**Chapter 4: Shadows of Suspicion**

The next morning, Nick woke up to the sound of his mom calling out that breakfast was ready. He got out of bed and made his way to the kitchen, still thinking about the conversation he had with Judd the night before. As he entered the kitchen, he saw Andrew sitting at the table, sipping a cup of coffee and chatting with his mom. "Morning, Nick," Andrew said, smiling at him. Nick nodded in response, taking a seat next to Andrew. "Morning." The conversation was a bit stilted at first, but as they started eating, it began to flow more easily. Leah was there too, chatting with her mom about her plans for the day. Judd was noticeably absent, and Nick wondered if he was still sleeping or just avoiding them. As they finished breakfast, Nick's mom mentioned that she had a few errands to run and asked if anyone wanted to come with her. Leah declined, saying she had homework to do, but Andrew offered to help Nick's mom with her grocery shopping. "I could use some company," she said, smiling at Andrew. "And it would be great to get to know you better, Andrew." Nick raised an eyebrow, feeling a pang of unease. He wasn't sure he wanted Andrew spending more time with his mom, but he didn't want to be rude either. As they set off on their errands, Nick found himself sitting in the backseat, trying to focus on his phone but sneaking glances at Andrew and his mom chatting in the front seats. They seemed to be getting along great, and Nick couldn't help but wonder if Andrew was going to become a regular fixture in their lives. As they stopped at the grocery store, Andrew offered to help carry the bags to the car. Nick's mom thanked him, and as they walked out of the store, Nick found himself walking alongside Andrew. "So, what's the plan for today?" Andrew asked him. Nick shrugged. "I don't know. I was thinking of heading down to the lake later. Maybe do some swimming." Andrew grinned. "Sounds like fun. Can I come?" Nick hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Yeah, sure. I'm sure my mom won't mind." As they continued to chat, Nick couldn't shake the feeling that Judd was watching them from somewhere, and he wondered what his brother's reaction would be when he found out that Andrew was spending more and more time with their family. The sun was shining, and the air was filled with the sweet scent of blooming flowers as they made their way back to the car. But despite the pleasant surroundings, Nick couldn't help but feel that something was off, and that the dynamics of his family were about to change in ways he couldn't even imagine.