help.”
“Very well then. After you.” Davis gestured toward the car.
As they strolled to the vehicle, Kerry laid a hand on Duncan’s shoulder. “Look—I know this might seem weird, but I think it’ll be fun this weekend. You might have fun if you give it a chance.”
Duncan grabbed hold of her forearm and stopped her in her tracks. “Be straight with me,” he demanded.
Kerry gave him a questioning look. “Okay. Shoot?”
“This guy a Sugar Daddy? I was only kidding, you know.”
Davis coughed. “I’ll wait in the car.”
Kerry waited for Davis to enter the vehicle and close the door before speaking. The tough guy posture her son held didn’t belie the flash of apprehension she saw in his eyes. Her boys always acted tough, but they had sensitive hearts. She hadn’t been the only one hurt by Isaac’s disappearance from their lives. Change was always difficult. She understood Duncan’s fears—he worried Grayson might become a part of their lives. With any change, especially of the relationship variety, the possibility of hurt was always present.
Her heart went out to her oldest son. She’d always wished their father had stepped up to be more involved in the lives of his kids. Being both the mom and dad to two growing boys had always presented its challenges for Kerry. “Grayson isn’t a Sugar Daddy. Do you really think I’d do something like that?” She wasn’t sure what she was doing, but her son didn’t need to know that. All she knew was she needed a change—to experience something different—which is what Grayson offered. When she’d told Heather about Grayson’s proposal, she’d told her to go for it. Two days at a friend’s place—nothing more, nothing less.
Duncan thought a moment before shaking his head.
She laid a comforting hand on his shoulder. “He is a friend and he invited us to spend a weekend with him. I didn’t think it would hurt to shake us out of our regular routine for a couple of days.”
“There isn’t anything wrong with our routine,” Duncan insisted.
Kerry ducked her head to look in his eyes. “I didn’t say there was, but why can’t we do something different for a change?” Staying with a near stranger for a weekend with the intention of seeing how they all got along, with the offer to move her family there permanently, was about as different as they could get. Oh, God. What am I doing?
A mother-son stare down ensued. An intelligent teenager, Duncan knew there was more to the situation than met the eye. His eyes narrowed, yet his expression softened. “You deserve better than Isaac or...” His voice trailed off and he swallowed hard. “Or Dad. You said you didn’t need anyone but us. I’ll take care of you, Mom.”
Tears sprang to Kerry’s eyes. Well. She hadn’t realized her eldest son had even thought of such a thing. It showed how much children were affected by their circumstances, and how parents weren’t fully aware of how their kids viewed the world. “Duncan, you are my son. I take care of you, not the other way around.”
“Yeah, but I’m older now,” he said, his voice hoarse. Straightening up to his full height of five-foot seven, he looked down into her eyes. “I can help out more.”
“So, why don’t you?” she teased, nudging him with her elbow. “Clean your room when I tell you to.”
“Mom,” Duncan groaned.
“Listen—I don’t date to find someone to take care of me.” So, what are you doing with Grayson? Kerry ignored the unspoken question in her mind, and poked Duncan in the shoulder. “I date to try to find someone to share my life with. There’s a difference.”
“You already share your life with us,” he stated.
“And I’ll always love you.” Kerry squished him in a hug, then held him away at arm’s length. “How about—I stop dating altogether if you stop seeing Kate?”
Duncan’s eyes widened with surprise. “Oh, I get it. Never mind.”
“Good,” she quipped. She cocked her head
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