Read ROMANCING HER PROTECTOR Online
Authors: Mallory Monroe
between them. That was why, DeAndre felt, this meeting was so important.
“Have a seat, have a seat,” Matty said, noticing the awkwardness that was still there
too. He and Shay didn’t live with him. He wanted them to desperately, but Shay didn’t think
it was a good idea.
“If it was just you and me that would be different,” she had told him. “But we have a
son to consider. And I’m not shacking up with any man, not even his father, in my son’s
presence.”
So on Shay’s request, she and DeAndre moved into the old condo she briefly stayed in
when she was a college student, a condo Matty still owned. And although the separation was
understandable, he, after all, asked for Shay’s hand in marriage the day after that horrible
scene in Philly and knew they would live together soon, it didn’t help the awkwardness he and
DeAndre still seemed to feel whenever they were around each other.
“I hope I’m not interrupting anything,” DeAndre said as he took a seat in front of
Matty’s desk.
“Never,” Matty said, standing and walking from around his desk. He sat on the edge of
his desk. “So how’s everything going?”
“Great actually.”
“Still getting adjusted to school here in Maryland?”
“Yes, sir. Especially private school.”
Matty and Shay had made the decision to put DeAndre in private school, at least for the
time being, to avoid any unlikely but possible run-ins with gang members who may know the
group from Philly.
“How’s mom?” Matty asked him, folding his arms. “I wasn’t able to come by and see
her last night.”
“She’s good. Nervous about the wedding, but good.”
Matty nodded. He was nervous too. “So what’s up? What can I do you for?”
DeAndre exhaled. Here goes. He hadn’t even discussed it with his mother yet,
although he was reasonably certain she would approve. “I was thinking about this, Dad, and
something just doesn’t seem right to me.” He looked up at his father.
Matty’s heart dropped. “About me and your mother getting married?” he asked, his
voice cracking with fear.
“No, not that,” DeAndre said with a smile, causing Matty to exhale in relief. “But like
when you come to pick me up from school, or when I come here to see you. I’m always Mr.
Cooper or DeAndre Cooper here to see Mr. Driscoll. It just doesn’t seem right to me.”
Matty’s heart wanted to soar, but he maintained his composure. “I see,” he said. “And
I agree. I’ve felt the same way. So, what do you propose that we do about it?”
“I think, before the wedding, we ought to change my name. Not my Christian name,
but my last name.” DeAndre said this and looked up at his father. “I mean, because I don’t
want there to be any misunderstandings. I’m not a Cooper. I’m a Driscoll. I’m your son and
I should have my father’s name. I mean, if it’s all right with you.”
Before he could even finish speaking, before he even got to the
if it’s all right with you
part, Matty was already grabbing him into his arms, tears staining his eyes.
“Is it all right?” he asked his son, as if amazed that he would think that in any way it
wouldn’t be. “You bet ‘cha it’s all right,” he added.
And now it was more than all right. It was here. Shay Cooper being escorted down the
aisle by DeAndre Driscoll. His soon-to-be wife with his long lost son. His heart could hardly
contain his glee.
When they arrive at the altar, and DeAndre handed his mother off to his father,
DeAndre leaned into his father and whispered in his ear: “You sure you’re ready for this?” he
felt duty bound to ask him one final time.
Matty loved his son’s take charge personality, a personality, he was convinced, that
would serve him well when he, DeAndre Driscoll, became head of Driscoll Systems, Inc.
Matty, therefore, took his son’s question to heart. He leaned over to his bride-to-be. “Are you
ready for this?” he asked Shay.
Shay’s first instinct was to scream no, are you kidding? Who could ever be ready for
this nerve-racking ride? But she smiled, and simply told the truth: “As ready as I’ll ever be,”
she replied.
Matty smiled. This was, hands down, the happiest day of his life. He nodded to his
son. “Yes, we’re ready,” he said.
And Dre, relishing his role and remembering the protocol as they had rehearsed it
before this big day, slowly but surely nodded back at his father, and then backed out of the
way.