Feisty Red (Three Chicks Brewery #2) - Stacey Kennedy Page 0,59

things settled in River Rock before returning to Fort Myers, and the request had been granted. In a surprise that he had never seen coming, he received kindness not scrutiny from the article and the press, and the truth was, with Sullivan becoming an instant-family man, the focus had shifted off him and moved on to the next hottest bachelor in baseball who they could get their claws into. But that new family of his was the reason he and Clara were bringing Mason to Sullivan’s old childhood home.

After he unlocked the front door, he let Clara and Mason enter the house first.

“I’m checking out back,” Mason yelled, running through the house.

“Be careful,” Clara called after him.

Sullivan stepped farther in, and just the smell, a little dusty but familiar, brought Sullivan back to good memories with his mother and his father before everything changed. He tried hard to think of the before, remembering the good, not the bad, as Elizabeth had taught him. He decided to stay in therapy, and when he couldn’t see her at her office in River Rock, they planned to talk over Zoom. He moved down the hallway where shattered family pictures and memories once lay. Now all of that was gone. He entered the living room with the big bay window on the front that had once displayed flowered curtains, but now lay empty. The only thing left was the old brown carpet. And even that needed to go.

Clara sidled up next to him, wrapping her arms around his waist. He gathered her in his arms as she said, “After your dad passed away, I sold all the furniture in an estate auction. I figured, even if you came back, you wouldn’t want the money, so I put it all in Mason’s education fund.”

He kissed the top of her head. “That was exactly the right thing to do with the money.”

“But I did keep some of your mother’s things. We can pull those boxes from the attic.”

“I’d like that.” He scanned the space, finding the living room much smaller than he remembered, but a little paint and new hardwood floors would help brighten up the space.

Clara tipped her head back, hitting him with those warm eyes. “Is it weird being back here?”

“No, not weird,” he said, releasing the breath he hadn’t known he was holding. “It’s just a house now.” He glanced around the dirty walls with peeling wallpaper. “But there are memories here, and many of those memories are good.” Christmas mornings. Easter dinners. So much happiness when his mother had been with them. Her smile was what he remembered the most.

“It’s good you have those memories,” Clara said, offering her captivating smile. “I have so many good memories in this house too.”

“I’m glad you do,” he said, dropping his mouth to hers.

The kiss didn’t last. Mason came barreling back into the living room. Before he took off again, Sullivan kept Clara close but said to Mason, “So, buddy, we’ve got a question for you.” When Mason stopped bouncing around the room, he set those clever eyes on Sullivan. “What would you think about moving in here, with me, after we fix it up? You can even help paint your bedroom.”

Mason’s eyes widened, a big smile filling his face. Until he frowned. “What about Auntie Amelia?”

“She’ll be okay,” Clara said, stepping out of Sullivan’s hold. “She’s getting married soon, to Luka, remember? They’re going to want their own space, and Luka will move in with her at the brewery.” When she went to Mason and knelt in front of him, his forehead wrinkled. Clara took both his hands. “This is your choice, sweetie. If you don’t like it here or it doesn’t make you happy, we can stay with Auntie Amelia and figure out the rest later.”

Sullivan would live with Amelia and Luka if he had to, all to make Mason adjust to this new life with Sullivan in it.

Mason nibbled his bottom lip then glanced at Sullivan. “You’ll live here too, with me and Mama?”

Following Clara’s lead, Sullivan joined Clara and took a knee next to Mason, cupping his shoulder. “I’d like to, if that’s okay with you.”

Mason looked between Sullivan and Clara. A couple of times. He rocked back on his heels, and his smile beamed. “That’s okay with me.”

“Good stuff,” Sullivan said, giving Mason a quick high five. But that was only half the reason Sullivan brought Mason and Clara here today. He gave Mason a little nudge on his arm.