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Kait swallowed and stared straight ahead as she struggled to say the words without emotion. “Six weeks ago.”
“I’m so sorry for your loss.”
“Thank you.”
“Gotta be tough,” Ryan murmured.
She lifted her chin. “Time passes. Things change.”
“There’s an understatement.” He took off his Stetson and put it back on his head. “How long will you be in town?”
“Long enough to tie up a few loose ends.”
“Loose ends, huh?” A flash of pain appeared in his eyes before he quickly lowered his gaze. “So you weren’t going to even stop by and see me?”
She took a deep breath at the accusation.
What could she possibly say? Yes, Ryan. You’re the reason I’m here. The reason we’re here. I’d like to introduce you to your daughter.
Instead, she barely mumbled out an inadequate response. “I did plan to see you.”
Silence separated them. The same silence that had once been a comforting bond between two friends was now an insurmountable wall.
Ryan shuffled his boots on the cement. “Heard you moved East. Buffalo, right?”
“Philly.” She pulled open the restroom door. “Jenna, are you coming?”
“We’re washing our hands.”
“Maybe we could get together later, for coffee?” He suggested.
“Discuss old times?” The last thing she wanted was to discuss old times. There was nothing to be gained from reminiscing. Moving forward was her only hope.
“Yeah. Why not?”
“We were kids, Ryan.”
“Is that all we were?” he returned, with unexpected bitterness.
“A lot has happened in eight years,” Kait whispered.
“Yeah, it has, and it seems I missed it all, didn’t I?”
Her heart lurched. When she looked up, their eyes connected and held for a long moment.
“Kait, you left me a note. A note.” The words fairly exploded from his lips. He stood grim and angry, clenching and unclenching his hands.
As she opened her mouth to speak, a giggling Jenna and Faith burst out of the restroom.
Faith’s little fingers curled into the palm of his big hand. When she smiled up at her uncle, the tension in Ryan’s body slipped away.
Kait melted at the tender smile he gave the child beside him. Finally his gaze returned to her, and his control was back in place. “Thanks for helping me out here.”
“No problem.” She placed an arm around her daughter’s shoulder. “We … we should be going.”
“Sure.” He gave a quick nod. “But I meant it about getting together sometime. Seems to me we have unfinished business.”
She bit her lip and shook her head. “Yes. Yes, you’re right. We do need to talk.”
Ryan stood still for a moment, as though surprised at her sudden acquiescence.
“Ryan, I really did plan to see you.”
“I want to believe that.” He slowly nodded. “Where are you staying?”
“Out in Granby, at the old house.”
“Have you got a phone?”
“I have a cell.” Digging in her purse, she pulled out a piece of paper and a pen and wrote the number for him.
When he took the paper, their fingers brushed. Kait stilled for a brief second before pulling away quickly.
“I’ll give you a call.”
“Okay.” She looked to the child by her side.
Jenna stared curiously at Kait and then at the tall cowboy.
“Hey, there. I’m Ryan Jones. This young lady is my niece, Faith.”
Faith released a squeal of childish delight at being included in the conversation, while Jenna hesitantly accepted the hand Ryan offered.
Jenna’s soft-spoken words as she leaned toward Kait were loud enough that Ryan could hear. “Momma, is he—”
“We’ll talk about it later, sweetie.” Kait cut off the question and turned to leave.
“Kait.”
She glanced over her shoulder at Ryan, her emotions whirling.
“I’m glad you’re back.”
“He’s my daddy?”
Kait backed up the compact car and pulled away from the curb. She sensed the bubbling anticipation in her daughter. After all, Jenna had been waiting her entire life to meet her father.
“Yes.”
“Does he know he’s my daddy?”
“No.” Kait released the word with caution.
“How come?”
“Seat belt on?”
Jenna complied but remained undeterred. “How come, Momma?”
“I wish I could explain. For now, you just have to trust me. Everything is going to work out.”
Kait spoke the words and prayed she was right.
Jenna mulled the answer for a bit. Beaming, she turned to her mother. “Faith is my cousin.”
“That’s right.”
Without skipping a beat, Jenna continued. “Do you think he already has a family?”
“What?”
“Do you think Ryan is married? Maybe he already has a little girl. He might not want another one.”
Kait glanced at Jenna’s stricken expression and inhaled sharply. She reached across the seat to touch her daughter’s hand. “Oh, sweetheart, any daddy would love to have a beautiful and smart girl like you for his daughter.”
In truth, Kait had the same questions as Jenna, along with a million others she’d considered on the long drive from Philly to Tulsa.
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