Free The Blackstone Legacy by Rochelle Alers Page B

having a Spider-Man party tonight.”
    â€œThey may be having a party, but were you invited?”
    â€œYes, Daddy. They invited everybody from school. Even Miss Kelly.”
    Ryan studied his son’s deeply tanned face and smiled. Sean had talked nonstop about what he did with Miss Kelly and the other kids at school during the time Ryan was in Richmond. He said he could read a lot of words, could count up to one hundred and match shapes and colors.
    â€œGo get your sleeping bag while I call Miss Millie.”
    Sean jumped off the bench and raced out of the bedroom. Ryan picked up the telephone and dialed the number to the twins’ house. Millicent Smith answered the call after the first ring.
    â€œHi, Millie. This is Ryan. I’m calling about the Spider-Man sleepover at your place tonight.”
    â€œDoc, I really need to have my head examined for agreeing to this,” Millie drawled.
    He smiled. “So, it’s on?”
    â€œYeah. Drop Sean off at the dining hall and we’ll bring him back with us.”
    â€œWhat time do you want me to pick him up in the morning?”
    â€œDon’t bother to pick him up. The kids don’t have school tomorrow, and if the hot weather holds we’ll probably hang out at the pool most of the day.”
    â€œYou know if he gets to be too much for you just bring him back to Sheldon.”
    â€œDr. Blackstone, you have the most well-behaved child on the farm. If my boys were half as good as Sean I’d consider myself blessed.”
    Ryan wanted to tell Millie that she was blessed. She had two bright, healthy sons. A parent couldn’t ask for more than that. “They’re boys, Millie.”
    â€œThat’s what Jim says. Thanks for letting Sean come.”
    â€œNo problem, Millie.”
    â€œBye, Doc.”
    Ryan rang off, then picked up the jacket to his suit, slipping his arms into the sleeves. He walked out of his bedroom and into Sean’s across the hall. The boy was busy putting out changes of clothes on his bed. He watched as Sean took out socks, briefs, T-shirts and shorts.
    Sean glanced up at his father. “Is that enough?”
    Nodding, Ryan smiled. “Yes.”
    Sean picked up a backpack and put the clothes inside. After zipping the colorful bag, he hoisted it over one shoulder, then picked up a small duffel bag containing his sleeping bag.
    â€œAre you ready, Champ?”
    The little boy puffed out his narrow chest. “Yes, Daddy.”
    Ryan had taught Sean independence early. He had learned to select the clothes he would wear for thenext day, laying them out the night before. He had to keep his room clean by picking up his toys and books. He knew he had to brush his teeth twice a day, wash his hands before and after meals, and say his prayers before he went to sleep.
    Ryan cupped the back of his son’s head, leading him down the staircase and out of the house. “I’m going to drop you off at Grandpa’s.”
    Sean looked up at Ryan. “You’re not going to eat with us?”
    â€œNo, Sean. I’m going out to eat.”
    â€œWho you eating with, Daddy?”
    â€œMiss Kelly.” He’d never lied to his son, and he did not want to begin now.
    â€œShe’s pretty, Daddy. She’s pretty like a princess.”
    â€œYou’re right about that, son.”
    â€œYou like her, Daddy?”
    â€œYes, Sean, I like her.”
    â€œI like her, too. Isn’t it good we both like her?”
    â€œYes it is.”
    Ryan wanted to tell Sean that what he felt for Kelly went beyond a simple liking. What he wanted was to see her—every day. He wanted to hold her close and feel her feminine heat, inhale her feminine fragrance. He wanted that and so much more.
    He led Sean up the steps of the porch to the house where he’d grown up. The inner door stood open, as it did every day until Sheldon closed it to retire for the night. He held the screen door open for