Free To Honor and To Protect by Debra Webb Page A

indicated children had been playing out here lately. That immediately vetoed his more lethal perimeter security options, but Drew’s bigger concern remained: how long until her son encountered one or more of these kids and their seclusion was blown?
    On top of all that, he knew Addison. She couldn’t hide in the middle of nowhere forever. Her son needed an education, friends, community and support beyond the basics she could give him. She wasn’t the sort to skimp on her values or priorities.
    A breeze wafted through the treetops, sending them swaying. He checked his watch and swiftly reset a few “tells” so he’d know if anyone came this way.
    When he’d completed the circuit, he grabbed the gear bag out of his boat and headed up the stairs to the shack once more. Reprieve over, it was time for round three. Maybe the third conversation would be the charm that convinced Addison to cooperate.
    He walked in and set down his bag just inside the door. The kitchen, which a moment before had been full of happy conversation, went silent.
    Addison forced a smile onto her face. “Right on time.”
    He nodded. “Perimeter is clear,” he said.
    “What’s a perimeter?”
    “We’ll discuss it later,” Addi replied, making a face that told Drew to shut up. “We held breakfast for you.” She stood and crossed to the stove.
    “You didn’t have to.” He wasn’t sure what to do or where to go. He didn’t want to sit down with the kid at the table, and there wasn’t much room to help Addison with breakfast.
    “We wanted to.” She turned her attention to the griddle sizzling on the woodstove. “Drew, meet Andy. Andy, say hello to my friend Drew.”
    “Hello.”
    “Hi,” Drew replied.
    The kid looked at him, eyes narrow as he assessed Drew, then twisted around in his seat to look at Addison. “You said Nico was the only friend we had out here. You said everyone else was strangers.”
    “I didn’t expect Drew to visit us out here.”
    What an understatement, he thought. “I didn’t expect it, either,” he added, bringing the kid’s attention back to him. That day in the park, he hadn’t gotten close enough, but now... “Where’s your dad?”
    “In heaven,” Andy said.
    Drew heard Addison drop something, but he kept his gaze on Andy.
    “Mom says he watches over us.”
    “That’s good. You know, I thought Craig Everett was your daddy.”
    “He was gonna be, but Mom said our plans got changed.” Andy knew how to spit out the party line, but he obviously wasn’t pleased about it. “I wanted a dad.”
    “Drew, would you like two eggs or three?” Addi asked, her tone overly bright as she changed the subject.
    “Three,” he replied, feeling happier than he should that this conversation made her uncomfortable.
    “I timed you.” Andy twisted his arm around to give Drew a good look at the watch. “Mom said to time you because I wanted to eat.”
    “That’s a great watch.” Drew admired the Captain America watch. “How long did you have to wait?”
    “Nineteen minutes.”
    Drew gave an approving hum. “Thanks for being patient.”
    Addison put a platter of fresh pancakes on the table along with a small pitcher of syrup. “Take it easy,” she said to Andy. “Everyone will want some.”
    “Okay.” He looked at Drew again. “My mom makes the best syrup.”
    “That’s a good skill to have.”
    He watched, mesmerized by the kid as he carefully smeared melting butter over his short stack of pancakes. Then, sitting up on his knees, Andy grabbed the syrup pitcher and drizzled the warm, maple-scented liquid as if he were performing for a commercial.
    “Easy,” Addi reminded him. “Eggs are nearly done.”
    Andy put the pitcher back on the table and grabbed his fork to dig in.
    “Impressive spread, considering the limitations.”
    “Mom is resourceful,” Andy said, expressing the big word slowly around his mouthful of pancakes.
    “Chew first,” Addi reminded him without looking away from the