Homerun Daddy, page 16
part #1 of Timberwood Cove Series
A roar of cheers greeted my statement, and I felt my father sling and arm around my shoulder.
“Time to lead your pack on a run, son.” I could have sworn I saw a tear in the corner of his eye.
He stepped to the side again, and I shifted. This time, though, I was somehow larger than I’d been before, standing taller and more commanding. The new alpha.
I stretched and then tipped my head to the moon. Howling, I signaled the next tradition, the ceremonial shifting, which only happened on special occasions, such as a claiming ceremony. When we normally shifted as a pack we didn’t stand on ceremony, but this was one of those times.
Traditionally, as the lead alpha I would always shift first. Then usually came the elders. However, as my father had just stepped down from pack alpha, he had the right to shift next, though in future he would shift with the rest of the elders. Once my father was standing to my side and slightly back on the platform, the elders took their wolf form. Finally, the rest of the pack shifted.
I howled at the moon once more, and this time the rest of my pack responded in kind. Our howls reverberated through the night. Then we ran.
I took the lead, running straight into the tree line. The pack followed behind in the same order as they’d shifted, but once we were well into the woods, we fanned out and went our own way, breaking off into smaller groups.
As I ran, my mind went to Bryce. I couldn’t wait to have him running beside me one day, and I was determined to make it happen. I would get him back, and we’d have everything we ever wanted. Finally, everything would be alright.
18
Bryce
Today was going to be one of the hardest days of my life, ranking right up there with the night Lorelei died. Yesterday had been difficult enough, knowing I very well may have ruined the best thing that had ever happened to me by pushing Jaxon away.
But it was nothing compared to the idea of facing what was ahead of me without Jaxon by my side, supporting me through the adoption hearing. It was set for ten o’clock this morning.
I was up at the crack of dawn trying to prepare myself for it. Physically, I felt better than I had in a long time, every day that passed improving my condition. I knew now it was because of the shifter DNA coursing through my blood. From the baby I carried inside me. Jaxon’s baby.
I tried to draw on that physical strength, but it wasn’t helping me with my emotional state. I was a complete mess. Liam’s future was at stake, and I didn’t know what to expect. I had to hope Mrs. Pinder was still on my side. She didn’t know the details of what had happened with Jaxon. As far as she knew, we were still a couple. Would it be enough, though?
By the time Liam woke and came into the kitchen where I was preparing breakfast, I was a jumble of nerves.
“Morning, big man,” I said, giving him a cheerful smile. “You ready for this?”
He looked at me, nerves shining in his own eyes. He shrugged wordlessly and sat down at the table. I drew in a deep breath and brought him his eggs and pancakes, then sat down beside him.
“It’s going to be okay, Liam. Don’t worry.”
But I wasn’t sure my assurances were encouragement enough. He’d been nearly as miserable as I was after I’d sent Jaxon away. Liam was upset with me, I knew that much, but I also knew he was worried about how the adoption hearing would go without Jaxon there with us.
When he finally spoke, his words nearly crushed me. “Can we go visit Mom before going to the courthouse?”
My heart thudded painfully. I thought what I was going through was bad, but I couldn’t imagine how scary all of this must be for him. All the uncertainty. He’d been through so much already, and the possibility that he might not be able to stay with me weighed heavy on both of us.
“Of course,” I replied, pulling myself together. I had to be strong for his sake.
Thirty minutes later, we were in the cemetery, Lori’s gravestone before us. Liam had insisted we stop at the store for fresh flowers. He clutched them tightly as he bent down in front of the grave.
“Hey, Mom,” he said softly, his voice wavering. Hearing him so forlorn, I almost cried. No child should have to endure what Liam had.
Determination settled in my body. I would do everything in my power to make sure I got to keep him. He needed me. I needed him. We were family, and he was as much a part of me now as the baby growing inside me. A son in every way that mattered.
