There were a few seconds of silence where she imagined Corbin smoothing Justin’s hair, reassuring him, then Justin mumbled, “It’s just that I like it here a lot more. It’s fun.”
“For me, too.”
“And you’re really nice.”
“I hope so, but I’m also human, which means I might make mistakes here and there.” Corbin’s tone gentled, and he added, “If I do, it’ll be just that—a mistake. It won’t mean I don’t love you, or that I don’t want you here with me.”
“Kay.”
“Justin...” Corbin hesitated, then forged on. “You can always talk to me. I want you to know that. If you’re worried about something, we can work it out.”
“But what if you have to go somewhere?”
“I don’t have to travel often, and if I did, your Uncle Lang would stay with you until I got back. You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”
“Yeah.” Justin hesitated, then asked with heartbreaking uncertainty, “You’d always come back, huh?”
“Nothing and no one could keep me away. I promise.” There was another small stretch of silence, then Corbin added, “I think you and I need to talk a lot more. There’s so much about you I don’t know.”
“I’m not a baby, I promise.”
“No, you’re not,” Corbin said with affection. “But you are a ten-year-old boy and I don’t want you to grow up too soon, okay?”
“I guess.”
“Will you promise me that whenever you have something on your mind, you’ll let me know?”
“Mom didn’t want me bothering her.”
“I think your mother had her own issues to work out. I’m very different. I’m already settled, and now we’ve got this house together.”
“And the boat Uncle Lang bought us.”
“Yes, and a boat.”
“And we’ve got Daisy.”
Ivey heard the smile in Corbin’s voice when he agreed. “Daisy is now a part of our family.”
“Are Uncle Lang and Ivey family, too?”
“Uncle Lang is my brother, so yes, he’s family. Ivey is a very good friend.”
“Could she be family?”
Ivey covered her face, her shoulders trembling. Clearly, she shouldn’t have been listening in. If she had known they would discuss her, maybe she’d have moved farther away than just the kitchen. Yet here she sat, her heart aching for Justin, feeling sorry for Corbin being put on the spot.
And on pins and needles for his answer.
“Sometimes family isn’t related,” Corbin explained. “So I think we can call Ivey family.”
“Good. Cuz I was worryin’ ’bout that.”
Bless his little heart. Ivey sniffled.
“Just so you know,” Corbin said softly, “I worry sometimes, too. It’s the same with Uncle Lang and Ivey. Everyone worries, but it’s easier when you share those worries.”
“I guess.”
That often seemed to be Justin’s answer. I guess. As if he didn’t quite believe what he was being told. What type of life had taught him to be so skeptical at his age?
Understanding that Justin had wound down and wasn’t as engaged anymore, Corbin said, “I like it when we have these heart-to-heart conversations.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means when we discuss the really important stuff.”
“Like how much you love me?”
Ivey stuffed her fist against her mouth to keep from sobbing. Oh God, Corbin had to be the strongest man alive to be able to bear that without bawling. She definitely wasn’t that strong.
“Yes,” Corbin said, and there was a note of gruff tenderness in his voice. “I love you very, very much.”
Using that same conspiratorial whisper, Justin asked, “Did I make Ivey sad?”
“I think,” Corbin said, “that she loves you, too, so she was worried about you being alone.”
“She might be cryin’,” Justin said. “Babies cry.”
“Ivey is definitely not a baby, so you probably shouldn’t say that.”
“I guess she’s cryin’ cuz she’s a girl, huh? That’s why.”
Corbin laughed. “Now I know you shouldn’t say that. Ivey is a very strong woman.”
“She’s still cryin’,” Justin pointed out.
“Different people show their emotions in different ways. I hugged you tight because it made me feel better.” With a shrug in his tone, Corbin said, “Ivey got a little teary-eyed. It’s okay for either of you to cry.”
“Do you ever cry?”
“I haven’t for a long time. Not since my father passed away.” Corbin was silent a moment. “Usually when I feel like crying, I talk to my family. My mother or Lang. Maybe whenever you feel like crying, you could talk to one of us.”
“Maybe,” Justin promised. “But I won’t cry around Ivey, okay?”
“Well, if you ever feel like it, I’m sure Ivey wouldn’t mind.”
Taking that as her cue, Ivey wiped her eyes and scrambled back to her feet. She peeked around the wall, found father and son watching for her, and so she plastered on a smile. “I wouldn’t mind at all, but I do have to admit, if you cry, I’ll cry. Heck, if someone on a commercial cries, I usually cry.” She lifted a shoulder. “Hope is the same, but our receptionist, Karen? I think you’ve met her, right? Well, she’s a rock. I’ve never seen her cry.”
She realized she was babbling when they both blinked at her.
Justin frowned at her critically. “Your nose is real red.”
“Yes, I’m what people call an ugly crier.”
“I don’t think you’re ugly,” he rushed to tell her. “I think you’re real pretty.”
Piece by piece, he stole her heart. “You little charmer. Thank you.” Her smile actually hurt, because she honestly had more sobbing to do. “I think it’s probably time for me to head home.”
Just then, Lang opened the door. He wore a huge smile—until he saw Justin on Corbin’s lap and the tear tracks on Ivey’s face. “Uh-oh.” His gaze searched Ivey’s face, then worriedly switched to Justin, who hastily rubbed his nose and scrambled off Corbin’s lap. Lastly, he looked at his brother.