Blinding Trust (Mitchell Family, #7)(25)

“Can I have a few to keep? How about just your favorite ones?”

I had to laugh at him for wanting my old junk. I got that he wanted to be like me, but it was just surreal to be someone’s idol. Still, in that very moment, I felt blessed to have him look up to me and not his rockstar uncle. It could all change after our visit, but for now, he was my little protégé.

I scooted over next to Noah and grabbed a couple trophies out of the plastic box. The first few were from college, but as I dug down, I got to the ones from when I played little league. My first championship trophy came when I was in first grade. I located the trophy with the big baseball at the top. “This was my first little league championship win. I pitched the last three innings, and it was a big deal back then because it was our first year out of coach pitch. I struck out six players that game. I remember my dad making it to the game. He was so darn proud of me that he took the whole team out for ice cream afterwards.”

Noah had a smile on his face that changed as quick as it came. “Do you miss your dad?”

“I miss him every day. I know he’s up in heaven lookin’ down at us. Sometimes, I think he keeps us safe.”

“Do you think Krista, my mom, is watchin’ over me?”

I rubbed his head. “Buddy, I know she is.”

“Do you think she’s mad at me, too?” He looked bent out of shape over it.

“I think that she wants you to be happy and loved, which you are.” Every once in a while Noah would have these type of conversations with me. The older he got, the less they happened, but I never turned away from his questions. I knew it was important for him to always be ‘in the know’ about his mother.

“Yeah. I wish I could remember her. I only know she was pretty because I have pictures.”

“Your mother was a looker. When guys walked by her their heads would turn. She had big dimples on both of her cheeks and even when she wasn’t smilin’ you could tell they were there. Her eyes were light and beautiful and her hair had never been colored. It was naturally blonde.”

“Was she prettier than Mom?”

It was a weird question and I felt uncomfortable answering for the first time. “They are very different, but both very beautiful.”

“What if you had to choose?”

“Noah, you know that this question has no right answer. If I say Savanna then you get your feelin’s hurt. If I say your mother, all Hell would break loose if she found out. Your mother and I were more friends than lovers. We lived together and got along just fine. I wasn’t her forever and she wasn’t mine. I know you don’t remember this, but your mother was getting married. Her new husband was trying to adopt you.”

“So I wouldn’t have been a Mitchell?”

“Well, he found out he couldn’t do it without my permission and that meant your mom had to tell me about you. I learned that she was planning on introducing us right before her accident.” I hoped he was old enough to understand the things I was telling him. If Savanna came home and things were worse with Noah, I wasn’t sure what could happen.

“Would you have said yes? Would you have let him adopt me?”

“Are you kiddin’ me? You’re my only son. I loved you from the moment I first laid eyes on you. I’d never let anyone else be your father. I know you would have had a step-dad, but I wanted to be your father. I should have been there when you were born.”

He leaned over and hugged me. “I’m glad you’re my dad.”

It was a touching moment until Christian came walking out into the garage with GI Joe in a dress and my cell phone in her hand. “Okay, Mommy. Here’s Daddy.” She handed me the phone. “Mommy wants to talk to you.”

I covered the phone with my hand. “What happened to Joe?”

“He told me that he wanted to be a princess.” She was brushing the little hair he still had.

I shook my head, thinking about my daughter turning my beloved GI Joe gay. Poor Joe!

Hello.

Hey, babe. I just wanted you to know that I won’t be home until late. Ty’s making a big dinner for the family and they also wanted me stay.

How about you just stay another night and drive home in the mornin’ I don’t want you out on the roads so late.

Are you sure? I miss you and the kids.

Give Addy a kiss for me and I’ll see you tomorrow. I love you, darlin’.

I love you too. Tell the kids I love them. See you in the morning sometime.

She sounded relaxed and I didn’t even care if I had to get the kids ready for school the next morning. Maybe her time away had helped.

Noah was looking at me when I hung up the phone. “Mom says she loves you and she’ll see us all tomorrow.”

Noah smiled and I saw love in his eyes again.





Chapter 11


Savanna


I was reluctant, at first, about going to visit everyone in North Carolina. With all of the drama happening with Noah, I hated leaving. Still, I needed a break from it all. Colt, being Colt, offered to take Christian to her friend’s birthday party and Noah to his game. Addy was so excited about seeing her cousins that she totally forgot about her sister not being with us.

I think once I hit the North Carolina state line, I felt like I could breathe. When I pulled into the farm, I actually felt excited.