Free Lone Star Valentine (McCabe Multiples) by CATHY GILLEN THACKER

top—and a heap of gaily wrapped presents. Bunches of balloons added to the festive atmosphere.
    A banner proclaimed Welcome Home, Lucas!
    Lucas’s eyes lit with interest, while Viviana and her two daughters, ages one and three, watched nearby from the arms of their nannies. His complete PR team and Bode’s sports-management agent, as well as his attorneys, were also there—this time dressed as if attending a children’s birthday party.
    Turning on the charm, Bode knelt down in front of Lucas once again. “I know I missed your first four birthdays, champ,” he said. “I’m going to make up for that, starting now.”
    He rose and, seeming to understand that Lucas would not yet take his hand, motioned for the little boy to follow him. “Want to check out the presents?”
    Lucas turned to his mother for permission. She nodded. “Go ahead, honey.” It would have been cruel to deny him this, when he had already been deprived of so much where his father was concerned.
    Lucas handed Lily his blanket and his stuffed horse for safekeeping. And then cautiously made his way over to the bounty.
    The next several hours were a blur of gifts, photos, cakes and song. It seemed every cake had to be lit, “Happy Birthday to You” sung again and again—to Lucas’s delight. His two little half sisters eventually joined in the joyful melee.
    Lucas’s normal bedtime came and went. And still he played happily while Lily and Gannon watched the festivities from the sidelines and photo after photo was taken. Some of which were uploaded to Bode’s Twitter feed and transmitted, along with a number of carefully crafted seemingly spontaneous messages, from the star quarterback himself.
    Eventually, Bode turned to Lily and Gannon.
    She knew that was her cue.
    Lily rose and, heart breaking, went over to her son. “Lucas?”
    He smiled up at her, a train engine clutched in one hand, a caboose in the other. “It’s time for Gannon and I to go,” Lily said in a calm, cheerful voice. “You want to say goodbye to us?”
    Lucas stood. He turned to Gannon. “Bye, Mr. Montgummy.”
    “Goodbye, Lucas.” Gannon knelt down to offer Lucas his hand.
    Lucas grinned and shook it enthusiastically.
    Lily knelt down, too. For a second, getting a sense of what it would have been like, if she, Gannon and Lucas were a family.
    Pushing her wistfulness aside, she smiled with encouragement at her son.
    Lucas smiled back. As he had done many times before, he wreathed his arms about her neck. Hugged her fiercely, then let her go, still smiling with the inner contentment of a relaxed and secure child.
    Vowing that she, too, would put on an award-worthy performance if it killed her, Lily gave her son one last impossibly jovial hug. “I’ll see you tomorrow around lunchtime, okay?”
    Lucas grinned. “’Kay, Mommy.”
    He went back to playing happily with Bode’s three-year-old daughter, Caryn.
    Gannon rose, and helped Lily to her feet, squeezing her hand imperceptibly and infusing her with warmth and calm.
    It’s all going to be okay
, Lily reassured herself firmly, more glad than ever Gannon had suggested he come with her. Not just as their attorney, but as a family friend. She felt stronger just standing beside him.
    Bode walked Lily and Gannon to the door.
    Gannon looked to Lily, seeming to recognize that she needed to give a final word of advice. “He needs his stuffed horse and blanket at bedtime,” she told her ex, a catch in her voice. “And he likes a story read to him, too.”
    Bode nodded.
    “And although he’s had a lot of cake, he hasn’t really had any dinner, so...”
    Bode cut her off, his impatience with her lack of faith in his parenting coming through loud and clear. “I got it, Lily. Whatever he needs. Plus—” he paused to cast another fond look at the son they shared “—we’ve got a nanny of his own standing by to help out as needed, too. I promise you, he’ll be fine.”
    Much as Lily hated to admit it, it seemed her