Our girl.
The softening in Jen’s blue eyes let him know she’d stalled on the same word he had. And the slow fade of her smile reminded him of what he’d been trying to forget since his eyes opened this morning.
The kids weren’t theirs. They’d be on the road soon, headed back to Maple Valley and all the realities they’d both been avoiding would come crashing back in.
He’d managed to elude Dad since Sunday, staying busy with the landscaping, conveniently heading downtown for supplies or out to the Everwood to hang out with Sam anytime Jen wasn’t around. Noah had apparently started staying at the farmhouse. He only knew that because he’d called Kit Monday to find out how she was doing.
“I don’t know what to think, Luke. It’s like Dad thought he could show up and spark a happy family reunion or something. I know I said all that stuff about forgiving him and I meant it then, but now . . . it’s just awkward. We have a half-brother. It still hasn’t sunk in.”
They hadn’t talked long. She hadn’t pushed him to come out to the orchard, which both surprised and relieved him. He’d checked in with her again yesterday, and Kit had said Dad was sticking around for the rest of the week.
“We still have a little time.” Jenessa’s gentle voice pulled him back to the present.
But not much. Carmen had called earlier in the week after finally talking to Dustin Hollis. He planned to make travel arrangements as soon as he was back on shore—today.
He squeezed Jen’s shoulder and moved past her, climbing out of the pool and padding over wet tiles to the slide. He made quick work of the stairs and emerged on the metal landing at the top of the slide.
“Hey, you.”
“You didn’t have to come up here.” Colie’s teeth were chattering from having been out of the water too long and she hugged her skinny arms to herself.
What was the best way to help her out here? Violet’s lack of restraint made it easy to connect with her, but Colie was different. Was she too old for him to suggest going down the slide together? Would that make her uncomfortable?
He was relieved when she spoke first. “I was just thinking about my mom. She was always so busy and stressed out and stuff. Except this one time. I was, like, six or seven or something, and we went to a water park. She was really happy that day.”
The urge he felt to put his arm around the girl was almost impossible to resist. But were they close enough for that? He didn’t know.
He leaned against the railing behind him instead. “Can I tell you something, Colie? This—well, technically, last night—is the first time I’ve been to a public pool since my arms looked like this. But last night when I saw you and Violet jump in the pool, I decided to try to forget about the scars and just have a good time. I don’t mind admitting it was scary for a second, peeling off my shirt.” He lowered his voice conspiratorially. “Especially considering Jen was right there, and I care what she thinks of me pretty much more than anyone.”
Colie rolled her eyes. “Obviously.”
He grinned. “Thing is, I know Jen would’ve understood if I’d decided not to swim. Or to wear some long-sleeved shirt into the pool. I had to be ready for it, you know?”
“Yeah, yeah, I know what you’re saying. If I’m not ready to go down the slide, I don’t have to.”
“Yes, and I’m not going to lie to you. I’m pretty proud that analogy worked.” He was pleased when she laughed. “I’m sorry things were hard with your mom, though. But I’m glad you have a happy memory of that day. You could go down the slide in her honor now. Or if you want to head back down, I’ll walk with you.”
She shook her head. “Nah, I’ll go.” She stepped up to the slide, cast him a side glance. “We could go together.”
“Yeah?”
She lifted one shoulder, which from Colie was invitation enough. She squealed the whole way down until they splashed into the water below, and then proceeded to go down three more times by herself.
And he felt almost ridiculously triumphant. He’d found the right words. He’d encouraged her. He’d earned a smile from Jenessa that could’ve melted a glacier.
But far too soon, he found himself wrapping Violet in a towel and shaking out his own sopping hair, drying off his chest and legs. He slung his towel over his shoulder, then helped Jenessa gather their things, anchored Cade to his hip, and ushered the kids out of the pool area, the scent of chlorine following them to the elevator.
“I don’t want to leave.”
Colie didn’t join in Violet’s whining, but he could read the reluctance on her face. It was all he could do to keep his own forced upbeat attitude in place. “We’ve got all those snacks for on the way home, and I’m sure we can find a fun restaurant to stop at for lunch.”
He corralled them into the elevator, punched the button for their floor, and turned to see Jen watching him. “More inappropriate thoughts, Miss Belville?” he whispered.
“Not if thinking about what a good dad you’d be is inappropriate.”
“That might be the best compliment anyone’s ever given me.”
She was pressed into his side, exactly where he wanted to keep her. He knew what she’d said last week about the possibility of still having a relationship even if he returned to Bridgewell. But he didn’t want long distance. He didn’t want months apart from her.
He wanted this closeness every single day.
And he wanted her to never stop looking at him the way she did now as she lifted onto her tiptoes just as the elevator door opened. “And as far as earlier”—she kept her voice low—“all I was thinking was that it was a shame you waited so long to take off your shirt in front of me. I might’ve fallen for you a lot sooner.”
She sauntered out of the elevator after the girls, looking back at him long enough to wink.
“Cade,” he murmured, not even trying to pretend his shiver was from the wet swim trunks. “Never wait three years to tell a woman you’re in love with her, okay?”
He followed Jen into the hallway, but he didn’t make it more than two steps before he bumped into her from behind where she’d frozen a half a dozen doors from their rooms.
Water pooled at her feet as she gasped. “Aunt Lauren?”
Jenessa couldn’t be seeing what she thought she was seeing. After twenty-three years of silence, her Aunt Lauren couldn’t be at this same random hotel on this same random day when Jenessa was. Some things were just too coincidental.
But look at her.
The woman moving toward her walked with the same mix of energy and poise Aunt Lauren always had. That was her same beguiling smile. Her same bold yet elegant style. She was as willowy and graceful as ever.
“Whoa, she came?”
Jenessa’s gaze darted to Lucas, who’d come up beside her. Wait, what was he saying? Had he known this was a possibility? Impossible.
“When she didn’t call back, I thought . . .”
“What are you talking about, Lucas?” The woman—her aunt, that was most definitely her aunt—was nearing.
“I did something, Jen. I hope you’re not upset. On Monday I found this drawer full of letters to your aunt that were returned to you and I realized she only lives a couple hours from the Twin Cities and I got Sam to help me find a phone number and—”