The Return of Brody McBride Read Online Free Page B

and he understood the depth of what it meant to have Brody come home out of the blue.
    “Autumn, sweetheart, you are mine. You are my daughter. You have been since the day you were born. God just made a mistake when he put you in Roxy’s belly and not mine. But you are the daughter of my heart, and I love you every bit as much as I love your sister. I would never let anyone take you from me. I’m your mommy, now, and forever.”
    “Promise?” Autumn’s lips trembled. One tear slipped past her lashes and trailed over her softly rounded cheek.
    “I promise.” Rain took Autumn into her arms and stared over her shoulder at Owen.
    Owen got the message. He and Brody had better not make a liar out of her. Autumn had been through enough. They all had. Rain spent every day working her ass off to provide the girls with everything they needed, but moreover, she gave them both the love they needed. If Owen—or anyone, for that matter—didn’t know Autumn wasn’t her biological daughter, you’d never guess by the way she was treated, if not for the fact she and Dawn looked nearly identical. Owen had no trouble thinking of them as fraternal twins. That Rain would love Brody’s daughter by Roxy as her own was more than anyone could ask. Rain went to drastic measures to get Autumn—and keep her.
    Rain was right, God made a mistake in not putting both babies in Rain’s belly. But he’d sure as hell made up for it, giving Autumn a champion in Rain. Autumn had really lucked out when Rain stepped in, and stood firm, to save her.
    “Autumn, Dawn, Brody just got back. What you might not know is that he was injured in the military, fighting overseas.” Owen cautiously broached the subject.
    Unsure how much the girls knew, Rain was very careful about telling the girls too much about their father. She didn’t want to get their hopes up for something that might never happen.
    “Mom told us,” Dawn said.
    “Well, he looks fine, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have bad memories about the war.” Owen thought of the anti-anxiety meds and the disturbing way Brody woke up this morning. “He told me he came home to see your mom. I think that’s a good sign, girls.”
    “When will you tell him about us?” Dawn asked, waiting for either him or Rain to answer.
    “I’ll tell him tomorrow how to find your mom. He thought she moved away years ago. He’ll probably come to see your mom . . . and you,” he added.
    “So, you’ll tell him about Mom, but not us?” Dawn asked.
    “Your mom should tell your dad about the both of you. No matter what happens, your mom will take care of you. Besides, once your dad gets over the shock, I think he’ll be really happy to see both of you.”
    Owen wanted to laugh at the disbelieving looks on the girls’ faces. They weren’t too sure about Brody. Both hooked their arms around their mother. “Brody’s got his work cut out for him winning over you girls,” Owen said with a smile. “He’s never met a challenge he couldn’t beat.” He stood and went to Rain and planted a kiss on her forehead. “It’ll be fine. You’ve got until tomorrow. Tell the girls again about the Brody you loved.”
    “That’s not the man they’ll meet,” she said defensively.
    “Are you sure about that? He was always his best when he was with you. Just look at them. There’s something truly good and decent in him, and it shows in them. It showed any time anyone saw the two of you together. That’s what she wanted, a little piece of what he was with you.” Rain understood he was talking about Roxy. The girls were pretty smart, even at seven. He didn’t doubt they knew exactly who he referred to. “The only good she got from him went straight into Autumn.” He squeezed her shoulder. “Give him a chance to be their father. Who knows, maybe you can put back together a few of those shattered dreams.”
    “I’ve done just fine on my own.”
    “The operative words are on your own . Brody owes you.