Page 53 of Night By Night

“How are they?” Derrick asked.

“JJ’s fine,” he said. “Hank’s still shaken.” He told them what he’d learned from Wade.

Marcia’s eyes widened. “Holy crap,” she said. “They really are doubly lucky. They have you, and they’re alive. They need anything, let us know.”

“Hank’s a proud man. Getting him to accept much more help might push him to his breaking point. He’s going to need to replace his truck, though.”

“When he’s ready, let us know,” Marcia said. “We know a car dealer.”

“Yeah, a new one won’t be in his budget right now.”

“Maybe not,” Derrick said, “but we trust her to not screw him over. She’s a friend in common. She can help find him a good used one within his budget.”

“Ah. Thanks, I’ll let him know.”

He spent the day yawning and drinking more coffee than he usually did, which he suspected might catch up with him later.

When it was finally time to pick up JJ, he headed out feeling…excited. If this was what being a step-dad felt like, he could easily get used to it.

Now if he could only find a clear and reduced-guilt path toward convincing Hank that was a great idea.