“So, what are you doing outside Montgomery Ink this morning?” Too pushy? God, she didn’t know how to deal with kids. The fact that this child looked to be the same age as the one she’d lost would have been…well she wasn’t going to think about that. She couldn’t think about that.
The boy sighed. “I came to see my dad.”
Came? As if he hadn’t come with his parents? Was he a runaway? Oh damn. This was so far out of her scope. She needed Austin and maybe the police.
“Oh?”
“Yeah.” He looked over his shoulder then the other way as if he were hiding. And damn it, he was hiding. “I don’t know if he’ll like me being here though, you know?”
No, she didn’t know, but she wasn’t about to leave this kid out on the stoop to find out. “Is…is he in the shop?” That had to be the only answer considering where the boy hid. An odd prickling sensation went up her spine as the boy thought over his answer.
No. Surely not. There had to be a customer in there. Or maybe even Sloane. Right?
“He’s in there. I think. That’s what the paper said.”
She’d ask about the paper later. Right then, he was at least talking. She didn’t want to spook him.
“Do you want to go in?” she asked, her throat closing.
He met her gaze and she swallowed hard. Blue eyes. She knew those eyes but she had to be wrong. A lot of people had blue eyes and dark hair. Tons of them in fact. It was just a coincidence.
“I guess I want to,” the boy mumbled. “It’s why I’m here.”
Sierra nodded, her mind going blank. “What…what’s your name?”
The boy licked his lips then ran a hand through his hair on a shrug. “Leif. Leif Montgomery.”
Montgomery.
Oh shit. She was going to be sick.
Austin had a son. That had to be the answer. Holy fuck. He wouldn’t have kept a secret from her, not something like this, she knew that. Meaning he either hadn’t known about his kid or she was wrong about this whole thing.
Yesterday.
Oh, God. He knew now.
He knew and he hadn’t told her.
At least not that night. That had to be why he’d left the odd message. Why he’d closed the shop the day before. Dear God. What was she supposed to do? How as she supposed to deal with this turn of events? What was Austin going to do?
He hadn’t talked to her, but honestly, if she was acting this out of sorts, he had to be doing the same. He’d called her right away if she was correct on the timeline, meaning he’d tried. That had to be something.
She took a deep breath. Freaking out over something she wasn’t a hundred percent sure about wasn’t helping anything. She’d find out what was really happening and then take the next step. Hadn’t she just thought that she needed to be by Austin’s side no matter what? This was a true test of what she felt for him, and running away or being angry at something out of her control wouldn’t help anyone.
It clearly wouldn’t help the boy who stared at her with sadness in his eyes.
Questions like how he’d gotten there, where was his mother, who was his mother filled her brain, but she set them to the side. First she needed confirmation. Then she’d deal with the outcome.
“Oh. Well.” What the hell could she say? “You’re in front of Montgomery Ink, so you must be in the right place.” Unless it was all a mistake. A very large one.
The boy, Leif, nodded. “I’m in the right place. That’s what the paper said. My dad works here so now I’m here to see him.”
Sierra swallowed hard. “Okay then. Let’s go inside and see him. It’s a bit cold out this morning to sit on the stoop for too much longer, don’t you think?” It was true, but as a good as an excuse as any.
Leif shrugged. “I’ve been out here and in the alley all night, so it’s actually warmer. But sure, let’s go in. I’ve been trying to figure out what to say, but I told you, so that’s good. Right?”
“Right.” All night? An alley in the city of Denver? Leif was lucky to be there right then. Denver wasn’t one of the most dangerous cities, but it was still a metro area and Leif was still a young boy.
She held back a shudder at the thought of what could have happened to him. She’d ask the proper questions and get down to the heart of everything once they got inside. She just had to see Austin and everything would be fine.
Or everything would shatter around them but she wouldn’t know which until she stepped inside.
She stood on shaky legs, her cooling lattes in her hand. “Okay then. Let’s go inside.”
Leif nodded then stood beside her. His hands fisted at his side before he looked at her and the lattes. He scrambled to the door and opened it for her. Well, he had manners, that had to mean something.
Right?
Oh, God.
She stepped in first since he held the door open for her and looked around the shop, desperate to see Austin. Only he wasn’t in the front. Maya was in the corner, working on something on paper while Sloane had just walked out from behind the counter.
He froze at the sight of her…or maybe it was Leif behind her.
His eyes widened and Maya mumbled something under her breath.
It seemed Sierra’s guesses had been correct.
At least that’s what it looked like.
“Sierra,” Austin said from behind Sloane as he walked up from the back.
Her arms shook yet she couldn’t move. Sloane quickly came up to her and took the coffee from her hands, setting them down on the counter. She gave him a grateful smile. Well, at least she thought she did. From the look on his face, it had probably come out as more of a grimace.
“Austin,” she said after she cleared her throat. “Good morning.”
He frowned then looked behind her, his face draining of color. He saw it, too. He couldn’t miss it. What on earth were they going to do about this? What could be done about this?
“Who…who is your friend?” he asked, his voice level.
