“Where’s Gabe?” he asked with a mouthful of cookie.
“Outside waiting for us. We’re going to take a walk around the property.”
Kate handed me a paper towel, and I cleaned him up. “Can you say thank you to Kate and John?”
“Thank you, Kate and John.”
“We’ll be back after our walk,” I told them. I knew Gabe wanted a tour of the resort. His ideas for restructuring hinged on turning some of his properties into ones closer to the family feel that made my parents’ so unique.
Reid ran in front of me, racing down the path to Gabe, and I knew I was making the right choice. I couldn’t let my fear hurt my chance at a happy ending or Reid’s. He rushed into Gabe’s arms, and a swell like a rogue wave constricted my chest. Gabe picked Reid up and placed him on the rock where I’d perched only minutes before. They were talking about chocolate chip cookies by the time I reached them.
“Gabe’s favorite cookie is chocolate chip, too!”
“I know,” I replied, giving them a smile.
Gabe returned my smile, but there was hesitation behind it. He was still waiting for my move, trying to determine what I was up to. “Are we taking a walk?”
“We can,” I answered. “But first, we need to talk.”
“Boring,” Reid said, picking a piece of chocolate from his fingernail and sucking on it. I pushed his hand down and gave him a scolding look.
“Talk about what?” Tension lined Gabe’s features, and I stopped it, bringing my hand to his cheek and giving him a kiss.
Reid’s giggle had me laughing.
“Don’t worry. It’s all good stuff,” I told Gabe.
The tightness in his jaw didn’t fade. Turning to Reid, I tipped his chin up so he would look at me. The words froze in my throat, and with them the fear returned. This was more difficult than I had imagined. But Reid deserved to know the truth.
“Do you know why your hair is brown and mine is black?” I asked him.
He shook his head.
“Because you have your daddy’s hair.”
Gabe went stiff beside me.
“And why your eyes are so special?”
He shook his head again.
“Because they come from your daddy.”
“Tori…” Gabe warned.
“Shush, he deserves to know the truth.”
Reid scrunched his eyes as he waited for me to say more.
“Do you know someone else who has brown hair like yours and eyes like yours?” I wasn’t so sure he was at the age where he could piece things together like this, but my son was sharp, just like his father.
He peeked around me at Gabe.
“Gabe?” he asked, his eyes inquisitive.
“Yes. Before you were born, I met the most wonderful man. He was handsome and funny and sweet, and he swept me off my feet. I loved him so much that it hurt to be without him. But he had to leave for reasons he can explain to you one day.”
“When I’m older?”
