Legacy by M.A. Foster

November

_____________________________

Dylan

Iknock lightly on the door twice before poking my head inside the room. Emerson is lying in the hospital bed with a newborn cradled in her arms. Jameson Trace Parker was born very early this morning.

“Hey,” I whisper.

“Hey,” she says softly before lowering her gaze. “Come meet Trace.”

Stepping inside, I take in the empty room. “Where is everyone?”

“They all just left.” She grins.

“Perfect timing, then,” I quip as I walk over to the sink to wash my hands. “I won’t have to wrestle him away from anyone.”

I move over to the side of the bed, and Emerson places Trace into my arms before I drop down in the empty chair beside her. I lower my gaze to the tiny human and grin. “Hey, little man,” I croon. “You look like your dad.”

“I think so, too,” Emerson agrees.

My eyes meet her tired ones briefly. “How are you feeling?”

“Exhausted.” She sighs. “I hope Cam doesn’t expect me to do that again.”

I chuckle. “I’m sure Cam will take whatever you’re willing to give him.”

“Yeah.” She pauses. “I’m very lucky.”

Silence stretches between us, but I feel her eyes on me. I lift my gaze and offer her a smile.

“How are you doing?” she asks, her brows pinched in concern.

“I’m good, actually.”

“Are you?”

“I am.” I nod. “I’ve been busy putting together a plan for Mac’s.”

“Cam told me about your plan. I think it’s a brilliant idea. I have a lot of experience in PR, and I’m happy to help you with anything. If you need someone to help with social media, talk to Lexi. She handles all of Jay’s social media platforms. That girl knows her shit, and she’s trustworthy.”

“Good idea. I’ll get in touch with her.”

Trace begins squirming. “I think someone might be getting hungry.” I push to my feet and place him in Emerson’s open arms.

“You were the sweetest baby,” she tells me as she smiles down at her son. “I was only a teenager when you were born, but I was obsessed with you. I used to beg your parents to go out so I could babysit.” She lifts her head and grins. “Your mom used to call you her sweet boy, and it just kind of stuck. Because you were—you are a sweet boy.” Her eyes flick over my face. “I know you don’t want to talk about it, and believe me, I get it. But I need to know one thing.”

I raise my brows. “What’s that?”

“Did Marcus know you were involved with Willow’s mother?”

I drop back down in the chair and sigh. “He knew I was in love with a girl named Jaden Price. Everything that happened that day was as much of a shock to me as everyone else.”

Emerson nods slowly. “I wanted to get back home to Jay, but Marcus wanted to stay the night, which was odd because he hated being away from her. He was restless, and when I asked what was wrong, he said he was worried about you. He got up and dressed and said he was going to check on you. I told him to just call you, but he was adamant that he needed to see you. I offered to go with him, but he told me to stay. He wanted to go alone. I didn’t get it, but now it all makes sense. I knew you were upset that day, but I thought it was because your dad had laid into you.”

“He connected the dots and when he showed up at my apartment, I was a mess. I asked him not to tell anyone.”

“It wasn’t his story to tell.” Her eyes fill with tears. “I’m so sorry, Dylan.”

“Hey.” I stand from the chair and drop down on the edge of the bed. “I’m okay. Yes, I miss her. Yes, I loved her. She’ll always be here.” I tap my chest over my heart. “But I’m finally able to move on, and it feels good.” I pause. “Remember the college graduation money you and Marcus gave me?”

She swipes a stray tear from her cheek. “You still have that?”

I nod. “Marcus told me to spend it on something just for me.”

“I remember.” She smiles. “What are you getting?”

“It’s a surprise.” I wink.

* * *

“Hey, bro,” I greet as Aiden climbs into the passenger seat. “I’ve got an errand to run. You want me to take you home, or do you want to ride with me?”

“I’ll ride, but can you swing through a drive-through? I’m starving.” He sets his backpack between his legs and pulls on his seat belt.

“I figured you would be.” Reaching into the back seat, I grab the Styrofoam container and pass it to him before pulling away from the curb. “Grilled chicken sandwich with everything on the side and an order of fries. Did I get it right?”

He throws his head back, eyes closed, and says, “You’re my favorite brother.”

I roll my eyes. He’s so full of shit.

“Drink?” he asks, and I point to the cup holder.

“Definitely my favorite brother.”

Chuckling, I ask, “How’s school going?”

Aiden is a freshman at Heritage Bay Academy. I imagine he already has his own “Mackenzie” fan club because he’s a little stud and the only freshman on the varsity baseball team.

