The Fire Still Burns (32 page)

Nate and Adam agreed and followed her into the house.  She left the envelope on a side table in the living room as they entered the kitchen to figure out what to eat, taking their minds off of the dreaded paternity test results.

They worked as a team, Nate preparing salads while Adam helped her chop vegetables to stir into the pasta.  By the time Linda Harlow arrived home, they were laughing and joking together like a normal family, and the sight of Adam and Nate getting along so well brought tears to Brynn's eyes.

“The paternity test results came,” exclaimed Linda from the living room, breaking the three out of their reverie.  They glanced at each other, horror-stricken before dropping what they held in their hands and running toward Linda, but, by the time they reached her, the paper was out of the envelope and in Linda's hands.

They came to an abrupt stop, slack-jawed as Linda silently read the paper and froze.  It seemed as though hours passed between that moment and the moment she let out a loud shout of glee.  “I told you Adam was this boy's father!  They have the same face.”  Linda grinned smugly, looking between the three of them.  “I told you.  A grandmother is always right.”

Adam and Nathaniel turned to look at each other, the moment seeming to play out in slow motion and as they each smiled in evident relief as tears cascaded down Brynn's cheeks.

“Brynn?”  Adam rushed to her side, drying the tears with his thumbs.  “Brynn, baby, what's wrong?”

“He's yours,” she whispered.  “He's always been yours and for thirteen years I—”

“Shush, Brynn,” Adam ordered.  “That doesn't matter.  The past is gone, and we can't blame ourselves.  You helped teach me that.  We have now.”

She looked past him to where her mother and son were standing together, nodding at her with big smiles plastered on their faces.  

“We have now,” she repeated.

“That's right, baby.”  Adam laughed as he kissed her and wrapped her in his arms.  “We have now and forever.  Nothing will ever separate us again.”

  
          ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Crystal-Rain Love resides in the south with her three children and a multitude of pets. She enjoys hiking, writing, reading, and spending time with her children. To learn more about Rain, follow her at
www.facebook.com/crystalrainauthor

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