Page 79 of The Seal's Promise
“Wow, baby, that’s epic.”
“Yes, I doubt any of us can top that one,” Miles’s grandmother said from her seat next to Max.
Brooke sat up and wiped at her eyes.
“Don’t worry, you look like a mess, but no one cares,” May said and handed her a to-go coffee cup.
Next Dr. Tommy arrived, looking like he hadn’t slept in the hospital all night.
“Alright, Mr. Max, we’re going to get you discharged.”
“Will I be able to play baseball today? I’m starting,” Max asked.
Tommy looked at Brooke. “I think it’s up to your mom more than your doctor, but I would say that if you do play and start to feel any trouble breathing, you need to let your team doc know right away.”
“Sweet.” Max jumped out of the bed. “Come on, Mom, we need to go home and get my uniform before the game starts without us.”
“We’ll see you at the game, Maxy,” Miles said as he ruffled Max’s hair and knelt down to give him a big hug. “I love you, buddy.”
“Thanks, Uncle Miles, I love you too.”
Everyone gave Max a hug before they filed out.
“Just one big happy family,” May said. “I guess they’re not so bad.”
Brooke narrowed her eyes on her sister. “Interesting. See you at the game?”
“I’ll be there after I check in on the morning rush.” May kissed and hugged Max before she filed out too.
Brooke gathered up some of Max’s balloons, and Nora said she’d gather up the rest of his things and put them in Brooke’s office. But the second they stepped outside she realized she didn’t have her car. And then she recognized a familiar blue truck parked right out front. The passenger window lowered and Dalton sat inside with his arm on the steering wheel, wearing a crisp white shirt, a day’s worth of scruff, and a gorgeous smile.
“You two need a lift?” he asked.
“Yes! Dalton, wait until you see what Uncle Miles gave me.”
Brooke opened the back door for Max and helped him get in with his new bat then she climbed into the passenger seat. She set her coffee in the cup holder and put on her seat belt as Dalton oohed and aahed over Max’s impressive gift.
“Hi,” he said once Max focused on his seat belt. He reached his hand out to grip hers, threading their fingers together.
A wave of relief spread over her. “Hi. About last night.”
“It was all real. I’m just going to follow your lead.”
A tear rolled down her cheek, and she leaned forward to grip his neck before pulling him forward to kiss him.
“Wow, cool, are we going to be a family now?”
Dalton’s mouth spread open in a big smile while still pressed against her lips, and they broke their kiss to look at Max beaming at them.
“Well, since you’re the man of the house, Max, would it be okay if I date your mom?”
“Yes, sir! Man, maybe I should go to the hospital more often,” Max said, snapping his fingers.
Laughing through tears had never felt so good, and Brooke couldn’t believe she was getting the man she loved and that he loved her son too. They spent the morning at Max’s baseball game, and while his allergy didn’t reappear, they all seemed pretty exhausted. But Brooke knew she needed to speak with Declan about what had happened. Although she’d dreaded telling him, Declan had already heard most of the details from Wes and Dr. Tommy. As first responders they were required to express their concern for Max’s welfare with his biological father, who clearly had no regard for Max’s medical condition.
“I’m not sure the judge will deny Tyler’s custody request, but I believe he’ll want to put some safeguards in place and require all future visits be supervised,” Declan explained over the phone as Brooke stood in her small kitchen and Dalton helped Max read the rest of the Babe Ruth book he’d taken out from the library.
“Okay, but you’ll make the appeal before Max is due to spend any more time with Tyler next week?”
