There's Only Been You (14 page)

"Garden looks good this year. Everything came up."

"Miracle, hey?” She set the pan on top of the stove, then reached into the top cabinet for the serving platter. “I just wish I had more space. I'd love to plant some pumpkins for Ethan one of these years."

Before Uncle Luke could respond, they heard the men coming up the front porch. She glanced at Ethan who sat up a little straighter in his chair. She felt the familiar swell of pride in her chest that almost always caused her to have to blink back tears. In just a few seconds, both of their lives would be changed forever, and Sara was finally starting to believe that maybe, just maybe, everything would work out.

She walked over and stood behind Ethan's chair, where they both had a perfect view of the front door.

First Nicky appeared, casting his nephew a reassuring wink. Danny came through the door next, grinning from ear-to-ear.

And then Mike walked through the door, larger than life. Sara put her hands on Ethan's small shoulders for support, just as Garrett had done for her the day before. Had it only been two days since Mike strode back into her life? The thought astonished her. And the look of wonder on his face as he gazed at his son warmed her heart. She could only imagine what he must be feeling.

Mike paused for just a moment before continuing forward. Nicky and Danny both hung back in the living room.

Mike's chest expanded as he sucked air into his lungs. He flexed his fingers as he stared down at the little boy who couldn't be anybody
but
his son. He hadn't expected the resemblance to be so ... remarkable. His spitting image, some would say. Hell, most would say.

It suddenly dawned on him that the little boy he'd seen getting into Garrett's truck Saturday night must have been Ethan. Christ, if things had worked out differently, he may never have found out that the little boy had been his own son. The thought caused his throat to constrict.

Ethan stared up at him, mouth agape, and Mike couldn't hold back a smile.
My son
. What he felt was so strong and indescribable, so personal, he wished they didn't have an audience. But he knew Sara's brothers and uncle were a great source of comfort to her and Ethan both, so he'd just have to do his best to keep the myriad of emotions coursing through him in check.

He glanced up at Sara and his heart swelled even more. With her hands resting protectively on their son's shoulders, an unsure smile wavering on her lips, she had never looked more beautiful to him.

The enormity of what she'd gone through over the years, without his protection, his support, both emotionally and financially, hit him like a ton of bricks and it was all he could do to stand on his own two feet. All those years wasted, brooding, feeling sorry for himself, believing Sara had betrayed him when in reality she'd been busy raising and nurturing their son. Had a bigger moron ever walked the face of the earth?

Sara made the introductions. “Mike, I'd like you to meet Ethan James, your son. Ethan, this is your father, Michael William Andrews."

Sounding more curious than nervous, Ethan said, “We have different last names."

Mike glanced up at Sara, surprised. It had never even occurred to him that Ethan wouldn't have his last name.

"I was told I couldn't put your name on the birth certificate without your signature and, honestly, I never looked into it any further."

Mike nodded, but was far from pleased. He cleared his throat. “Hello, Ethan.” He took another step forward and held out his hand.

Eyes huge in his little face, Ethan slowly lifted his hand. “You're almost as big as my uncle Garrett."

Mike's lips twitched. “Almost. But nobody's as big as your uncle Garrett.” He could think of a few other choice things he'd like to say about Uncle Garrett, but wisely kept his opinions to himself. Regardless of how he felt about the guy, Garrett had been the one taking care of Ethan all these years, helping Sara raise him, clothe him, feed him. Garrett had been there when Mike hadn't, and he knew he owed him a lot for that.

Mike enclosed Ethan's small hand in his and gave it a gentle shake. Nicky and Danny both thumped Mike on the back as Uncle Luke ruffled Ethan's hair.

"You kinda look like me,” Ethan announced, and everybody burst out laughing.

Ethan glanced up at Sara and asked, “What am I supposed to call him?"

It was Mike who answered. “I'd like you to call me Dad, but if you don't feel comfortable, you can call me Mike."

A smile split Ethan's face. “I'll call you Dad."

"I hope everyone's hungry,” Sara said, pushing Ethan's chair in. “Let's eat before supper gets cold."

Ethan gazed up at Mike and said, “You can sit by me. I mean, if you want to."

"There isn't anywhere else I'd rather sit."

