I Saw Her Standing There by Marie Force Read Free Book Online

loved to tell outsiders they’d been raised in a barn. His brother Landon liked to add that their upbringing explained their bad behavior. Except none of them were all that badly behaved. Their parents wouldn’t have stood for it then, and they certainly wouldn’t stand for it now that all ten of their children were adults.
    Even Max, the youngest of them, was now officially an adult and had the first Abbott grandchild on the way. Months after hearing that Max and his girlfriend, Chloe, were expecting a baby together, Will was still trying to wrap his mind around the fact that the youngest of them would be the first to become a parent.
    They’d all expected Hannah to be the first parent as she’d married Caleb right after college. But they’d yet to have children when Caleb died six years later in Iraq. The rest of them were late bloomers in the marriage and family department. Since he’d met Cameron, Will had begun to think more about the next steps for them. As eager as he was to spend forever with her, they weren’t in any rush. Still, it was on his mind.
    Will entered the mudroom at his parents’ house and was greeted by their yellow labs, George the third and Ringo the third, named for members of his father’s favorite band of all time.
    His parents were exactly where he expected them to be at that hour—at the kitchen table, drinking coffee and reading the morning paper the way they had every morning for as long as Will could remember.
    He bent to kiss his mother and stole a croissant out of a basket on the table.
    “To what do we owe this unexpected honor?” Molly Abbott asked as she turned her cheek up to receive his kiss.
    “What? A guy can’t come by to see his parents without a good reason?”
    Lincoln looked over the half glasses that were perched on the end of his nose. “We haven’t seen much of you lately.”
    “I’ve been busy.”
    “Busy,” Molly said with a chuckle. “Is that what you call it these days?”
    “Happy,” Will said. “Is that better?”
    “That’s lovely, and no one deserves it more.”
    “I don’t mean to neglect you guys though.”
    “You haven’t,” Molly said. “We’re teasing you.”
    “If you’re happy,” Lincoln added, “we’re happy.”
    That was the simple truth his parents had always lived by, and it was how he hoped to raise his own kids someday.
    Molly got up to refill her mug and poured one for Will, putting the cream and sugar on the table in front of him. “So what brings you by, and where’s Cam this morning?”
    “Thanks.” Will stirred cream into his coffee. “She’s sleeping in, but she’s why I’m here. I was thinking about taking her over to the lake for a couple of nights. She’s been working nonstop for weeks and could use a break.”
    “Sounds like a great idea,” Lincoln said after a short pause. “I’ll get you the key.” He jumped up from the table and left the room, the dogs in hot pursuit. Where his father went, the dogs went, too.
    Molly twisted her gray braid around her finger as she eyed him. “I’ve noticed Cam seems sort of worn out lately. I wondered if something else might be afoot.”
    “Such as?”
    Molly shrugged but sent him a devilish grin. “You should ask Max about how tired Chloe has been.”
    Will felt like he’d been electrocuted as he stared at his mother. “Cameron isn’t pregnant, Mom.”
    “And you’re sure of that?”
    “Of course I am.” Of course he was. Despite his certainty, however, a bolt of panic shot through him.
    “Then a few nights away ought to perk her right up.”
    He downed the last of his coffee, surprised he could get it past the huge lump in his throat. “That’s the idea.”
    Lincoln returned and held out the key to Will. “Have a nice time.”
    “We will. Thanks.” He stood and put his mug in the sink. “I’d better get home and see if I can talk Cameron into a getaway.”
    “Good luck, son,” Molly said.
    “Are you taking the boys?” Lincoln asked of