Even from across the room, he knew she didn’t want to talk to him.
Jack wasn’t deterred. With a little more coaxing, they slowly made their way toward him.
“I knew she’d come and say hello,” Andrea said with more enthusiasm than he felt. “Maybe she’s heard from the bank.”
It probably had more to do with Jack. But, instead of continuing toward them, they walked into the kitchen. A few seconds later, Jack appeared holding a box.
Richard glanced at Andrea. “Do you know what Jack’s holding?”
Her smile told him she knew exactly what it was. “Charlie gave me a similar box before we came here. Apart from that, I’m not saying anything.”
By the time Jack was beside him, he was almost certain it was the flower arrangement his son had made in Paris’ class.
“Happy Valentine’s Day, Dad,” Jack said proudly. “This is for you.”
Richard glanced at the wary look in Paris’ eyes before holding the box. “Thank you. Should I open it here or at home?”
“Here.”
Kneeling, he peeled off the tape. When he saw the wire-framed motorcycle with tiny flowers woven through the wheels, he smiled.
Jack moved closer. “When we were in Los Angeles, Grandma showed me lots of photos of you riding a motorcycle. Before we made the Valentine’s Day presents, Paris said to think of something that was special for our parents. I thought you must like motorcycles because you rode them so much.”
Richard took his gift out of the box. Until he’d joined the army, his life had revolved around when he could ride with his friends. They’d traveled from one side of the country to the other, seeing places they didn’t know existed and meeting people who were just as crazy as them.
“Do you like it?”
“I love it.” He wrapped his arm around Jack and kissed the side of his head. “It’s the best Valentine’s Day present I’ve ever been given.”
“Paris helped me make it. We found a photo of a motorcycle on the Internet and copied its shape.”
Carefully, he placed it on the table and looked up at Paris. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” she said softly.
Andrea looked across the room. “John’s ready to welcome everyone. Do you want me to put your gift in the small meeting room with the others? It will be safer there.”
“I can drop it off,” Richard told her.
“I have to go there, anyway. Why don’t you stay with Paris? She can tell you what’s happening with the bank.”
Paris frowned. “There isn’t a lot to say. I’ve submitted my loan application. All I can do is wait for their decision.”
“At least you’re through the first hurdle,” Andrea said. “I’ll be back soon.”
After an awkward moment of silence, Richard cleared his throat. “I like your costume.”
Paris ran her hands along the skirt of the dress. “It’s the Queen of Hearts, from Alice in Wonderland. Jackie helped me make it.” She looked uncertainly at him. “I’m sorry about the other day. I shouldn’t have stomped out of the cottage.”
“I’m sorry, too. You were excited about opening a flower shop and I made you feel bad.”
Jack looked at his dad. “What did you say?”
“I told Paris owning a business is hard.”
“That’s what you told me about playing basketball.” Jack turned to Paris. “All my friends are tall and I couldn’t shoot hoops when they stood over me. Dad showed me a super-cool move that helps.” Jack bounced an imaginary ball, stepped to the left, and then pivoted to the right as he threw his shot into the air. “They don’t know where I’m going.”
Paris smiled. “I’ll have to remember that next time someone stands in my way.”