She turned around then did what was instinctual. She held out her hand and Leif took it quickly, surprising them both from the look on his face. He leaned closer, as if she could help him.
Oh, buddy, if that were only true.
She met Austin’s gaze. The only people in the building other than her and Leif, were Austin, Maya and Sloane—they were his family, both by blood and by choice. From the look on the latter two’s faces, they had an inkling of what was going on.
She didn’t let that hurt her—or she tried not to as a little slice went across her heart. They must have been there when he’d found out or something. After all, he’d tried to call. Once. No, she wasn’t going to be petty. She would help. There was no other choice.
Sierra looked down at Leif who had his gaze on Austin, his eyes wide, his lips pressed together tightly in a thin line.
“This is Leif,” she said softly, her eyes on Austin. “He says he’s here to see his Dad.”
Tears prickled at the corner of her eyes, but she didn’t cry. Not then. There would be time to wrestle her emotions later.
“Leif,” Austin grunted out, seeming to come out of whatever trance that he’d been in. “Leif.”
Sierra squeezed Leif’s shoulder. Time for her to buck up and be strong. “I think we all need to sit down and talk about what is going on here. I don’t know anything at all, but I think I can guess. What do you say?”
Leif pressed into her harder, his whole body shaking.
She quickly knelt so she was at eye level. “Tell me what’s happening, honey. I can’t help if you don’t help me.” She’d said it to Leif, but it was for Austin as well.
Leif met her gaze and nodded, speaking to her alone. “I ran away from the group home. They were mean there. I don’t want to live there anymore. I know Mom is…dead…but that doesn’t mean I have to live there. Right? I mean, my dad is right there.” He didn’t look at Austin, but his words were a punch to the gut.
“You ran away?” Austin asked, sud
denly closer than he’d been before.
Sierra looked over only to find Austin kneeling beside the two of them.
Thank God.
Leif looked over hesitantly. “Yeah. So?”
Austin shook his head. They would have to deal with this. Deal with all of it. “You’re Maggie’s son?”
Maggie. He’d mentioned that name before when they’d talked about ex’s. He hadn’t said they’d been too serious. Apparently they’d been serious enough.
“You shouldn’t have run away, Leif,” Austin said softly.
Leif’s eyes filled and Sierra held back a curse, glaring at Austin.
“Wait. I mean people would be looking for you. They’re probably worried. Not that I didn’t want to meet you, because I do kid. Damn it.” His eyes widened. “I guess I probably shouldn’t curse.”
“No, you shouldn’t,” Sierra mumbled, and held back a sigh as Austin ran a hand down her back.
That was something at least.
“So…you’re Leif,” Austin said, sounding like he had no idea what to say.
That made two of them.
Leif turned toward Austin and Sierra held back a breath. “I don’t want to live there anymore. Mom said you were my Dad because I had your name. If you don’t want me. Fine. But I don’t want to go back. I’ll live in the alley like I did last night.”
Tears filled Sierra’s eyes and she looked into Austin’s who had the same look on his face as she was sure she had.
“Alley?” he mouthed over Leif’s head.
She shook her head. They’d deal with that later.
Maya walked toward them, the phone in her hand. “We need to call the lawyer and then his social worker. They need to know he’s safe.”
“I’m not going with them!” Leif wrapped his arms around Sierra and hung on tight.
She gasped, not ready for his weight, but Austin steadied her. She wrapped her arms around his slight frame, soothing him as his body racked with sobs.
“Oh honey,” she murmured. Austin ran his hand down her back, but didn’t touch Leif. She didn’t blame him. She didn’t even know the full story.
Austin came closer, kissing her temple before whispering, “I’ll tell you everything soon. Trust me?”
She pulled away to meet his gaze and said the only thing she could say. “Yes. Always.”
Austin’s shoulders relaxed marginally. “Don’t leave me, okay?” he whispered again.
“Never,” she whispered then squeezed Leif tight. “Okay, honey. We need to call them like your Aunt Maya said.” Leif froze then looked over his shoulder.
Fuck. She hadn’t meant to say that, it just seemed natural. Well, hell, she was going about this all wrong but there wasn’t a guidebook for when your boyfriend’s secret love child came out of nowhere.
At least she didn’t think so.
“Then we’ll figure it all out,” she continued as if she hadn’t made the mistake.
“Okay,” Leif mumbled and Sierra let out a breath.
Austin couldn’t keep his eyes off Leif and Sierra felt for him. She had no idea what he was thinking or planning, but she knew she wouldn’t leave his side.
She couldn’t.
Not when she loved him.
Leif squeezed tighter and her heart lurched.
This had come out of nowhere but she wasn’t going to run away. Not again. She was done with running.
Chapter 18
Two weeks.
Two weeks and everything in Austin’s life had changed. He had a little boy under his roof, a woman he loved but hadn’t confessed the latter to, and a whirlwind of emotions that he didn’t think he’d ever untangle.
As soon as Sierra took charge the morning Leif had shown up, things had been rolling. Leif wouldn’t let her go, but that hadn’t stopped her. Austin had stayed by her side, trying to get ahold of his own thoughts and emotions but failing miserably. He was always the one in control, the one who knew what to do, but the last two crises in his life had shown him he hadn’t been as steady as he thought.