"Something sure smells good."

Upon hearing his uncle's voice, Ethan spun around excitedly. “Uncle Garrett, look! This is my dad!"

Garrett took the seat to Ethan's right. He cast Mike a quick look. “Yeah, I can see that. You must be pretty excited, sport. I'm happy for you."

Sara placed the platter of meatloaves in the center of the table. Garrett stood and sliced them into neat hunks while Sara got everything else ready. She placed a heaping basketful of tiny dinner rolls in front of Ethan, and the buttered green beans went between Danny and Nicky. She set the pickle salad next to Uncle Luke, along with a jar of beet relish.

Mike gazed across the table at her as she squeezed in next to Garrett on the extra chair. “You've really got that down pat."

"I've had a lot of practice,” she said, reaching for a slice of meatloaf. She met his gaze with an enigmatic expression and forked a small bite of meatloaf into her mouth.

Mike couldn't take his eyes off of her. As always, she looked beautiful. She wore a long summery dress that showed off every curve on her petite frame. It was styled like a tank top but with a short row of buttons in the front. And the color, a kaleidoscope of tie-dyed purples, looked incredible against her fiery hair.

But the fact that she was running around barefoot is what turned him on the most. Mike remembered how playful she used to be under the table, teasing him by seeing how far she could slide her delicate little foot up into the leg of his jeans...

He grew hard just thinking about it.
Shit. Think about puppies, dammit, puppies
!

Someone spoke and a comfortable conversation was struck up, with Ethan chattering on in all his excited glory.

Luke and Garrett were talking about pulling up the bushes against the back fence when Mike caught Sara's attention. “I almost forgot. I got a call from the realtor a couple hours ago. The house is mine. And even better, the elderly gentleman who owns it moved out over a month ago, so his family said I could move in by the weekend. They just need to rent a moving van to clear out his furniture."

"No kidding? Saturday, huh. Good for you."

"There
is
one small detail I forgot to mention,” he said, gauging her reaction closely.

"Oh? And what's that?” She reached for the green beans and spooned some onto her plate.

"The house I bought is just down the block. It's the big one on the corner, with the huge lilac bush in the front yard."

"No shit?” Danny said. “You bought old man Pankovich's house? Hey, Sara, isn't that the house you wanted to buy?"

Sara glanced at Danny, her annoyance evident. “I've thought about it. But I had no idea Mr. Pankovich had moved out, or was interested in selling."

"You're gonna live in old man Pankovich's house?” Ethan asked, clearly excited.

Mike nodded, a little concerned by Sara's reaction. He'd expected her to be relieved that Ethan's second home would be so close. Of course he'd had no idea Sara wanted to buy that particular house. What were the odds? “Sure am. And I was hoping once I move in, you'll want to come spend some time with me."

To Sara, he said, “I thought it might make things easier on all of us if I lived close by. That's why I asked the realtor to find me something in this neighborhood. I just never expected her to find me a house on your block."

Sara forked a few green beans into her mouth, her smile brittle.

"You mean, like a sleepover?” Ethan asked.

"Exactly like a sleepover. We'll rent movies, order pizza. Whatever you want to do."

"Hell, Sara, I think it's a perfect idea,” Nicky said. “Won't it be comforting to know Ethan's only a few houses away when he's visiting Mike?"

"I agree with Nicky,” Garrett chimed in, surprising the hell out of Mike. “This is going to be an adjustment for all of us, especially you and Ethan. Won't it ease your mind to know his second home is so close by?"

She kept her eyes glued to her plate. “I suppose it will."

Mike cleared his throat. “You know, Sara, I was hoping you might give me a hand with the house. I can fix what needs to be fixed, paint, you name it. But I haven't the slightest idea how to decorate it."

"There's really not much to it. You just buy things you like."

"Oh, well, excellent then. So if I want a green couch and red chairs in the living room, it'll look all right? And I was thinking of painting each room a different color and theme. Like the living room would be orange with a southwestern flare, the kitchen navy blue with sort of a nautical theme. I was also thinking that wicker furniture would—"

Sara held up her hand, palm forward. A reluctant smile curved her lips. “Stop, please, you're making me dizzy. Okay, I'll help you decorate. But on one condition."

