that’s the only excuse I have.” She swallowed hard.

“But after I was born? Why didn’t you tell him?”

Well, she couldn’t really divulge to a twelve-year-old that his adoptive mother threatened to deny Gray access to her child if Gray let Jeremiah know about David. Angie had been furious when she realized the birth father was a Havinger, a family with lots of money and access to high-dollar attorneys that could fight for rights to a potential heir. “You didn’t need him then. You had a dad. A great dad.”

“I had a mom, too, but that didn’t stop you from hanging around.”

“Nothing will keep me away from you. Ever. From the first moment I felt you kick inside my belly, I knew I loved you.” And it felt so amazingly good to be able to tell him that. Just say what was in her heart and on her mind. So often she’d bitten her tongue so she didn’t overstep her bounds. Now, she could tell him everything.

He gave her a sad smile. “Will I get to see you much?”

“Yes. We’re working out a schedule. But also, you need some time to get to know him. You won’t do that if I’m
hanging around
all the time.” She ruffled his ink-black hair. “I know this is hard, but will you try?”

He sighed. “I guess.”

She glanced around the room; already it felt emptier. “Ready?”

He nodded and stood, then moved slowly to the door, a prisoner making that final march to execution.

A light dusting of January snow made the lodge look even bigger than it was. From the outside, Miah glanced up at the chimney. He’d built a fire in the large great room fireplace, but the flue had made a strange clunking noise when he opened it so he went outside to inspect it.

Caleb stood beside him. “I told you it was fine.” There was a slight pause between each of Caleb’s words. But all in all, speech seemed to be coming easier for him.

Miah stared at the smoke billowing into the sky. “Yeah,” he grumbled.

“You’re nervous as a pig in a bacon factory.”

Miah threw an arm around his little brother. “Well, you keep my feet on the ground.” As they walked back toward the lodge, he slowed his steps to make the trek easier for Caleb. “Do I look okay?”

Caleb rested his hand on the railing as they mounted the porch steps. “No. Dude, you look awful.”

Miah ignored the intended insult. “I should change into that blue shirt, right?”

Caleb scoffed. “Gonna look bad no matter what you put on.”

The joke finally caught up to Miah. “Great. Thanks.”

“Just keeping your feet on the ground.”

“So, they’ll get here. I’ll show him his room, drink some hot chocolate, then we can go over to the retreat for dinner. Do you think that’s a good idea? Or should I just make some sandwiches here?” Miah refolded the collar of his shirt.

“It’s not rocket science, Miah. He’s a kid. He’ll think the lodge is awesome. He’ll love Charlee’s retreat. All good.”

“Yeah, but—” Caleb clamped his hand over Miah’s mouth before he could finish. “I don’t want to overwhelm him,” he mouthed around Caleb’s fingers.

Caleb shook his head and walked away. He dropped into a seat in the living room where he could watch the fire. “If you don’t want to overwhelm him, turn down the intensity a few degrees. You’re like Tigger.”

Miah planted his hands on his hips, spread his legs apart, and tried to calm his racing heart.

Caleb pointed at him. “Dude. You’re gonna stroke out.”

Miah opened his eyes, stared down his little brother. “I’m not having a stroke.”

Caleb chuckled. “That throbbing blood vessel on the side of your head would disagree.” It might take Caleb a few extra seconds to sort his words, but his mind was sharp and quick with the good-natured insults.

“Oh crap! I forgot something.” Miah threw the front door open and sailed out to his pickup truck. There in the front seat was the football he’d bought earlier in the day. The day before, he’d purchased a baseball, two gloves, and a bat. Then, he’d found Frisbees and a soccer ball. No easy task in the middle of winter.

He’d also discovered the electronics. The newest game system was now littering the floor in front of his TV with cordless controllers and three of the “top games f
or teenagers,” per the electronics guru at Walmart. They were all first-person-shooter games and Caleb had already launched a campaign on each.