Free Riptide Love ( by Melissa Lopez Page A

gave her hand a squeeze. The contact soothed him. Her admission surprised him. Pleased the hell out of him. He wanted her to be open with him.
    She caught her lower lip between her teeth but didn’t let go of his fingers. Some of the tension eased as he gave her a smile. “Visiting with Mum is going to be the easy part.” Yeah, Mum would be easy compared to Miller. You could always count on Mum to love, to accept.
    After another squeeze, he released her fingers to knock on the screen door. His hands shook as he pulled the door open. “Mum!” Inside, he passed Nate to De. “Mum!”
    “E, I was sewing.” The smile she wore faded when she saw De, but she still embraced him in a hug. “Son, I’ve missed you.”
    “You too.” In turn, he squeezed her in a bear hug. “Mum, I’ve brought visitors.” He stepped back, taking in the grey in her hair. The tired eyes. Every time he visited anymore reminded him she was aging. Faster than he liked. He didn’t want his mum to grow old…
    “I can see you have Denae.” Mum’s mouth tightened. “Who else have you brought with you?” Her hand trembled when she brushed back loose strands of hair. “Ethan, what’s going on?”
    A shortness of breath nearly buckled his knees. The feeling of being ten again overcame his senses. “Mum…” Oh, Christ. How did one tell their mum they’d fucked up in the worst way? Explain what a pig’s arse he’d been?
    Sweat beaded his brow. He’d never wanted to disappoint his mum.
    Denae took a single step forward. “Maree, I’d like you to meet Nathan Button. Nate, say g’day to Maree.”
    Relief at the initial introduction relaxed his spine.
    “G’day.” Nate did as his mum told. “You got puppies.”
    Mum’s smile was small. “I believe we do.”
    “I like puppies.”
    His mum nodded, covering her mouth with a shaky hand.
    A knot of emotion clogged his throat. He didn’t have to hear his mum say it. He knew what she was thinking. She was looking at Nate and seeing what he had at first sight of the boy.
    Nathan was a Thorn. Only the little mate wasn’t M’s. He was his.
    “Well, we’re going to go play a few minutes while you two catch up.” Listening to the quiver in Denae’s voice, Ethan wanted to pull her into his arms and offer comfort. Neither she nor his mum would appreciate that.
    De carried Nate over to the couch and set him down. She quickly pulled out a few toys from her pack.
    “Thanks, De.”
    She offered a small smile in return.
    “Come on.” He wrapped his arm around his mum’s slim shoulders and urged her to go outside with him. “I’ve news to share with you.”
    “I’m getting old, Ethan.” A grimace slashed across his mum’s face as she sat in a wooden rocker. “I’ve a feeling I’m about to get older.” The smile she offered him was weak when she faced his way.
    “Mum, Nate’s mine. I can’t tell you how sorry I am over how things came about.” He straightened his spine. “But Nate is my son. And I’m damn proud to be his father.”
    She nodded. “I could tell he was a Thorn… Your father’s coloring…” She waved a hand. “Miller…he…” Her throat worked.
    “He’s not, Mum. Nate’s mine.”
    “Well.” A long sigh passed through her lips. “Everything worked out for the best then. Denae wasn’t right for Miller. I knew it. I never felt a spark between the two of them.” She shook her head. “Still, I tried to push them together. Thought they needed each other.”
    Ethan reached out and took her hand in his. He brought her hand to his mouth and placed a kiss on it. “Thank you, Mum.”
    “I wish I could do more than accept little Nate.” Sadness swamped her gaze. “Miller may need time to come around.”
    “Me too.” He chuckled. “Christ, me too.” He just hoped time would be enough.
    She leaned over and kissed his cheek. “I’m going to go inside and get to know my grandson.”
    A weight lifted as she walked by him.
    “Thanks, Mum.”He closed his