"Name it."

"You can't help
at all
."

Everybody at the table burst out laughing.

"Deal."

Mike forked the last bite of cherry pie into his mouth and washed it down with the rest of his coffee. He was in heaven, plain and simple.

A week ago he'd merely been existing in this world. He did his job, paid his bills, occasionally went out with his co-workers. But he'd been dead inside for so long he'd completely forgotten what it felt like to live.

Now here he was, looking across the table at his son, while Sara poured him a cup of coffee. It was such a perfect scene and such an incredible feeling, Mike was afraid to blink for fear it would all disappear and he'd be back in his one-room studio apartment staring at the tube, eating a frozen pizza, and feeling sorry for himself.

Ethan peered up at him and asked, “Want the rest of my pie? Mom says cherry's your favorite."

Mike smiled. That seemed to be all he could do tonight. “That's awfully generous of you, but I'm stuffed."

Ethan shrugged and went back to eating his pie.

Sara finished loading the dishwasher, then grabbed the broom and starting sweeping up imaginary crumbs. Nervous energy, he figured as he watched her flutter around the kitchen.

It scared the hell out of him, how attracted he still was to her. He didn't know what the hell he'd do if she didn't feel the same about him. The thought was inconceivable. He wanted her, dammit.

"Sara?"

"Yeah?” She didn't look up.

Mike glanced at Ethan and then back at her. “There's somewhere I'd like to take Ethan this week, unless, of course, you think it's too soon...?"

Ethan's head popped up, a glob of cherry pie filling clinging to his chin. “It's not too soon, right, Mom?"

"That depends,” she said, looking uneasy. “Where exactly do you want to take him? I'm sorry, but I won't allow you to take him all the way to Chicago, if that's where this is heading."

"That's not even close to what I have in mind. I was going to suggest we head over to that new indoor water park I've seen a million commercials for. We could splash around all day and then spend the night. You know, stay up watching movies and eating snacks out of the vending machines. Sound like a plan?"

Ethan bounced up and down on his chair. “Mom, can we? Pleeease?"

Sara realized Mike was new to this whole parenting thing, but she'd have to make it very clear to him that discussing things in front of Ethan was a no-no. “Ethan, I'm sorry, but I think it's a bit too soon for that. My goodness, you've only just met each other."

"Then come with us."

"Yeah, Mom, come with us. It'll be great. And the three of us can have a sleepover!"

Mike winked at her. “We haven't had a sleepover in a long time."

"Mike—"

"We'll have a great time, I promise. All fun, no pressure. And needless to say, everything is on me."

"Come on, Mom, it'll be awesome!” Ethan clapped his hands together in a pleading gesture. “Please, please, please!"

Oh, how she'd like to crack the man over the head. The snake knew exactly what position he'd put her in by asking in front of Ethan. But they did have an awful lot of time to make up for. How could she possibly say no to what sounded like a great time for Ethan? She couldn't, of course.

"All right, we'll do it. But,” she cast Mike a meaningful look, “I insist on separate rooms."

"Spoilsport."

"But, Mom, I bet they have a bed big enough for all of us,” Ethan said looking thoughtful.

Mike coughed.

She cast him a quelling glance before replying, “Sweetheart, it wouldn't be proper for us all to stay in the same bed. Or room, for that matter."

"Don't worry, ‘Mom', I'll reserve two rooms.” He looked back at Ethan and added, “They might even have rooms with balconies that open up over the water park."

Ethan's eyes lit up. “We can jump into the pool from the balcony!"

Mike laughed. “Sorry, son, but there'll be no jumping from the balconies, period. Your mother will never let you leave the house again if you end up breaking bones on our first outing."

Son
. Sara's eyes started to mist.
He's my son, dammit
. She knew she was being selfish, but she wasn't ready to share him yet. This was all happening way too fast.

Mike glanced at the clock. “Well, I should probably call it a night."

"You don't have to go yet! It's not bedtime, right, Mom?"

Before Sara could answer, Mike said, “I'm sorry, Ethan, but I have a lot to get done tomorrow, so I really should get to bed early. And I'd like to call that resort tonight. Which reminds me,” he glanced back at Sara, “what night works best for our little excursion? Friday? Saturday?"