“Today’s a pretty big day,” he continued, brushing some of the dirt and grass from the headstone before replacing the old flowers with the vibrant wash of color from the summer bouquet he’d picked out. “I need you with us. Bryce needs you with us. Please help us…”
His voice cracked, and he collapsed onto the ground, clutching the grass. Sobs tore through his little body. I’d never seen him break down like this. He’d stayed strong even through her funeral, but his desperation was clear right now. Everything he knew could be ripped out from under him.
I clenched my fists. Surely the judge would see we belonged together, that family meant everything. I was the last family Liam had. The judge had to recognize that remaining in my care was the best thing for him.
I wished Jaxon was with us. He’d provide the strength and comfort Liam and I both needed if he were standing beside us now. But I’d ruined that. In my anger and pain I’d pushed him away. Was it too late? Was there any hope of fixing things between us?
I shoved aside the thoughts and my own self-pity. I didn’t have time to think about that today. I had to focus entirely on Liam and seeing him through this. I had to be his rock in Jaxon’s stead.
“Please, Mom,” Liam said, still weeping. “Please make sure I don’t have to go to foster care.”
My heart breaking, I knelt down beside him. I found it surprisingly easy, not even needing my cane. If only everything else about today were that effortless…
“Come here, Liam,” I said, pulling him to me.
He turned in my arms, burying his face in my shirt, clinging to me as he continued to cry.
“I’m so scared, Uncle Bryce,” he whispered tremulously.
“Shh.” I rubbed his back. “It’s going to be okay.”
“Why did you make Jaxon leave?” he asked, lifting his tear-stained face to look at me. There was no anger there this time. Just confusion. “He made everything so much easier for us. So much better. We need him, Uncle Bryce.”
We did indeed, but right now I didn’t know where we stood. I had to face this alone.
“I know, Liam.” I sighed heavily.
“Then take him back. Please!” His eyes glittered, entreaty shining through his tears. “Think about how much he’s helped us. We could be a family, just like he said. You and me and Jaxon and the baby.”
Liam rested his hand on my stomach, and I could have sworn I felt a little flutter deep in my belly. Every day I was feeling more and more connected to this life inside me. He or she was part of me. Part of Jaxon—the man I loved. Because despite what happened, and all the craziness I was still trying to wrap my head around, I hadn’t stopped loving him. I wasn’t sure that was even possible.
Fated mates…
Jaxon’s words echoed in my head. He’d said it so many times, and to some degree I was beginning to understand what he might have meant. I felt a bond to him like I’d never felt with anyone. Something that defied explanation, much like the bond I’d had with my twin. But different. Being together just felt right. Like it was meant to be. Fate, I supposed.
I swallowed, not sure what to say to Liam. I couldn’t promise him anything because I didn’t know what Jaxon was thinking, but I knew I wanted the four of us to be a family just like Liam did.
“You have to take him back,” he repeated. “The baby deserves to have his father in his life. I never—” His voice hitched. “I never had that.”
He was right, but hearing him say that was devastating. He was so astute for an eight-year-old.
I had the opportunity to make things right. To give Liam the family unit he’d never had but always wanted. I couldn’t lose him. I wouldn’t.
But that was easier said than done. At the end of the day, our fate would be decided by a judge. All I could do was fight my hardest and hope the judge did the right thing.
“Everything is going to be okay,” I promised Liam, hoping with everything I had that I wasn’t telling him a lie.
My stomach fluttered again, and I wondered if the baby could sense my unease. I pressed my palms to my belly, thinking about the child I was carrying. A shifter.
Maybe everything would be okay. Maybe all I needed was time to get used to the idea of shifters. Despite the horror I’d felt when Jaxon had revealed his true nature to me, I knew it didn’t change who he really was. A warm, kind, loving man who loved me as much as I loved him. So what if he was a wolf shifter? My baby was too. Our baby.
Maybe being with a shifter wasn’t nearly as bad as I’d built it up to be. How could it, when I loved this baby completely?
