The Return of Brody McBride Read Online Free Page A

longer he practiced law, the more shades of gray he uncovered. “I don’t think it will come to that.” He held up a hand to stop her from arguing. “If he wants to sue you for partial custody, as is his right, I’ll do everything I can to work with both of you to come to some sort of agreement. But I will make it clear to Brody that you’re the only parent those children know. He’s changed, Rain. We had some words this morning, and things could have gone the usual way.”
    “With him in your face, both of you ready to trade punches.”
    “Aw, you know us so well.” He teased to bring her out of her dark mood. She didn’t crack a smile. “But he didn’t. In fact, I won’t say he backed down, that will never be Brody’s way, but he let the anger pass and opened up about why he’s here.”
    “I don’t really care why he’s here. The problem is he doesn’t know about the girls. He doesn’t know about Roxy. How do I explain them to him? They’re seven. What if he doesn’t want anything to do with them? Do you have any idea how crushed they’ll be?”
    “You don’t owe him a damn explanation. He left you, pregnant with his baby. He didn’t call, never wrote, never told anyone where he was for the last eight years. He left you to clean up the mess with Roxy. He should thank you for what you did.”
    “Somehow, I don’t think he’ll thank me for keeping his girls from him.”
    “You didn’t keep them from him,” Owen said under his breath. Little footsteps pounded on the stairs. “You spent three years trying to find him. It was luck I found out he was in the military. Even then, they were already three and the old man was dead. Brody wouldn’t return my phone calls, just sent that damn note. It’s his own damn fault,” Owen bit out. The two little nymphs came flying into the room with bright smiles on their faces.
    “Uncle Owen,” they shouted in unison and hugged and kissed him on the cheek. His heart always felt lighter when he saw them.
    “Morning, girls. You guys hungry? Your mom made pancakes.”
    Dawn, ever the inquisitive one, looked at Rain for a long moment. “What’s going on? Uncle Owen doesn’t usually have breakfast with us during the week.”
    Rain brushed a hand over her daughter’s golden hair. “Uncle Owen came to tell us some news.”
    Rain turned her sad eyes on him. He wasn’t sure how all of this would turn out; he could only imagine how Rain felt.
    “What is it?” Autumn asked, pouring syrup on her pancakes.
    It always struck Owen how much the two girls looked alike, even though they had different mothers. It was sometimes creepy to see two sets of identical sky blue eyes turn to him, the same as his only brother, Brody’s.
    “Well, on my way to town today, I stopped by the old cabin.” He stalled, knowing there was no way to prepare the girls. “My brother came home last night.”
    Autumn looked up at her sister, and by silent agreement Dawn spoke for the two of them. “Does he want to meet us?”
    “I’m not sure, honey.”
    Dawn turned to her mother. “You didn’t tell him about us, yet.”
    “I haven’t spoken to him, sweetheart. Uncle Owen just told me he’s back.”
    “But you’ll tell him. You’ll go and talk to him,” Dawn said with a hint of demand in her voice.
    Rain bit her lip, pushed away from the counter, and came to her daughters. She put a hand on each of them. “I will talk to him. Everything will be fine.”
    “Does this mean Roxy is coming back, too?” Autumn asked, looking down at her lap, pancakes forgotten.
    Rain bent beside her and cupped her face and made Autumn meet her gaze. “I promise you, Roxy will never take you away from me again.” When Autumn didn’t look convinced, Rain asked, “Don’t you want to meet your dad?”
    Autumn shrugged and tears filled her eyes. “I guess.”
    “What’s really bothering you?” Rain coaxed.
    “Will he take me away because I’m not really yours?”
    Rain glanced at Owen