Read Online Almost Perfect by Susan Mallery - Free Book Online Page B

mother?”
    â€œShe was here earlier. It was great. Because you yelling at me isn’t enough of a thrill.”
    He grimaced. “I didn’t tell her to come by.”
    â€œYou didn’t have to. The Hendrixes all stick together. It was that way years ago and nothing has changed. You told her about me and Tyler, and she showed up. Are you really going to stand there and say you’re shocked?”
    â€œNo,” he conceded. “It’s totally her style. For what it’s worth, she’s the one who told me to be rational and reasonable.”
    â€œIt’s not worth very much.” She rubbed her temple. “I have to admit in all the years I’ve been thinking about what it would be like to have you involved in Tyler’s life, I never thought of having to deal with your mother.”
    â€œShe’ll do anything for the people she loves.”
    â€œLike I’m getting on that list?”
    â€œYou know she’ll be there for Tyler.”
    â€œA small consolation,” Liz said. “Right now the only thing I’m grateful for is the fact that she didn’t have time to tell me what having your son is going to mean to the Hendrix family name. How we’ll have to make sure we act right all the time and do the right thing, so the legacy isn’t tarnished.” She took a step. “Come on. He’s waiting to meet you.”
    Ethan followed her in. He wanted to ask what she’d told Tyler, what his son was expecting. All day he’d imagined what he was supposed to say or do, how tomake it everything Tyler wanted the moment to be. Before he could ask, or even swallow the sudden surge of anger that followed the concern, she stopped and turned to face him.
    â€œHe’s really excited and a little scared. I told him some about you—what you do, that sort of thing. Please remember however you feel about what happened, he’s not to blame.”
    â€œI wouldn’t do that.”
    â€œHe’s my son,” she reiterated, staring into his eyes. “I’ll do anything to keep him safe.”
    A claim Ethan hadn’t been able to make until now, he thought, knowing he couldn’t dwell on the unfairness of the situation. Tyler was the important one here. The one who had to be protected.
    â€œI’m not going to hurt him,” he said gruffly.
    She sighed. “Just be careful. The ability to hurt someone is usually in direct proportion to how much that person cares about you.”
    She moved into the living room, then called up the stairs. “Tyler. Your dad is here.”
    Ethan braced himself for emotional impact. He heard slow footsteps on the stairs, then his son came into view.
    Any doubts he might have had about paternity died the second he saw Tyler. The boy was all Hendrix. From the dark hair and eyes to the shape of his head. He looked like Ethan’s younger brothers had when they’d been kids.
    An unexpected rise of emotion made it tough to talk.He was filled with longing and sadness, as well as wonder. His kid. How had this happened without him guessing Tyler was alive?
    Liz waited until the boy stepped into the living room, then moved behind him and put her hands on his shoulders.
    â€œTyler, this is your dad, Ethan Hendrix. Ethan, this is Tyler.”
    â€œHi,” Tyler said, sounding uncertain. He stared at Ethan, then glanced away, before looking back.
    â€œI was telling Tyler about how you used to ride bikes when you were younger.”
    Ethan appreciated the help, even as he resented the need for it. “I was about your age,” he said. “My friend Josh had to ride to help his legs get stronger. We had a lot of fun together. In high school, we started racing competitively.”
    Tyler stared at him, wide-eyed. “You grew up here?”
    Ethan nodded. “All my life. I come from a big family. I went away to college, but when I graduated, I moved back home.”
    â€œMom