I vowed then and there that after the hearing, I’d talk to Jaxon. See if we could work through this.
But first… First I had to get through the hearing and hopefully come out on the other side with Liam by my side.
I sat at the table at the front of the courtroom, wringing my hands together. Judge Roberts seemed nice enough, though he was stern.
Okay, here we go.
Mrs. Pinder had just been called to the stand to testify. I reached over and squeezed Liam’s hand in reassurance. I could only hope she was still on my side like she’d seemed to be the last few times we’d talked. Of course, Jaxon had been there then. He seemed to charm her.
I glanced around the courtroom for the dozenth time, hoping against hope I’d see Jaxon. Did he remember today was the hearing? I couldn’t imagine he would forget. Why wasn’t he here then? Had my argument with Jaxon really done that much damage that he’d forsake Liam? I had to hope not. Fighting to push those thoughts aside, I focused on Mrs. Pinder and the judge.
“I’ve spent months following Mr. Baldwin’s case, Your Honor,” she said, sitting up tall with her hands folded primly in her lap. Her face was just as stern as the judge’s. “I have to say, I’ve had plenty of concerns throughout that time. Mr. Baldwin’s physical disability keeps him from continuing in his chosen field of employment, which of course has contributed to his financial hardship.”
Frustration bubbled up in my chest, but I tried to keep my face blank. I couldn’t let Liam see how this turn of events was upsetting me. I’d started to believe she was on our side, that she would recommend the adoption, but here she was listing out all the reasons why I might not be able to care for Liam. My heart pounded as she continued.
“Mr. Baldwin’s situation is dire, and I worry he won’t be able to provide for Liam the way the boy needs.”
She continued on for a few minutes, saying much of the same, but never really coming to a definite conclusion. She didn’t say outright she would advise against the adoption, but she didn’t paint a great picture, either.
Despite my resolve to make sure I walked out of here with Liam as my official son, I started to panic. My pulse pounded, racing through my veins, the rush of blood filling my ears.
Breathe. Just breathe.
My attention was drawn back to the judge when he spoke directly to me. “Mr. Baldwin, I’d like to meet with Liam privately in my chambers.”
I nodded, swallowing against the tightness in my throat. “Yes, of course,” I practically croaked.
Liam looked at me, worry marring his features, and I squeezed his hand again. “It will be okay. Just answer the judge’s questions honestly. He’ll see the truth of the matter.”
I wasn’t so sure after Mrs. Pinder’s testimony, but I had to hold on to any shred of hope I could. Mrs. Pinder hadn’t mentioned Jaxon at all. Like she wasn’t even taking him into account as far as my ability to raise Liam went. It frustrated me to no end, especially after she’d told Jaxon our relationship practically guaranteed her stamp of approval.
Liam stood and followed the judge out of the courtroom, and I was left to sit and worry. A few minutes later, I heard the doors at the entrance of the courtroom swing open. I was too lost in my thoughts for it to properly register, until I felt a tingling along my spine, a visceral awareness that penetrated right down to the bone. I shifted in my seat and glanced behind me, and nearly fell off my chair.
Jaxon stood there, just inside the mahogany double doors, his gaze fixed on me. He was here! Despite everything that happened, he was here to offer his support. His green eyes blazed with fiery determination, and my pulse skipped a beat in response.
How could I have doubted he’d be here? I knew he wouldn’t let Liam down. And Jaxon wasn’t alone. Behind him stood the man he’d introduced as his father—Greer. I recognized Linc, and some of the other men I’d seen in Greer’s office. All standing together, a wall of unity. They were all here for Liam—and by association, me.
That knowledge rocketed through me, and I didn’t know what to make of it.
Before I could get up or Jaxon could come my way, the judge reappeared from his chambers, Liam following behind. His eyes lit up when he saw Jaxon and his…family? Pack mates? I didn’t really know how all that worked, but I was certain they were all shifters.
