Total pages in book: 188
Estimated words: 182255 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 911(@200wpm)___ 729(@250wpm)___ 608(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 182255 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 911(@200wpm)___ 729(@250wpm)___ 608(@300wpm)
He gave her ass a playful smack before he headed up for a shower.
Hudson’s stare followed all the action. “Him touching her doesn’t bother you at all?”
Seth shook his head. “It used to. But now…this works for us. For a lot of reasons. We know our relationship isn’t typical and that some people will never get it, but that’s on them.”
“Sure.” But Hudson’s voice said he didn’t understand, either.
Like a lot of things, it would take time.
Fifteen minutes later, Beck and Heavenly headed to the garage with a wave, leaving Seth and Hudson to tackle the dishes. The kid pitched in without being asked. Seth approved.
After they finished, he pulled out his phone. “Ready to call your Grandma Grace?”
Hudson dried his hands on a dish towel, his nervousness evident. “I guess. What should I call her? Hopefully not grammy. That was my mom’s mom.”
Good question. Danny was waiting for Anna to get verbal and see what she called his mom, but with Hudson here the question wasn’t going to wait. “We’ll ask her.”
Seth’s palms were sweating when he hit the FaceTime button. He wished he could tell his mother that she had a teenage grandson in person, but he couldn’t wait to break the news until his next trip back East. Mom deserved to know now. He hoped she took it well. No question she’d accept Hudson. But Seth wasn’t holding his breath that she’d be all smiles once she did the math.
His mother’s face filled the screen, her smile bright and immediate. “Seth! This is a nice surprise. How are you, sweetheart?”
“I’m okay, Mom. You good?”
“I am. It’s quiet here now. Carl’s at work, and I was just cleaning up the kitchen and making a grocery list.” She frowned. “You look serious. What’s going on? Please tell me you’re not calling to say you can’t come to the wedding.”
“No, that isn’t why I’m calling. I’ll absolutely be there.”
“What about Heavenly? She’s still coming, I hope. You know I’m dying to meet her.”
Yes, Mom hadn’t been shy about that. “She is. Beck, too. But…we’re hoping to bring a fourth person, if that’s okay.”
“Oh, is your doctor friend bringing a date?”
“No.” Seth took a deep breath. “Mom, you should sit down.”
Her smile faltered as she sank into her chair. “Oh, no. What’s going on?”
Here goes nothing. “I can’t think of an easy way to say this but…I found out yesterday that I have a son. His name is Hudson.” Seth blew out a breath and went for broke. “He’s…sixteen.”
His mother stared at the screen for a long moment, her mouth gaping wide.
“Mom? Did you hear—”
“He’s sixteen?” she breathed. “That’s impossible, Seth. You would have been—”
“Fifteen. Yeah.” Seth’s throat felt tight, and he resisted the urge to wince. “I know you’re shocked.”
“Oh, my— I knew you weren’t a baby then, but…” She scrubbed a hand down her face. “How did that happen?”
Seth grimaced. “Do you really want me to answer that?”
She scowled. “I meant, didn’t you use protection and—”
“Mom, focus.”
“But fifteen? Seth…” She huffed. “Where is Hudson now? Who is his mother? What—”
“He’s been living in Connecticut with his mom, who was a waitress I met when I was staying with Grandma and Grandpa that summer. Hudson tracked me down. He’s here in LA with me now, and he’s going to stay for a while.”
Again, Grace didn’t speak right away. “How did he get to LA? Did you have any idea—”
“Until yesterday, no. I would have told you.”
Her eyes filled with tears. “Oh, Seth. A grandson! But we’ve missed out on so much—his first words, his first steps, his first day at school… I can’t— Why didn’t you know about him?”
“It’s complicated. His mother never told me she was pregnant. She tried to contact me years later, but I was married to Autumn then, and she decided not to interfere.”
“And you’re sure he’s yours?”
Seth slanted a glance at Hudson. “Yeah. There’s no question.”
“Oh, that poor boy,” Grace breathed. “Sixteen years without knowing his father. Is he— How is he handling all this?”
Hudson stood frozen by the sink, looking beyond nervous. No, like he was afraid to be rejected.
“Honestly, he’s handling it better than I am. Do you…want to meet your grandson?”
“What kind of question is that? Of course! He’s a Cooper.”
Well, legally he was a Clarke. Seth intended to change that, but now wasn’t the time to get nitty-gritty with his mother. It would just upset her.
“Good. If it’s okay with you, I’d like to bring him to the wedding. That way you and the whole family can meet him.”
“Oh! That would be fantastic! Don’t think I don’t still have questions for you, young man. But I can’t wait to clap eyes on him.”
Seth wasn’t shocked in the least. “Are you ready to talk to him? He’s right here.”
“Can I? Please.”
Seth motioned Hudson over and handed him the phone. “Hudson, this is your grandmother, Grace.”