Just Like That (The Kings)

Russell King was dead.

Dead dead.

As in gone forever.

The words tumbled around in my head as I tried to quantify the emotions that rolled through me. It was the end of a frightening era for the Kings. The man who’d ruled with an iron fist was officially out of our lives.

The man whose approval I had sought for so long was never coming back.

My eyes stayed locked on the road as Abel’s truck barreled toward home. So much had changed. Dad’s death would send ripples through our family and community, but in the end, nothing would ever truly be the same.

My thoughts wandered to Teddy, then to Hazel.

A sick part of me was elated that Dad would never have the chance to manipulate her and use Teddy for his own twisted advantages.

With Dad gone, I could keep them safe.

My throat was tight, but the truth was burning a hole inside me. “Teddy isn’t my kid,” I blurted.

Abel glanced in my direction but kept his focus on the road. “No shit?” He shook his head. “Damn.”

The truth was worse, and he deserved to know all of it. “Turns out we, uh, have another brother.”

Abel’s gaze was hard. “Are you serious? Dad and the mom?” He muttered something under his breath, but whatever it was, it didn’t matter. “So what are you going to do about that?”

My eyes were burning and I dragged my fingers across them. “I’m not sure what there is to do.”

He sent a withering glance my way. “You and I both know that’s a crock of shit. You know exactly what to do.”

I rummaged around the pit in my stomach, but every scenario that didn’t end with the three of us together felt wrong.

“You need to talk to her,” he continued. “Dad fucked us all up—probably you more than most because he groomed you to be just like him. Now . . . we can all step up and care for that little boy as our own, but you’ve been more of a dad to him these last several weeks than he’s ever had. Now if you don’t want⁠—”

“I do,” I bit out. “I want both of them.” I exhaled, trying not to let my emotions run away from me. “You have no idea how badly I wanted those results to confirm what I was already feeling.”

The corner of Abel’s mouth lifted. “And what was that?”

“I’m his dad.”

I’m his dad.

Words I hadn’t let myself think or feel opened the floodgate of emotions. I focused on breathing and clenched my jaw to keep the hot tears at bay.

I’m his dad.

Abel put his truck into park, and I realized we were already back at my place. “Then you need to step up and own it. Be that guy.” Abel sighed. “No one is going to care what some paternity test says. When it comes to taking care of each other, does any of it really matter?”

I shook my head.

“Good.” Abel gestured toward my house. “Now get the hell out of here.”

I offered my hand to Abel. He glanced down at it and placed his palm in mine before pulling me into an awkward, but fierce, side hug.

He thumped two hard pats on my shoulder.

“Make things right with your woman and the kid.” Abel was quiet in his serious kind of way. “I’ll let everyone else know what’s going on. Then you need to decide—are you ready to finally take over? Because it will be you who needs to step up if we’ve got a chance of surviving this.”

“Me?” I frowned in his direction.

“It was always you, kid.” Abel smiled. “You might not be the oldest, but we’ve always looked to you. That much isn’t going to change.”

I swallowed hard and started to get out.

Abel’s voice stopped me. “You know, you’re nothing like him. Don’t go convincing yourself otherwise,” he said.

I pulled Abel in for another hug, finally letting go.

When we separated, Abel swiped under his nose and cleared his throat. “Now get out of my truck.”

I chuckled and climbed out, waving to him as he left.

The sun was climbing above the horizon, but the air was calm. Songbirds chirped a happy tune, and I looked around my property.

We could make this a happy home.

I’d never once considered making changes to my place for the sake of a family, but she’d changed everything.

They both had.

I couldn’t wait another second to talk to her. Using my fingers, I pried open the skoolie door. I climbed the steps and startled Hazel, who was making herself a cup of coffee from the machine on the counter.

Coffee splashed over the rim and she clutched her chest. “Jesus!”

I pointed at the door. “I told you to lock that.”

She shot me an annoyed look. “It was locked. I couldn’t sleep so I went for an early walk.” She lifted a piece of paper between her fingers. “Got your note. You okay?”

I rushed forward, then took her coffee from her and placed it on the counter. I scooped her into my arms, breathing her in to settle my nerves. “No. Not really. He’s gone—dead.”

She clung to me, offering support even when she had no idea what I needed.

But all I needed was her.

I grunted to clear my throat. “I don’t like you sleeping out here.”

Hazel pulled back and rolled her eyes at me.

“I’m serious,” I said. “I don’t like sleeping away from you, and I don’t want to do it again. So, if you feel like glamping or whatever this is, let me know and I’ll sleep out here too.”

“You’re ridiculous,” she shot back, but there was humor dancing at her lips.

“I know.” I pressed my forehead to hers.

Hazel sighed. “I don’t have the answers, JP. I know I can be wild and reckless, and half the time I don’t even know what the hell I’m doing, but I⁠—”

I shut her up with a fierce kiss. I poured every ounce of myself into it as I moved my tongue over hers.

Hazel moaned as I deepened it before leaning back. “Hazel?”

“Mmm?”

“Stop talking.” She smiled and held on to me. “I know exactly who you are, and I love you for it.”

Her gaze shot to mine, questions written all over her pretty face.