Liam rejoined me and took his seat, and we watched together as Jaxon and the rest filed into seats a few rows back from where we were sitting. I turned back around as the judge took his seat at his bench, but I still felt Jaxon’s gaze on me.
“He’s here, Uncle Bryce,” Liam whispered, a smile on his face. “Everything’s going to be okay now.”
I hoped so too, but I didn’t have the complete assurance Liam did. There was so much at play here. I was just about to ask him how the conversation with the judge had gone, but then Judge Roberts was speaking again, calling the courtroom to order.
“Is there anyone else who would like to speak on Mr. Baldwin’s behalf for the adoption of Liam Baldwin?”
“Yes, Your Honor,” a voice said from behind me.
I whipped around to find Linc standing up, giving the judge a solemn nod. My heart pounded furiously. What was Linc going to say?
Linc took the stand.
“Please state your name and tell the court how you know Mr. Baldwin,” the judge said.
Linc nodded. “My name is Linc Travers. My son plays baseball with Liam. I’ve had the privilege of being their coach, alongside my friend Jaxon Parsons. Over the past few months, I’ve been witness to Bryce’s interactions with Liam. I have to say, I’ve never seen a man who would go to such lengths to care for a child. He’s had his share of obstacles for sure, but it’s obvious he would do anything for Liam, and that nothing will stop Bryce from giving Liam the very best life he possibly can. Liam lacks for nothing from Bryce. He may struggle financially and physically, but he makes sure Liam has everything he needs. His love, most of all, which I think counts for more than anything.”
He went on to provide a few examples at the judge’s request, and my heart was full of gratitude. Linc believed everything he was saying, that much was clear. Even if Jaxon had put Linc up to this, every word was utterly sincere.
When he finished with his statement, Jaxon’s father stood next, saying he’d like to speak as well. I almost couldn’t believe it. When Lorelei was still alive it had been just the three of us, standing together against the world. After her death, Liam and I tried to remain positive, but there were times we felt alone. To feel this kind of unwavering support not only took me by surprise, it gave me hope.
Jaxon had said the pack was like family. That they all took care of each other. I was seeing that now. It made me see the pack in a whole new light.
Greer took the stand and introduced himself, then dove right in, his eyes full of compassion as he spoke. “As a single father, I know how hard it can be to bring up a child on your own.”
I glanced back at Jaxon. His gaze locked with mine, and his lips curved in a small smile. I offered a tiny smile in return, then directed my attention back to Greer.
“It takes a community to raise a child, no matter if you’re a single parent or not, and I’m here to tell you Bryce has the backing of all my family and friends. Anything he might ever need, all he has to do is ask and we’d be there in an instant.”
I thought again of how tightly knit this group of shifters must be. What would it be like to be a part of that? To know it wouldn’t just be Jaxon helping me raise Liam and the baby—if he was willing to move past my hurtful words—but the entire pack as well.
Suddenly, all my fears about shifters seemed entirely unfounded. These were good people—the best I’d ever known. I could see where Jaxon got his desire to protect and take care of others from. His dad was a shining example of love and encouragement. There was a subtle fierceness to him that proved he would go to any length for those he loved. Something else he shared with Jaxon.
Greer finished his speech, and I felt more optimistic than I had in days.
Judge Roberts thanked him and scanned the room. “Is there anyone else who would like to speak on Mr. Baldwin’s behalf?”
I could feel the air shift as someone immediately stood a few rows back. I knew without looking that it was Jaxon. I heard his footsteps on the polished wood floor, and I risked a peek at him as he passed by me, heading to the stand.
I felt a flurry of emotions inside me. Love and hope. But also a touch of anxiety. Whatever he had to say could very well sway the judge one way or the other. I closed my eyes and breathed deeply, drawing up every bit of strength I had in me to not fall apart right there.
Mine and Liam’s entire future hinged on this moment. It was in Jaxon’s hands now.
I just prayed it would be enough.
19
