A Daddy for Jacoby - By Christyne Butler Page 0,69
in?”
Chapter Fifteen
Jacoby hoped his dad wasn’t mad.
He didn’t look mad. He looked worried.
Just like Gina said.
Jacoby nodded and watched his dad climb inside, hitting his head on the ceiling as he sat, bow-legged, the tree house too short for his long legs.
“Are you okay?” his dad asked. “You’re not hurt?”
Jacoby looked down at his bear and shook his head.
“You know, you’ve got a lot of people worried about you.”
He nodded.
“Your uncle Gage, aunt Racy and Landon, Anna’s step-daddy, and I have been looking all over town for you.”
Jacoby nodded again. Gina had already told him all this, but he figured his dad was going to say it, too. He knew it was wrong to run away, but he didn’t know what else to do.
He hadn’t planned to go that far, just hide until he left town. If his dad still didn’t want him after that, and Jacoby figured he didn’t, he’d find someplace else to live.
“I was worried about you.”
The soft way his dad spoke made him look up.
Did he mean it? If he did, why did he want him to go live with his grandparents?
“When I realized you’d left Aunt Racy’s house I…I got really scared. Scared I’d never see you again.”
“It’s not fun to be scared.”
Justin shook his head. “No, not fun at all.”
“Is that why you want me to go live with them? Grandpa Richard and Grandma Liz? So you won’t have to be scared about me anymore?”
Justin shifted closer. “I think I’ll always be a little scared when you’re out of my sight, even when you’re all grown up.”
Wow. “Why?”
“Because you’re my son.” Justin ruffled Jacoby’s hair. “I love you and I want you to stay.”
“You do?”
“Very much, but I also need to do what’s best for you. I know it’s been a little rough for you being here with me. Those nightmares you’ve been having must be scary, too.”
Jacoby nodded. “I don’t like ’em.”
“Maybe they’d go away if you talked to someone about them.”
“Like you?”
Justin nodded. “Sure, or maybe we could ask your doctor if he knows anyone who might help you feel better.”
“Okay, but I don’t want to live with Grandpa Richard and Grandma Liz. Their house is cool, but please don’t make me leave,” Jacoby pleaded. “I mean, I like ’em, but I love my school. I’ll do better, I swear. And I love my baseball team. I even caught a fly ball for the first time this week and I love my room now. It’s not scary at all. And Daddy, I love you. Most of all.”
His dad scrubbed a hand across his mouth, then spread his arms wide. “Come here, son.”
Jacoby launched himself at his father. His dad squeezed him tight and it felt good. Felt safe. Like nothing and no one would ever hurt him again.
He always thought crying was for sissies, but his dad had said it was okay to cry if he wanted to. He’d thought he’d used all his tears when he learned about his mom, but he couldn’t stop his eyes from getting wet.
He buried his face in his father’s shirt. “I know my mom didn’t want me and then I thought you didn’t want me anymore either. Please say I can stay. I’ll be good, I promise. I think Gina is super and I’ll even play nice with the new baby.”
Justin stilled.
His unhinged panic at finding Jacoby safe had abated, but with one single word the emotion was back, pounding at his temple as he tried to absorb what Jacoby said.
Baby? Did he hear correctly? Had Jacoby said Gina was pregnant?
He leaned back to look at his son. “A baby?”
Jacoby nodded. “And I don’t care if it’s a baby brother or sister. I’ll share all my toys. Except Clem.” He hugged his bear tight. “He’s mine.”
Justin still couldn’t wrap his mind around the idea.
Gina pregnant? It was impossible.
Okay, it wasn’t impossible. It’d only been a little over two weeks since their night together. Justin’s mind flew back to the first time they’d made love and twice more when they’d reached for each other during the night. He was sure he’d take the time—each time—to protect them both.
Pregnant?
“You still want me, don’tcha, Dad?”
The uncertainty in his son’s voice pulled Justin from the memory. “Of course I want you. I love you, Jacoby.” He hugged him close, rubbing his back until the boy relaxed against him. “And I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you with me.”
Whatever it takes.
Justin realized he needed a lot of help, most