Free Rachel Laine (The Women of Merryton Book 3) by Jennifer Peel Page B

blue
jeans and my favorite leather boots. It was nothing special. I looked back up
at a smiling Andrew. “Thanks, and don’t worry, I won’t take it the wrong way.”
    “Did
I say that?” He laughed.
    “You
didn’t have to.”
    He
got up, still smiling, and walked toward the stairs. As I watched him for a
second, I couldn’t help but notice that he looked good, too. Once I was alone,
I went back to making cornbread. That was, until I heard my name shouted from upstairs.
    “Rachel
Laine.” Andrew called. He was standing at the half wall in the loft that looked
over the great room.
    I
gazed up to him. “What?”
    He
pointed all around him. “You and I need to talk about this room up here.
There’s a little too much orange and blue, if you get my drift.”
    “Go
Stallions,” I replied.
    He
didn’t respond to me. Instead, he turned to Drew. “What do you say to adding
some Bears stuff up here?”
    “I
don’t think purple and black would match.”
    I
smirked at Andrew’s faltering face.
    “But
maybe we could get all new stuff!” Drew called out.
    Andrew
looked beyond smug.
    “I
don’t think so, bud,” I yelled up.
    “Awww
man.”
    Andrew
smiled at me.
    I
rolled my eyes at him.
    I
went back to my cornbread, only to hear Andrew telling Drew not to worry, he
would talk to me about it. I didn’t even bother with a rebuttal because I
wasn’t giving in. I liked his room the way it was, but it was fun to listen to their
conversation. Drew was meticulous when it came to Lego building, so he was the
one giving the directions. I loved that he was so smart and confident, even in
the presence of adults. The topics of conversation varied. Sports was involved,
then they talked about the kids in his class, and even about little Miss Emmy,
who was two years older than him, but Drew had always been drawn to her. But then
the conversation took a more serious twist.
    “My
mom says I shouldn’t tell anyone we’re friends yet, but I told her you would
think it’s all right.”
    “Did
you listen to your mom?” I could hear the worry in his voice.
    I
stopped what I was doing so I could hear clearly.
    “Yes,”
Drew answered.
    “Drew,
I know you may not understand this, and someday I will explain everything, but
it’s important for you and your mom that you don’t tell anyone right now. Can
you do that?”
    “I
guess so.” Drew sounded really bummed.
    “Drew,
I promise you someday that everyone will know we are the best of friends. Okay?”
    “Would
you come to my school?”
    “Every
day if you want me to.”
    “Promise?”
Drew asked.
    I
held my breath. I was afraid of him making promises to my son. Our son.
    “Promise.”
    I
let out a long, slow breath. I was hoping we would be telling Drew the truth
tonight. I hated keeping the truth from him and asking him to keep this all a secret;
it didn’t feel right to me anymore. I wondered what Andrew’s reasoning was for
waiting now, but I would have to ask him after Drew went to bed.
    “It’s
time for dinner,” I yelled up after an hour or so.
    They
were both happy as they approached the table. Their similarity in physical
appearance struck me again. There was no denying they were father and son, but
I thought, for the record, we should probably do one of those paternity tests. That
way there would never be any doubt. It was one more thing to talk to Andrew
about. It was strange for me to have to think about talking to another adult in
regards to Drew. Sure, I had sought advice from my parents, but ultimately each
decision about his life had been solely mine to make.
    Dinner
was yummy, if I did say so myself, but do you know what was even better?
    “Why
don’t you take it easy, Rachel, while Drew and I clean up?” Andrew offered when
I started to clear off the table.
    I
stood there, motionless for a moment. So maybe having an extra adult around
wasn’t such a bad thing. Drew didn’t even complain. I tried not to be jealous
about that part. Surely, I