LITMIR.BIZ

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      Andrew winked at him. “She just wants to cook for someone other than me.”

      His mother loved to cook. She always had and her children were the center of her world. And now that she had Jake and his family back, she was happier than Caleb had ever seen her.

      “We’re having waffles and bacon, but I can fix you anything you like.”

      “That’s fine, Mom.” Caleb removed his hat and took a seat.

      Andrew sat beside him. “You look a little down, son. Something wrong?”

      Andrew knew him so well and their bond was close, as close as blood, and Caleb loved the compassionate, kind man. A lot of people who didn’t know Caleb wasn’t Andrew’s biological son said Caleb took after him. Caleb considered that a compliment. Andrew had been the best role model, and everything that he’d learned he’d gotten from him.

      “I’m fine, Dad,” he replied. He’d always called him Dad because he was the only father he’d ever known. It had taken Beau a while, but he called Andrew Dad, too.

      Althea placed coffee, maple syrup and a plate of waffles and bacon in front of him. He dived in, realizing he was hungry. His parents watched him as they would a two-year-old—with love and affection.

      Caleb laid his fork down. “I just came by to tell you that I’ll be gone for a few days.”

      Andrew took a sip of coffee. “Oh. An important case?”

      “Belle has remembered her name and I’m taking her back to her family.”

      “Oh, dear, that’s wonderful,” Althea exclaimed, then her face grew somber. “Are you okay with this?”

      “Of course. Her memory is returning and that’s what I’ve wanted—for her to find her way back from all the pain.”

      Althea covered his hand on the table. “Caleb, my son. I know how you feel about her. Maybe it would be best if someone else escorted her home.”

      “Mom.” He patted her hand. “I’m not a kid. I’m the one who has to do this. I have to know that she’s happy.”

      “I’m just worried about you.”

      “Thea,” Andrew intervened. “Caleb is a grown man and we’ll support him in whatever he chooses to do.”

      “Of course, dear.” Althea took Caleb’s plate to the sink, her expression saying more than words. She was worried about her son.

      “What’s her name?” Andrew asked.

      “Josie Marie Beckett.”

      Andrew lifted an eyebrow. “Any relation to Boone Beckett?”

      “He’s her grandfather.”

      “Now isn’t that something.”

      “Do you know him, dear?” Althea asked, returning to the table.

      “Met him a few times in the nineties when I was helping Gertie with some fund-raisers. He’s quite a character, opinionated and mule-headed, but he comes from oil money so people put up with him.”

      “Oh, dear, he doesn’t sound like Belle at all. Does she remember anything about their relationship?”

      “No. But bits and pieces are coming back to her and the doctor feels that being in Beckett will help to restore all her memory.”

      “Be careful, son.”

      “I will, Mom, and don’t worry.”

      “Oh, please.” Althea gave an aggravated sigh. “The older my sons get, the more I worry.”

      “Anybody home?” Beau shouted a moment before he walked in with a black-and-white puppy in his arms. “Hey, Caleb.”

      “Morning, Beau.”

      Beau was the second son of Althea and Joe McCain. He was a family man to the core and he kept them all bound together with continual lunches and gatherings. Beau had the biggest heart of anyone Caleb had ever known. He got that from his mother—always caring for others.

      “What have you got there?” Althea asked, kissing Beau’s cheek.

      “An orphan. Do you know anyone who needs a puppy?”

      Caleb laughed. “Don’t tell me. Another one of Macy’s rescues.”

      Macy was Beau’s neighbor and had been most of his life. She lived down the street when they were kids and now she lived in the condo next to Beau. Macy was an animal lover and she rescued more animals than the animal shelter. She and Beau had been friends all their lives, but neither was willing to take their relationship to the next step. Caleb didn’t think they ever would.

      “Yes.” Beau stroked the small dog. “He has some scars on his stomach. Someone did a number on him. Since Macy works nights at the hospital, I’ve had him two nights in a row. Macy can’t seem to find a home for him so I’m lending a hand.”

      “I’ve lost track of the number of dogs and cats Macy has conned you into taking. You’re such a sweet man.”

      “Yeah, Mom. That’s me.” A slight flush stained Beau’s cheeks and Caleb saw his pain. Caleb wondered if they were both destined for broken hearts.

      Althea took the dog from Beau. “Poor little thing,” she cooed.

      Andrew joined her. “Look at those big brown eyes, Thea.”

      At that moment, the puppy licked Althea’s face. “Oh, Andrew, he’s so cute.”

      While they were cooing over the dog, Beau went to get a cup of coffee and Caleb followed. “You planned that brilliantly, didn’t you?”

      Beau took a swallow of coffee. “Thought it might work.”

      “Beau,” Althea said. “We’ll keep him.”

      “Yeah,” Andrew added. “We’ll buy him a doghouse and put it in the backyard.”

      “Backyard?” Althea seemed offended. “We’ll put it on the patio or in the garage.”

      “Yes, dear,” Andrew replied. “There’s a box in the garage and we can make him a bed until then.”

      The two disappeared out the door.

      Caleb leaned against the cabinet and told Beau the news about Belle.

      “Wow. That’s great.” Beau paused, watching Caleb. “Isn’t it?”

      “Yes. I knew this day was coming.”

      Beau patted his shoulder. “Love is hell.”

      Caleb shook his head. “What do you know about love? You spend all your time with a woman you won’t even ask out.”

      Beau grimaced. “Don’t start about Macy. We’re just friends.”

      “Oh, Beau.” Caleb sighed. “For such a brilliant lawyer, you can sometimes be very dense.”

      They heard a squeal of delight from the garage and they knew who it was—Katie, Jake’s four-year-old daughter. Althea kept her while Elise worked as an English professor at the university. Their son, Ben, was already in school.

      Katie walked slowly into the breakfast room, carrying the dog. Jake was behind her. “Look, Uncle Beau and Uncle Caleb, this is Bandy. Grandpa called him that cause he’s got a white Band-Aid over his eye.”

      Caleb swung her up in his arms, kissing her cheek, and shaking Jake’s hand. “Morning, brother.”

      “Morning. Didn’t know we were having a family meeting.”

      All the brothers were tall with brown hair and eyes, but Jake and Caleb took after their father with lean, lanky frames. Beau had more meat on his bones, as Althea put it.

      Katie

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