Closer: Bay City Paranormal Investigation, Book 4

last few steps and put their heads together, apparently holding quite a serious discussion about the stains.
“I appreciate you taking Sean,” Bo murmured. His hand crept into Sam’s, holding on tight. “It was nice to have a few minutes with just Adrian.”
“I figured you could both use it. Besides, Sean and I get along great.” Sam glanced at Bo. His expression was pensive. “Did it go all right?”
“I think so. He really loved hearing about the apparitions the BCPI team saw in the bunker. For a few minutes there, he seemed almost normal again.” Bo turned his head and pinned Sam with a serious look. “Thank you for being so patient with me. With all of us. I know how hard it is for you when I have the boys with me, but you’ve been absolutely wonderful lately, and I just want you to know that I’ve noticed, and I appreciate it.”
Sam glanced toward the bottom of the steps, where Sean and Adrian were now involved in what looked like an impromptu reenactment of a long-ago battle. Both were laughing, and it warmed Sam’s heart to see Adrian looking just as happy and carefree as Sean.
“I want us to be a family,” Sam said, and instantly knew he meant it. “I know it won’t be easy. But I love you, and Sean and Adrian are your sons. I care about them, and I…I want to be a part of their lives.”
The startled expression on Bo’s face melted into a glowing smile. “I knew there was a reason I love you.”
Standing there in the summer sun, hand in hand with the man he loved while that man’s children played below, Sam felt more content than he’d ever believed he could. Was this what it felt like to have a real family? One that fought and laughed, and loved each other through good times and bad?
Sam didn’t know. But for the first time in his life, he wanted to find out.
    Two hours later, after the boys had thoroughly explored every nook and cranny of the fort, Sam and Bo finally managed to drag them away. Sean clung to Bo’s hand as they walked to the car, relating his own version of the day’s adventures with infectious enthusiasm. Sam strolled a few paces behind. Adrian paced silently beside him, just far enough away to convey his distaste for Sam’s presence.
    Sam glanced at Adrian. His expression was as closed off as ever. Struck by an urge to draw him out, Sam moved closer. “What did you think of the fort? It’s an interesting place, isn’t it?”
    Adrian shrugged. “I guess.”
    Encouraged by the lack of outright hostility, Sam decided to keep going. “What was your favorite part?”
Another shrug. Sam tried again. “I know you were looking forward to the weapons bunker, how was that?”
“It felt wrong.”
A chill crawled up Sam’s spine. “What?”
Adrian shot him a swift glance full of the undiluted hatred Sam had come to know quite well over the past few months. But behind that was a faint spark of fear which sent an unpleasant jolt through Sam’s blood. “Adrian? What do you mean, it felt wrong?”
“Nothing,” Adrian mumbled, looking away.
Sam plowed on, in spite of Adrian’s obvious desire for him to drop it. “Adrian, look, I know you don’t like me, but I…I feel strange things too, sometimes. You can tell me if—”
“I told you, I didn’t mean anything. Just leave me alone.”
Sam studied the boy’s profile. His jaw was tight, his gaze fixed on the ground and his hands stuffed in the pockets of his shorts. Tension rolled off him in waves. The resemblance to his father was eerie, and Sam knew from experience that the similarities didn’t end on the outside.
Part of Sam wanted very much to push the issue. To find out what exactly Adrian had felt in the fort. But a larger part of him didn’t want to destroy what little progress he’d made with the child over something that was most likely his imagination.
If you push it, it’ll only make him angry, and if that happens he’ll make everyone else miserable. There’s no point in that, when all you have to go on is your own fear.
It was a justification, and Sam knew it. But he couldn’t bring himself to ruin what was left of Bo’s weekend with his children. Not without a damn good reason, and this didn’t qualify.
When they reached the car, Bo laid a hand on Sam’s arm while the boys clambered into the backseat. “You were talking to Adrian.”
Sam nodded. “A little bit, yeah.”
“About what?”
“I asked him how he liked the fort.”
“And what did he say?”
Sam was torn. He didn’t want