A Little Dare - Brenda Jackson [30]
AJ shrugged. “Morris and Cornelius.”
Dare nodded. He knew Morris and Cornelius. The two youngsters usually hung together and were the same age and went to the same school as AJ. “So you know Morris and Cornelius?”
AJ turned the page on his book before answering, pretending the response was being forced from him. “Yeah, I know them. We met today after school.”
Dare nodded again. Morris and Cornelius were good kids. He knew their parents well and was glad the pair were developing a friendship with AJ, since he considered them a good influence. Both got good grades in school, sung in the youth choir at church and were active in a number of sports he and his brothers coached.
“Well, is he?”
Dare heard the anxiousness in AJ’s voice, although the kid was trying to downplay it. “Yes, Thorn’s my brother.”
“And Rock Mason is, too?”
“Yes. I told you the other day I had four brothers and all of them live in this area.”
AJ nodded. “And they help you coach your baseball team?”
Dare leaned back in his chair. “Yes, pretty much, although Thorn contributes to the youth of the community by teaching a special class at the high school on motorcycle safety and Stone is involved with the Teach People to Read program for both the young and old.”
AJ nodded again. “What about the other two?”
Dare wondered at what point AJ would discover they were holding a conversation and revert back to his, I-don’t-like-cops syndrome? Well, until he did, Dare planned to milk the situation for all it was worth. “Chase owns a restaurant and coaches a youth basketball team during basketball season. His team won the state championship two years in a row.”
Dare smiled when he thought of his younger brother Storm. “My youngest brother Storm hasn’t found his niche yet.” Other than with women, Dare decided not to add. “So he helps me coach my baseball team and he also helps Chase with his basketball team.”
“And your sister married a prince?”
Dare’s smile widened when he thought of the baby sister he and his brothers simply adored. “Yes, although at the time we weren’t ready to give her up.”
AJ’s eyes grew wider. “Why? Girls don’t marry princes every day?”
Dare chuckled. “Yes, that may be true, but the Westmorelands have this unspoken code when it comes to family. We stick together and claim what’s ours. Since Delaney was the only girl, we claimed her when she was born and weren’t ready to give her up to anyone, including a prince.”
AJ turned a few pages again, pretending further disinterest. A few moments later he asked. “What about your parents?”
Dare met AJ’s stare. “What about them?”
“Do they live around here?”
“Yes, they live within walking distance. Their only complaint is that none of us, other than Delaney, have gotten married. They’re anxious for grandkids and since they don’t see Delaney’s baby that often, they would like one of us to settle down and have a family.”
Dare knew that what he’d just shared with AJ would get the kid to thinking. He was about to say something else when the buzzer on his desk sounded.
“Yes, McKade, what is it?”
“Ms. Brockman is here to see you.”
Dare was surprised. He hadn’t expected Shelly to drop by, since AJ had ridden his bike over from school. A quick glance across the room and he could tell by AJ’s features that he was surprised by his mother’s unexpected visit as well. “Send her in, McKade.”
Dare stood as Shelly breezed into his office, dressed in a skirt and a printed blouse. “I hate to drop in like this, but I received an emergency call from one of my patients living in Stone Mountain and need to go out on a call. Ms. Kate has agreed to take care of AJ, and I have to drop him off at her place on my way out. I thought coming to pick him up would be okay since his hour is over.”
Dare glanced at the clock on the wall which indicated AJ’s hour had been over ten minutes ago. At some point the kid had stopped watching the clock and so had he.
“Since you’re in a rush, I can save you the time by dropping him off at Ms. Kate’s myself. I was getting ready to leave anyway.”
Dare then remembered