A Little Dare - Brenda Jackson [59]
“Then that explains things.”
Dare turned around. “That explains what?”
“That explains why I did so good today—I am a Westmoreland.”
Dare’s breath caught and he swallowed deeply. He leaned back against the sink and stared at AJ long and hard, waiting for him to stop studying his sneakers and look at him. Moments later, AJ finally lifted his head and met his gaze.
“And how are you a Westmoreland, AJ?” Dare asked quietly, already knowing the answer but desperately wanting to hear his son say it anyway.
AJ cleared this throat. “I—I really don’t know how to tell you this, but I have to tell you. And I have to first say that my mom wanted to tell you sooner, but I asked her not to, so it’s not her fault so please don’t be mad at her about it. You have to promise that you won’t be mad at my mom.”
Dare nodded. At that moment he would promise almost anything. “All right. I won’t be mad at your mom. Now tell me what you meant about being a Westmoreland.”
AJ put his hands into his pockets. “You may want to sit down for this.”
Dare watched AJ’s face and noticed how nervous he’d become. He didn’t want to make him any more nervous than he already was, so he sat at the kitchen table. “Now tell me,” he coaxed gently.
AJ hesitated, then met Dare’s gaze, and said. “Although my last name is Brockman, I’m really a Westmoreland…because I’m your son.”
Dare’s breath got lodged in his throat. He blinked. Of course, the news AJ was delivering to him didn’t surprise him, but the uncertainty and the caution he saw in his son’s gaze did. Shelly had been right. AJ wasn’t sure if he would accept him as his son, and Dare knew he had to tread lightly here.
“You’re my son?” He asked quietly, as if for clarification.
“Yes. That’s why I’m ten and that’s why we have the same name.” He looked down at his sneakers again as he added, “And that’s why I look like you a little, although you haven’t seem to notice but I’ll understand if you don’t want me.”
Dare stood. He slowly crossed the room to AJ and placed what he hoped was a comforting hand, a reassuring hand, a loving hand on his shoulder. AJ looked up and met his gaze, and Dare knew he had to do everything within his power to make his son believe that he wanted him and that he loved him.
Choosing his words carefully and speaking straight from his heart and his soul, he said, “Whether you know it or not, you have just said words that have made me the happiest man in the entire world. The very thought that Shelly gave me a son fills me with such joy that it’s overwhelming.”
AJ searched his father’s gaze. “Does that mean you want me?”
Dare chuckled, beside himself in happiness. “That means that not only do I want you, but I intend to keep you, and now that you’re in my life I don’t ever intend to let you out of it.”
A huge smile crept over AJ’s features. “Really?”
“Yes, really.”
“And will my name get changed to Westmoreland?”
Dare smiled. “Do you want your name changed to Westmoreland?”
AJ nodded his head excitedly. “Yes, I’d like that.”
“And I’d like that too. We’ll discuss it with your mother and see what her feelings are on the matter, all right?”
“All right.”
They stared at each other as the reality of what had taken place revolved around them. Then AJ asked quietly, “And may I call you Dad?”
Dare’s chest tightened, his throat thickened and he became filled with emotions to overpowering capacity. He knew he would remember this moment for as long as he lived. What AJ was asking, and so soon, was more than he could ever have hoped for. He had prayed for this. A smile dusted across his face as parental pride and all the love he felt for the child standing in front of him poured forth.
“Yes, you can call me Dad,” he said, as he reached out and pulled his son to him, needing the contact of father to son, parent to offspring, Westmoreland to Westmoreland. They shared a hug of acceptance, affirmation and acknowledgement as Dare fought back the tears in his eyes. “I’d be honored for you to call