A Dad of His Own Read Online Free

“Thanks. Always the gentleman.”
    Ethan gave her a playful shrug and settled beside her. Back in the meeting room, he’d longed to get to know her better, and now he couldn’t help but grin, recalling he hadn’t even learned her name until the tire incident. Thank you, Lord, for that flat.
    Lexie’s intense look warned him he’d been quiet too long.
    “I was just thinking. Earlier I’d said I would like to know more about…the group.” Good cover. “And here we are.”
    “The group?” She gave a shrug. “Everyone has a sick child, as you know, but I don’t know them all. I’m good friends with Kelsey. She was the moderator. Her daughter has a brain tumor, but Lucy’s doing well.” She quieted a moment. “And Ava…you remember her. Her son Brandon has Hodgkins lymphoma.”
    “Ava?”
    Lexie grinned. “She’s the one with all the questions about the foundation donor. She’s curious to a fault.”
    He chuckled at her description. “Curiosity is okay.” His own had reached fever pitch.
    “Tell me about your son.”
    Her face brightened. “Cooper.” She ran her finger around the rim of the water bottle. “He’s my joy. Cooper’s seven. A second-grader. He’ll be eight soon. He was diagnosed with leukemia a year ago.”
    Leukemia. The word hit him hard. Cancer. He managed to maintain his composure. “That’s very hard on you.”
    “It’s harder on him.” She lowered her head. “He’s a great kid. You should meet him.”
    A jolt of panic shot through him. He’d like to meet herson. He’d like to get to know her, but cancer? Again? “You sound like a proud mom.”
    “I am. He’s a brave boy. Never complains about the treatment, and he’s very optimistic.”
    The urge to flee came over him, soon usurped by shame. A little boy without a dad. Or maybe he had a dad who spent time with him. “I’m sure his dad’s proud of him, too.”
    Her face darkened, and Ethan realized he’d made a grave error.
    “Cooper doesn’t see his father.” Her jaw tightened, and she looked away. “Mrs. Carlson.”
    Lexie’s arm jerked as Ethan looked up at the mechanic.
    “I found a nail embedded in the tire. The repair will take about twenty minutes.”
    She glanced at him. “Ethan, is this okay with you?”
    He nodded, his mind scrambling to find a new topic to discuss. His job—anything to keep him from thinking about the little boy with cancer and no dad.
    “I should call the sitter. She might worry.” Lexie dug into her bag and pulled out her cell. “I’ll just step outside.”
    She rose and strode to the door while Ethan watched her through the window, disappointed at his sense of relief. Somewhere in his crazy mind, he’d been attracted to this woman with the amazing eyes and captivating manner, but his dream had been shot down by one word. Cancer. Laine’s face filled Ethan’s mind. They’d had such hopes and dreams. She’d looked radiant when her CA 125 test came back with good results, and she’d been so brave each time the report was bad news. He’d lived with heartbreak for over two years. He couldn’t watch it happen again. Not to a little boy.

Chapter Two
    “C an I go to school today, Mom?” Dressed in his jungle-print pajamas, Cooper leaned his head against his mother’s arm, his thick hair only a memory. His chemo treatments had taken their toll.
    “Not today, Coop.” Lexie swallowed her dismay and ran her hand across his bald scalp. She would be overjoyed when he would greet her once again in the morning with his usual bed-tousled hair. “Maybe in a couple more weeks. We have to talk with Dr. Herman first.” She managed a bright smile even though she ached for him. “Brush your teeth and get dressed while I make you breakfast.”
    “Cinnamon buns?”
    An honest chuckle lightened her mood. Her son had the same propensity that she did for those gooey, fattening treats. “Let’s eat healthy today. How about scrambled eggs?”
    He curled up his nose.