“Good, I guess.” He shrugs and opens the food container. “Same school, same kids, just a different building.” He pops a fry into his mouth. “It’s weird without Smith, though.”

A pang of sadness spreads through my chest. It’s been tough for Aiden since his childhood best friend, Smith, moved away over the summer. I can’t imagine it’s been easy for Cole, either. Smith’s older brother, Carter, had been Cole’s best friend since kindergarten.

The Nixons lived just down the street from my parents for over fifteen years. Dane Nixon was a retired pro-baller turned sportscaster. Cheryl Nixon was a stay-at-home mom until Carter started kindergarten; then Mom got her a part-time job as an assistant at Mimi’s interior design firm. Cheryl and my mom quickly became best friends, so naturally their kids were close. Then Mom got pregnant with Aiden, and Cheryl got pregnant with Smith. After Smith was born, Cheryl suffered from severe postpartum depression and never recovered. Mom stepped in to help with the boys while Dane tended to his wife. This went on for years, and the poor guy did everything he could to get her the help she needed, but in the end, Cheryl lost the battle and took her own life. Carter and Smith lost their mother, and their father completely shut down.

My mother was devastated over losing her best friend, but when she offered to help with the kids, Dane severed his friendship with both my parents. Instead, he hired nannies to look after his grieving sons. It was a slap in the face to my mother, and it pissed my father off. Despite Dane’s asshole-ish ways, my parents refused to turn their backs on the boys. Honestly, I felt bad for Carter, because he was the one who carried the weight of the world on his shoulders while looking after his little brother.

“Have you talked to Smith since he left?” I ask.

“I’ve texted him a few times, but he never texts me back.” I’m sure Dane Nixon has everything to do with that. “I messaged him on SocialBuzz. Nothing.”

“What about Chloe? Has she heard from him?”

“Nope.”

For the longest time, it was just Aiden and Smith, but then Chloe Fisher popped up and infiltrated their little bromance. She’s a ball of energy, that one. She reminds me of that excited little dog in the cartoons that wants to be in on all the action.

“Do you have any classes with Chloe?”

“Just fourth period, algebra. I see her at lunch, too.”

“Do you have any classes with Logan?”

Aiden has had a crush on Logan since middle school. Not sure why he hasn’t made his move yet. If I had to guess, I’d say it has something to do with Chloe.

“She’s in my algebra class, too.” He smirks.

“You gonna make your move this year?”

“I don’t know. She’s hot, but I’m not ready for a girlfriend. I heard she likes older guys, anyway.”

“Aiden, do not go by what you hear from your peers. That’s how rumors get started. If you want to know, ask her yourself.”

We ride in comfortable silence while Aiden scarfs down his sandwich and fries. Once he’s finished, he reaches back and sets the container on the back seat.

He rakes his fingers through his shaggy dark hair. “Can I tell you something?”

I briefly glance over at him. “You can tell me anything.”

“I’m afraid that when I do start dating, I’ll lose Chloe.”

I let his admission roll around in my head for a minute. “Then you need to talk to Chloe. Tell her how you feel. Tell her how much her friendship means to you, and that you don’t want to lose her.”

He draws in a deep breath and blows it out. “Okay.”

“Aiden, you’re fourteen. Don’t stress over it.”

“I know. It’s just that… I’ve already lost one best friend; I don’t want to lose another.”

The ultimate test of their friendship isn’t just whether Chloe will accept Aiden dating Logan, or any other girl.

“Let me ask you something.”

“What?”

“How are you going to feel when Chloe starts dating?”

A beat passes before he says, “I never thought about it.”

“Maybe Chloe’s worried she’ll lose your friendship, too. Just be prepared, Aiden. Chloe is a pretty girl, and once you draw that imaginary line in the sand, you’re no longer a threat, and the boys are going to go after her.”

“Great,” he murmurs.

“Stop putting so much pressure on yourself,” I say with a laugh. “Focus on baseball. That’s more important than girls.”

“You’re right.”

I pull into the Harley Davidson dealership, easing my truck into an empty parking spot before shutting my truck off.

Aiden looks over at me with a curious expression. “What are we doing here?”

“I’m buying myself an early Christmas present.”

He shakes his head slowly. “Tattoos and now a motorcycle. I think you’re slowly trying to kill our mother.”

“Don’t be dramatic. Mom doesn’t give a shit about my tattoos.”

“Tattoos? No. But a motorcycle will definitely give her a heart attack.”

“Well, how about you don’t tell her? Let me ease her into it.”

Aiden huffs out a sarcastic laugh. “Yeah, okay. Good luck with that.”