Free Flaws and All by Shana Burton Page B

church, and your friends? You know you don’t want to do that, and I know that you’re not a quitter. You’re not somebody who runs from your problems, you deal with them.”
    â€œThis is how I intend to deal with this one.”
    Garrett cupped her face in his hands. “Lawson, I love you. There’s nothing I want more than for you to be my wife, but I can’t marry you like this, or let you duck out like a coward.”
    â€œBut, Garrett—”
    â€œI said no,” he stated firmly. “Running might be a quick fix, but that’s not going to stop Namon from wondering about his biological father. You can’t just hide this from him. You’ve got to face this situation eventually.”
    Lawson snapped her fingers. “So, just like that, you want me to hand over my son to a virtual stranger?”
    â€œI’m not suggesting anything that radical. I just don’t want you to do something that’s only going to make things worse. We need to seek God on the matter and follow His lead. Obedience is better than sacrifice. He’s not going to allow this man to take your son away from you. Have faith.”
    Lawson dropped her head into her hands and gave in. “You’re right. What was I thinking?”
    He wrapped his arms around her. “You weren’t thinking, you were panicking. We’ll figure this thing out, though.”
    Lawson lifted her eyes to meet his. “ We? ”
    â€œYeah. We’re a team, right?”
    Lawson managed a faint smile. “Right.”
    Garrett sat down, and Lawson swathed herself in his embrace. “So, when are you going to break the news to him?” he asked her.
    â€œAre you talking about Mark or Namon?”
    â€œI guess both.”
    â€œI don’t know. Once the truth gets out, there is no turning back. That’s what scares me,” she admitted.
    â€œDon’t be scared. I’m behind you all the way, no matter what you decide. Namon is your son, so do what you think is best. Just remember, baby, no secret stays one for very long. Everything done in the dark eventually comes to light.”

Chapter 10
    â€œWhat kind of man just wakes up one day and decides to turn his back on his family?”
    â€” Angel King
    Â 
    â€œSo, what do you think about this Lawson situation?” asked Angel as she and Kina shopped for groceries on Kina’s “approved foods” list after leaving Lawson’s house.
    Kina sighed. “That’s a tough one. I know Lawson is just trying to look out for her son, but I don’t think keeping him from his father is the best way to do it. Parents try so hard to protect their children, but sometimes nothing you do is ever enough.”
    â€œAre we still talking about Lawson here?”
    Kina stopped. “No, I’m worried about Kenny,” she confided. “He’s been saying things I don’t think a kid his age ought to be thinking about, much less be putting into words.”
    â€œWhat did he say?”
    â€œHe said he would kill E’Bell if he ever did anything to me. It kind of scared me to hear him talk like that.”
    Angel’s eyes widened. “Kill him, as in murder?”
    â€œYeah.”
    Angel blew out a breath. “That’s serious, Kina. What did you tell him?”
    â€œI talked to him and told him that he shouldn’t say things like that, but I don’t know . . . something in his eyes made me nervous.”
    â€œWhat has E’Bell done that would make Kenny think he needed to protect you?” Angel had long suspected that E’Bell was abusive, but could never get Kina to admit it.
    â€œKenny heard us arguing the other night, and you know how kids are. He read more into it than there was. I mean, I know that E’Bell’s not perfect,” acknowledged Kina, “but he’s given up a lot for us. Who knows where football would’ve taken him if he hadn’t let