“Yeah.” I nodded and laughed. “Fucking nuts over you. It’s a real problem for a man like me.”

Her eyes bounced between mine as her lips rolled in.

I stroked the strawberry blond hair away from her face. “I love you, Hazel Adams. I love Teddy too. I know that things are complicated and are going to take a bit of time to figure out, but I know we can do it. I want him.” I brushed my thumb across her cheekbone. “You too. Forever.”

“It’s not complicated!” Teddy’s voice burst from the back of the skoolie as he came barreling out of his bed and threw himself into us.

Hazel laughed and my arm reached around to include him in our embrace.

“Hey, kid.” I lowered to one knee. “You weren’t supposed to hear all that.”

He raised his chin and his eyes sparkled. “Then you shouldn’t have talked so loud. I did hear it. You love her and you love me and we love you back.”

I glanced up at Hazel, who was crying. She lifted a shoulder and nodded with a smile. “We talked about it. We love you a lot.”

Emotion tightened my throat. I brushed my hand down Teddy’s arm. “Can I take you somewhere? There’s something I’d like to talk with you about.”

We pulled up to Sullivan Farms, and Teddy grinned as Three-Legged Ed ran circles around my car.

“Don’t hit him!” Hazel shouted.

“I won’t.” I put the car in park. “That dog has about twelve lives, but I’m not trying to take one from him.”

My sister Sylvie walked down the porch with little Gus gripping her shoulder. Her hand shielded the sun from her eyes. “Morning! This is a surprise.”

Hazel and Teddy walked with me as I went to her. “Sorry for the intrusion. I was hoping to talk with Teddy up that way.” I gestured toward the small family cemetery where Mom had been laid to rest on their land.

Sylvie offered a soft, understanding smile. “Of course.”

“Did you talk to Abel?” I asked.

Her lips pressed together. “Just a few minutes ago.”

My hand found her free shoulder and I squeezed. “I’m sorry, Sylvie.”

She sighed. “That’s kind of you to say. I’m just wrestling with the guilty feelings of not feeling all that bad about it, you know?”

I swallowed hard. “I know what you mean, but we’ll be okay.”

She smiled and looked down at Teddy, who was letting Ed lick his fingers. “Yeah. We will, won’t we?” She turned her attention to Hazel. “Can I get you a cup of coffee? Tea? I was just making an English muffin with some of Duke’s homemade blueberry jam, if you’d like to sit for a while.”

Hazel looked at me and smiled. “I’d love that.”

I nodded as my sister and Hazel walked up to the porch. “Come on, Teddy. There’s someone I’d like you to meet.”

A frown dusted across his face, and I wrapped my arm around his shoulder. Together we walked past the large barns and the blueberry fields. Most had been picked over, and the farm itself was in the throes of preparation for winter. We climbed a small hill and wove through trees until a clearing came into view. Headstones dotted the small meadow, some very old and one very new. New grass had grown over her plot and someone—Sylvie, I’m sure—had placed a small bouquet of wildflowers at the base.

Concern laced his sweet face, but he slipped a trusting hand into mine.

We walked to the new headstone.

“Maryann King,” Teddy read aloud. “Who is that?”

I crouched to pick a few weeds around the headstone. “This is my mother.”

Teddy’s eyes went wide.

“She died when I was about your age, but she was missing for a very long time. Now she gets to be here among the trees and the flowers.” I pushed through the ache in my chest. “That way, if any of us ever needs to talk to her, we know where to find her.”

Tears glistened at the corner of his eyes, and his voice was small. “Do you talk to her?”

My lips twisted. “No, I haven’t been very good about that. Sometimes it hurts a lot to talk about her or think about her too much.”

He nodded, because he understood it all too well.

“But I’d like to get better at that and I think coming here is a good start.”

Teddy’s hand gripped mine and gave me the bravery to continue. “I thought maybe if you think she’d like it here, we could lay your mom’s ashes to rest here too. That way you can always come talk with her.”

Tears streamed down his face, and it took everything in me to not fall apart.

“Does that mean I get to stay?” He sobbed and I pulled him into me. I hadn’t realized how much Teddy was holding inside. All he wanted was to be loved and accepted.

He didn’t realize that loving him was the easy part.

“Of course. Yes. You are always welcome here. You belong with us.” I rubbed his back and knew I needed every ounce of strength to get through the next part.

I cleared my throat. “But there’s something else.” He looked at me with such hope and love that it nearly killed me. “We got the results back.” My chin wobbled. “Turns out . . . I’m not actually your dad, but your half brother.”

Teddy’s intensity grew as he let my words fall over him.

“We have the same dad, which I guess is why we are so alike sometimes. But . . . if it’s okay with you, I would still like to take care of you. I want you and Hazel to live with me and for you to live here in Michigan. What do you think about that?”

Teddy wiped away a tear, leaving behind a streak of dirt. “Can I still call you Dad?”

My heart fractured as I pulled him into my chest again. “You can call me whatever you want to.”

“Then okay.” He looked around the meadow. “I do think Mom would like it here too.”

I stood and held out my hand to him. “Me too. I love you, kid.”

“I love you too, Dad.”

“Okay.” I squeezed his hand and sucked in a lungful of cool September air. “Let’s go find Hazel and tell her the good news.”