A Dad At Last by Marie Ferrarella Read Free Book Online Page B

him, but it was sort of a one-way street.”
    Relieved that her grandchild hadn’t been conceived as a result of an assault, Megan smiled at the young woman beside her.
    â€œI’m not so sure.” She’d seen the way Connor had looked at Lacy in unguarded moments. Seen the way he’d behaved toward her when Lacy had rushed out last night to claim her son. There was far more than just chivalry at work here.
    Not wanting her hopes to rise needlessly, Lacy waved away Megan’s words. “You’re just being kind.”
    No, she wasn’t, but she didn’t have time to makeLacy see reason. Her children had been arriving for the last half hour. It was time to get things moving.
    â€œWe’ll discuss this later,” Megan promised. “Right now, I want to get that son of yours and bring him downstairs to dinner.”
    â€œHe’s a little young to handle a wineglass,” Lacy quipped.
    â€œWe’ll improvise,” Megan promised, leading the way.
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    M EGAN HAD hardly touched her dinner, but sat watching the others eat theirs. Wondering if she was making a mistake by calling her children together tonight. But she had no choice. Too much time had lapsed already, time she would never get back. She’d have to make up for it by using the present and the future.
    At her elbow, her son Mitchell inclined his head, catching her attention. “You seem nervous tonight, Mother,” he noted. “Is anything wrong?”
    â€œYes, why the formal gathering?” R.J. asked. She’d been very mysterious in her invitation, letting none of them know what was going on.
    â€œIt’s an informal gathering,” Megan corrected. Setting down her fork, she gave up the pretense that she was eating. Less than two morsels had passed her lips.
    â€œIf you say so,” R.J. replied, taking a sip from his water glass. “So why are we here informally?”
    â€œYes, Mother.” Anna couldn’t stand the secrecy any longer. “What’s going on?”
    There were butterflies in her stomach, Megan realized. That hadn’t happened to her in a very long time. She’d grown accustomed to dealing with life head-on instead of wasting time with such trivial things as nerves. But this involved her family. Her children.
    Her eyes swept slowly over all seven of their faces. R.J., Anna, Mitch, Abby, Jake, Beth and Ellie. The butterflies took another pass. Other than Ellie and Connor, her children thought this was about celebrating Chase’s return. They hadn’t a clue as to why she’d called them here and what she was going to say.
    Would she wind up turning their worlds upside down? Would they bring themselves to forgive her youthful indiscretion?
    She could only hope so.
    Spreading her hands on the table, Megan took a deep breath. “I’ve gathered you all together because I wanted to make an announcement and I wanted you all to find out at the same time.” Pausing, she was tempted to look at Ellie, but she resisted.
    â€œYou’ve found a man and you’re getting married,” Jake teased.
    â€œJake!” Ellie cried. Everyone knew how faithful their mother was to the memory of their father. That she could even look at anyone else was unthinkable.
    â€œWell, why not?” he asked. “We all seem to have been pairing off pretty regularly this last year. Maybe there’s something in the water.” The corners of his mouth lifted in a teasing smile. “Maybe Mom drank it, too.” He turned to look at her. “So, how about it, Mom? Is there someone new on the horizon we should be getting ready to call Dad?”
    â€œMy money’s on Hugh,” Mitchell said. Hugh Blake had been the family’s lawyer for more years than any of them could remember. “I’ve seen the way he looks at you, Mother. Definitely smitten.”
    â€œNo, this isn’t about Hugh.” But there was someone new on the