Read Online Heroes (Hollywood Heartthrobs #1) by Kate Rivers - Free Book Online Page B

the men’s room
at the grocery store. By the time I got back to the store with Tucker, he’d
been there something like twenty minutes. He was sleeping like an angel, never
knew a thing was wrong. I of course was crying like a sissy, so Tucker starts
crying. I got the boys home and just held Alec for a while.” Nate smiled
ruefully. “I was so set on still trying to make the dinner work, but I should
have known I was way too keyed up to cook. So was Tucker actually. I couldn’t
get any of it right. Thirty minutes later, Sam’s home, I’m covered in sauce,
Tucker’s crying, Alec’s woken up from the noise and screaming. We ended up
calling for a pizza once Sam had calmed everyone down. I’ve still never been
able to tell her I left Alec at the store.”
    They
were both quiet for a long moment. Finally Nate spoke up again. “The point is,
you, well, you don’t need to apologize. When I think of what could have
happened today, of course it terrifies me. And, honestly, you’re my brother and
I love you, but if anything had happened to Alec, I could never forgive you. No
more than I could have ever forgiven myself if anything had happened the day I
left him at the store. I love those boys with everything I have. And I know you
love them too. I’m not saying that you didn’t blow it today, but, these things
happen. No one can be vigilant every second. We’re human. We just have to pray
that, in those moments when we do slip up, the worst doesn’t happen.”
    Dean
could feel tears welling up in his eyes. He said the only thing he could think
to say. “Nate, thank you.”
    “It’s
alright. They’re here safe, you’re here safe. The girl, is she okay?”
    Dean
paused. For reasons he couldn’t quite identify, the details of his interaction
with Jane weren’t something he was ready to discuss. “She, she will be. Broken
arm and a concussion, but she seems alright.” He hoped his voice sounded
offhand, “I told her I’d come by and see how she’s doing later.”
    If
Nate could hear the slight rise in Dean’s voice when he talked about Jane, he
didn’t show it. “Good. Now, you think you could sleep?”
    Dean
gave a weak smile. “Yeah. But, first, I don’t want to wake anyone, but could I
see the boys?”
    Nate
smiled. “Sure. I thought you might ask. Just be quiet about it.” Nate led the
way out of the kitchen and up the stairs. He opened the door at the end of the
hall and stepped back to let Dean look in. Sure enough, Tucker, Alec, and
Samantha were all curled up together, asleep on Nathan and Samantha’s bed. Two
little angels and one grown-up angel.
    Nate
closed the door behind him before speaking. “Goodnight, Dean. I’m sure the boys
will be all over you first thing in the morning.”
    Dean
smiled. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world. And, Nate?”
    “Yeah?”
    “Just
so you know, I feel really lucky to be part of this family. You, Samantha, the
boys, it’s just, it’s a good deal for me. You guys are… you’re great.”
    Nate
put his hand on his brother’s shoulder. “Us too, Dean. And, should the whole
suburban dad thing ever come calling for you, I’m sure you’re going to be great
too.”
    “Goodnight,
Nate.”
    Dean
left the door to the guest room open. He wanted to make sure the boys felt
absolutely invited to come pouncing in as soon as they were up. Looking out the
window, he could already see a slight tinge of pink at the eastern horizon
indicating the approach of dawn. Laying down on the guest room bed, he thought
he’d trade every good night’s sleep in his life for morning to come quickly
this time.
    ****
    Jane
didn’t feel tired after Dean’s departure, and sat up most of the rest of the
night flicking through late-night television channels, eventually settling on a
PBS Masterpiece production. She must have dozed off at some point, because she
was eventually awoken by a nurse telling her the neurologist would be in soon.
The nurse, whose name was Mather, was a