Read Online Brody by Vanessa Devereaux - Free Book Online Page A

hear that. You know, it’s about time you settled down.”
    “I
couldn’t burden anyone with my health issues.”
    “That’s
where you’re wrong. If a woman wants to take you and those issues on, then
she’s the right woman for you.”
    Brody
smiled. He guessed that was true.
    “I
gotta go because it’s my card night at the Grille, but give me a call to let me
know how those tests go.”
    “I
will, and I love you, Dad.”
    “I
love you too, son.”
    Brody
ended the call. Mark had called him to say all three of them were going to the
clinic together to take the DNA tests. They also wanted to be together and with
Brody when they got the results.
    ****
    “It
will be good for you,” said Maddie. “You can watch me try to dodge my mother
and ex-fiancé, and you won’t even think about tomorrow.”
    She
knew Brody was scared about what the following day would bring—test results, and
learning which man was his biological father. She couldn’t begin to imagine
what was going through his head right now.
    “Are
you sure you want me to impose?”
    “You’re
not imposing. I’ve been invited to dinner, and you’re my companion for the
evening. My mother is a great cook, by the way.”
    “Then
that’s convinced me.”
    He
put on his coat and they headed outside.
    “My
mom used to make meatloaf to die for,” said Brody. He got into the passenger
seat and put the belt across his body.
    “Meatloaf,
I love meatloaf. Don’t suppose you have her recipe, do you?”
    “My
father probably has it in her file box.”
    “I
love it with lots of gravy and fluffy mashed potatoes,” said Maddie.
    “Stop
that. You hear my stomach rumbling?” asked Brody.
    “I’m
guessing roast chicken’s on the menu tonight. She knows that’s Mark’s
favorite.”
    “So
she likes Mark?” asked Brody.
    “She
likes Mark’s social standing in the community. He’s a descendant from one of
the original homesteaders in the area.”
    “That’s
important to some.”
    “I
was such a fool. I let her choose my future husband. I just realized that,”
said Maddie. She hit the steering wheel with the palm of her hand.
    Brody
put his hand on her arm. “Mothers have a lot of influence on us.”
    “Your
mom sounded like she was fun, so free-loving with the commune thing.”
    Brody
laughed. “I guess she was one of a kind.”
    “Can
I read her diary? I mean, cross my heart I won’t tell anyone else about what’s
inside it.”
    “You
really want to? I haven’t even looked at all the entries.”
    “I’d
love to read all about her life and what it was like back before I was born.”
    “Can
I think about it?”
    “Sure
you can.”
    Maddie
pulled up in front of her parents’ home. She saw Mark’s BMW parked near the
garage.
    “I
just don’t want to talk to him,” she said.
    “You
have to get it over with sometime. Better now than later,” said Brody.
    He
was right. They got out of the car, and Maddie led the way to the front door.
She rang the bell, and soon her father stood there smiling.
    “Maddie,
honey, come in. And who’s this with you?”
    “This
is Brody Williams. Brody, my father, Mitch.”
    “Hi
Mitch, pleased to meet you,” said Brody.
    “Same
here. Come on in. Your mother is just about ready to serve the meal,” said her
dad.
    Maddie
took Brody’s coat and hung it and hers on the peg by the door. She heard her
mother and Mark talking, and they both went suddenly silent when she and Brody
entered the room.
    Mark
looked at her and then rushed over and tried to kiss her on the cheek, but she
pulled away. “Mark, Mom, this is Brody Williams. Brody, my mother, Rachel, and
my ex -fiancé Mark.”
    She
hoped he heard the emphasis she’d placed on the prefix “ex.”
    “Pleased
to meet you,” said Brody.
    “Let’s
take all the food into the dining room and get eating, because I’m starving,”
said her dad.
    The
guy always knew when and how to break up a tense situation.
    Brody
held the seat for Maddie and then