Judy Christenberry - Inherited - Instant Family

“I’m going. Mike’s going to deputize me, so my presence will be official.”

“There’s no need.”

“How big is Ellis Ashton?”

“Why?”

“I just wondered if he’s scary.”

“He’s not quite as tall as you, but he’s big enough around to make two of you.”

“Hmm. I guess he could take me in a fight.”

“Probably not. He’s slow…and dumb.”

Brad gave a half smile. “So, maybe I could take him?”

“Maybe. But it’s neither here nor there. There will be no fighting!”

Brad shrugged his shoulders. “I was just thinking.”

“Well, don’t think. Just tell Mike no.”

“Why don’t you want me to go with you?”

“I don’t know you! You’re more of a stranger to me than my stepfather!” And what she did know—how good-looking he was—was a danger.

“Sarah, I’m going along to protect you.”

“I can take care of myself.”

“You want to compare muscles?” Brad asked with a grin.

“You’re being silly!”

Brad turned serious. “Even if your stepfather were a ninety-pound weakling, you need someone with you, to lend moral support if nothing else.”

“I told Mike I could go alone. He’s holding Anna and Davy as hostages! What more does he need to guarantee that I’m coming back?”

“Maybe he thinks you’re planning on dumping your responsibilities and cutting loose.”

Sarah immediately headed for the quickest exit.

“Why are you running away? Was I too close to the truth?”

She whirled around and charged back to him. “How dare you even insinuate that! Don’t you ever say that to Davy and Anna!”

“Are you planning on coming back?”

“Yes! I won’t dump Davy and Anna on your family! Unless—unless I can’t come back,” she said, ending in a whisper.

“Of course you’ll come back. That’s why I’m going. To make sure you do.”

“If—if something happens to me, will Abby find a home for Davy and Anna? I know your family won’t have room, but—but maybe a nice family in the area? And keep them together?”

“Quit worrying about it, Sarah. You’ll be back in a couple of days, and things will go on just like they’ve been doing.”

“Abby hired me to be her housekeeper,” Sarah informed him.

“That’s good. You seem to do the work well.”

“I guess. She’s offering me too much money.” She named the dollar amount.

“I guess Nick figured it in the budget. It’s worth it if it keeps Abby from going into labor early.”

“Yes. I’m grateful for the work…and for her taking in the kids. Kate said she would come over after school and fix them a snack and make a casserole that Nick could take out of the oven.”

“That sounds like a good plan.”

Sarah collapsed at the kitchen table. “I don’t know what to do!” she exclaimed, covering her face with her hands.

Brad sat down beside her. “You do what Mike tells you to do. He’s older and wiser. He won’t steer you wrong.”

“You have a lot of confidence in him, don’t you?”

“He’s married to my mother. We wouldn’t have let her marry him if he wasn’t a good guy.”

She gave a bitter laugh. “You think you’re always in control, don’t you?”

“Most times. My family has lived here for over a hundred years, leaving me with a great tradition and enough money to make it.”

She got up from the table and turned away from him.

“Yes, well, that’s not our family.”

“Why did your mother marry the man?” Brad asked, still sitting at the table.

“Alice was widowed and didn’t have any job skills…and she had a teenage daughter—me.”

“Did he drink then?”

“Yes, but he kept it under control. At least for a year or two. Then he’d just stop off for one beer that turned into four or five. He’d drag home about eight or nine and roar for his dinner.”

“That sounds sad. I guess you didn’t have much of a life then.”

“No. I never knew if he’d come home drunk or not come home at all. It was embarrassing.”

“When you moved back home, how old were the kids?”

“Anna was six and Davy was two.” She’d had no choice, really, but to leave the city and move back in. Her own life wouldn’t have been worth living if she knew her siblings were in danger.

Brad stood and moved to Sarah’s side. “Don’t worry, Sarah. Nick and Abby are going to take good care of your little family.”

“They’d better!”

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