“Well of course. Maybe you can even spend some time in the cockpit with the pilot since you want to learn to fly.”
“Can I Mommy, can I? Please say, yes.”
I laughed. “If it can be arranged.”
Andrew turned back to Devin and climbed into his lap. At first Devin’s expression was surprised, but quickly he helped Andrew adjust to sit comfortably in his lap.
“Where do you go in your plane?” Andrew asked.
“Usually Europe. London. Paris—“
“They have a Disneyland there. Right Mommy?”
“I think so, baby. But there are some closer to us,” I said. I didn’t want Devin thinking he had to take Andrew to Europe.
“Did you go to Disneyland?” Andrew looked up intently at Devin.
“Never been. I’ve been to the top of the Eiffel Tower though.”
“What’s that?”
The two of them chatted about everything and nothing, and my guilt grew even as my heart filled with such love for the both of them.
“Will you push me on the swing?” Andrew asked Devin.
“Honey, Devin probably has other things he needs to do.”
“No, I don’t.” Devin’s eyes narrowed suggesting he didn’t like that I was trying to give him an out. “I’ll push you on the swing.”
“’Kay. Come on.” Andrew hopped down and took Devin’s hand, leading him to the swings. I watched them, wishing things could have been different. Wishing Devin had spent the last years knowing about Andrew and being a father to him.
Devin spent the day with us at the park, and then walked with us back to the apartment.
“Some limits can be overcome,” Devin said to me as Andrew trotted ahead of us, his arms out like an airplane.
“Some,” I admitted.
“About your job. I’ll just work with other planners in your firm and if they have a problem, I’ll find a new firm.” He took my hand. He clearly had been thinking things through which only made my deception worse. If he knew our real limits, would he still be trying so hard?
“And I’ll be fired for losing their biggest client,” I said, playing devil’s advocate.
“Then you’ll start your own firm and I’ll hire you.”
I smirked. “You have an answer for everything.”
“When I want something, I find an answer.”
My heart was both rejoicing and breaking. I wanted what he was saying he wanted. But I was going to blow it to bits.
“I’m tired.” Andrew wrapped his arms around my legs.
“We’re almost there,” I said.
“I’ll carry you.” Devin barely had the words out before Andrew stood before him with his arms up. Devin picked him up, settling him on his hip.
“I have a book of airplanes. Want to see it?” Andrew asked, looking Devin in the face. I wondered if Devin would see the resemblance. How long would it take him to figure out Andrew was his?
“Yes, I would.”
“We have to be at Grandma and Grandpa’s for dinner soon,” I reminded Andrew.
“You can come to dinner, can’t you Devin,” Andrew asked.
I shook my head. “I’m sure Devin has plans.”
“Trying to get rid of me?” He quirked a brow at me.
“Are you saying you want to meet my parents?” I retorted. Wasn’t that the last thing most men wanted?
He blanched slightly but then said, “Yes. Yes, I do.”
“We need to ask them too,” I said. “We can’t just invite a guest without checking.”
“They’ll say yes.” Andrew patted Devin on the cheek. “They think my mommy needs a boyfriend.”
I coughed. Devin grinned. “Do they now?”
I rolled my eyes.
“Yes, because I don’t have a daddy.”
Devin frowned. “Why not?”
Andrew lay his head on Devin’s shoulder. “He went away.”
Everything inside me stilled as I waited for Devin to put two and two together.
“I’m sorry to hear that,” he said.
“Do you have a daddy?” Andrew asked him.
“Yes.”
“Did you like it?”
“I suppose I did.”
“Did he take you to the park and on airplanes?”
Devin’s face was unreadable as we neared the house. “Not so much. I had a nanny who took us to the park.”
“What’s a nanny?”
“It’s like a babysitter, honey,” I said, noting some sadness in Devin’s expression.
“Like Grandma?”
“Yes, I guess so.”
We reached my building, and Devin continued to carry Andrew as we rode the elevator and we entered my little apartment. I felt self-conscious about our humble abode. It was neat and tidy, and served its purpose, but I knew Devin was used to larger, grander living spaces.
“I’ll get my book,” Andrew said when Devin put him down.
“Do you want a drink or something?” I asked Devin.
He shook his head taking a seat on the couch.
“If you don’t want to stay for dinner, now is the time to tell me or I’m going to call my mom and let her know you’re coming.”
He smirked. “You can’t scare me, Serena.”
Andrew rushed in and climbed into Devin’s lap. “Want to see my favorite one?”
“I do,” Devin said with a wink to me.
I left them alone, going to the little kitchenette. I wanted to be alone to take a breath because I felt like I hadn’t breathed since Devin showed up at the park. If I thought I was playing with fire before, I was damn near burning in the flames now. I peeked around the corner to see Devin and Andrew looking at the book. My heart ached to tell him the truth and for us to overcome all those limits. Surely Devin would protect Andrew from his mother, right?
But would learning the truth change how Devin felt about me? And if so, what would he do in his anger? Ugh. My life had become an endless cycle of a catch-22 that I couldn’t get out of and eventually would blow up in my face.
I texted my mom to ask her if I could bring a guest. She responded with yes and wanted to know who it was. I told her it was a friend, as I knew she’d freak out if she knew a Roarke was about to have dinner at her house.
I cleaned Andrew up and then the three of us headed down to my parents’ apartment.
“My mom is probably going