That scared him more than he thought it would.
Way fucking more.
Maya had called the lawyer, but Sierra had been the one to talk with him. His woman hadn’t even heard the whole story from Austin’s lips but took control when he wasn’t sure what to do.
He didn’t know what he’d have done without her.
While Leif had clung to Sierra’s side, refusing to let her go, she talked to the lawyer about what to do then handed Austin the phone when things turned to his choices.
The phone call had changed his life.
“Austin, I can push through and find a solution that will allow Leif to live with you now if that’s what the both of you want. But you have to tell me what you want.”
Austin had looked into Leif’s and Sierra’s eyes and realized there was only one thing to say.
“Push it though. He’s not going back there if we can help it.” Maggie had put Austin’s name on the birth certificate, meaning that Austin had the legal right to his son.
Leif had let out a breath while Sierra hiccupped a sob. Austin felt the sort of numbness that came over him when he had too much going on within himself. He had no idea if he’d made the best choice or even the choice that would be good for both of them, but he made the only choice he could.
Things moved quickly and slowly at the same time after that call. Sierra had to go back to the store, only to pick up her things. She’d left Becky and Jasinda alone at Eden, and that alone told Austin how much she’d do for him. Sure, she’d left them alone before, but they were about to open and she was on call. Eden was her rock, her baby, and she’d left it to take care of him and his son.
When the results from the DNA test came back positive four days after Leif had moved in, Austin’s world rocked once more.
This was his son.
His kid.
It wouldn’t be a foster care or adoption but a son returning to his father. And yet he didn’t know him.
His son.
Holy fuck, that still rocked him, and it had been two weeks of him saying it over and over to himself for him to actually understand what had happened.
The group home hadn’t been bad to Leif, despite the worst-case scenarios that had been running through Austin’s head. They’d just been, like most places that were state funded, understaffed and over capacity. Leif hadn’t been abused, truly neglected, starved, or beaten.
But he hadn’t been home either.
The kid refused to talk about his mom more than to say she was gone, and Austin understood that. Considering he was going through the pain of the possibility of losing his father, Austin didn’t begrudge the kid a bit.
He also had no idea what to do with a ten-year-old boy. His family and Sierra had stepped up to the plate and helped him though. He’d forced his mother and father to stay home and keep healthy while the rest of the family worked on setting up the house. Leif wouldn’t leave without Sierra, so Austin stayed home with the two of them, clearing out a guest room and letting Leif pick what he wanted. At the time, Austin wasn’t sure if this would be temporary or permanent, but it didn’t matter. Leif needed a home, and if looks said anything, Austin had been almost certain Leif was his son. The DNA results were a formality, confirmation for the lawyers and courts. He would find a way to make this work—for all of them. Sierra had been on her way to changing how he was thinking anyway.
His sister Meghan had pitched in first. She had two kids of her own and immediately brought them over. Leif was four years older than Cliff and even older than Sasha, but the kids kept him distracted enough that Sierra and Austin could breathe. It was awkward as hell at first, but Cliff had brought over his toys, which might have been too young for Leif, but the kids played together and got to know one another.
It didn’t surprise him that his sister hadn’t thought twice about introducing her children to their cousin.
Cousin.
Shit.
Mir
anda, Wes, and Storm had gone shopping for things a ten-year-old boy would need. Leif had a few things in storage, but until the judge ruled that Leif could stay permanently, he needed clothes and other things. Alex was off on assignment and couldn’t be there to help. Plus, Alex had his own issues, so Austin didn’t blame him for not dropping everything. Maya was running the shop and dealing with that other part of Austin’s life. Griffin had been the one to help with the lawyer and legal issues.
Sierra coordinated it all while Austin stood by her and tried to help where he could—even if it was just agreeing or putting his two cents in.
Austin didn’t know what he’d do without his family.
Without Sierra.
She hadn’t said a word about what had happened in his past, merely nodded, rolled her shoulders back, and dug in. They had discussed the probability that Leif was his son, but Sierra just shook her head.
“Wait until you’re ready to tell me the whole story. If you’re not ready and just trying to make me feel better, then it’s not helping anyone.”
“It’s not much of a story,” he said softly. He’d kissed her hard then relaxed.
She slept over each night, practically moving in. They hadn’t made love, but they’d spooned, holding each other deep into the night.
Sierra worked during the day and helped him at night.
Austin worked at getting Leif in school, dealt with lawyers during the day, and was learning how to be a father at night.
Taking care of the details and practicalities had taken over their lives, and now that those were somewhat under control, the emotional punch was taking its toll.
Now here he was, a father, a single one at that. Yes, Sierra was his in every way, but they hadn’t had the discussion they’d needed to. That would have to come soon because he wasn’t sure he could put any more of his own issues on her shoulders. He already felt like a heel for doing as much as he had so far.
Sierra was at work when Austin came home to find Leif sitting on the porch, staring out at the mountain range, his body language closed off. While Austin had been worrying out his own life, Sierra’s life, and that of his family, Leif was always in the forefront.
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