Martha nodded, still with her welcoming smile, and as they moved outside, turned to Zoey and said, “And you, I hear you had quite an adventure in the river.”
“Oh, I wasn’t scared at all,” Zoey replied and Martha shook her head and said, “Well, aren’t you brave, I would have been terrified.”
Zoey said, “Should I call you Grandma?”
“You can call me what you like, darling.”
They walked outside, Martha with her hand gently on Zoey’s shoulder, to where Emmett was talking to Logan.
Zoey said, “Okay, I will. And I’ll call Emmett Grandpa.”
Emmett was mid-sentence and simply stopped talking, turning to stare at Zoey, momentarily lost for words.
Maeve watched his hand reach for the back of one of the chairs—possibly, to steady himself from the shock.
Martha said, “I’m sure he’d like that very much.”
They all looked to Emmett who managed to find his voice to say, “It would be a privilege.”
Zoey beamed.
There followed an odd moment of silence. A glance from Emmett to Brodie, Martha smiling. Maeve aware of undercurrents she knew nothing about.
Then Logan said, “Hey, Zoey, you want to come and see the horses?”
Brodie made a face. “What horses have you got here?”
Bella rolled her eyes. “There’s two. One is injured and the other is here so it doesn’t get lonely.”
Brodie laughed, “Steady, Logan, you’re turning into Noah.”
They all went outside, all except Maeve and Martha, who knew they’d been given this opportunity to connect in private.
Maeve glanced down at the wooden floor for a second then said, “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.”
Martha sighed, the fine lines at the sides of her eyes creasing with a sad softness, and she took a couple of steps forward. “I’m not angry, Maeve. Well, I am a bit,” she relented. “It’s my grandchild. I guess I’m more disappointed—not in you, but in missed opportunity. I could have looked after her, I could have helped more.”
“You did help,” Maeve cut in quickly, feeling the guilt heavy like stones.
Martha shook her head. “I could have done more.” Then she reached forward and placed her hand gently on Maeve’s arm and said, “I am very familiar, though, with the concept ofcould have done. And the thing is, Maeve, I understand.” She gave her arm a squeeze and then took her hand away. “I’m upset, but I understand.” She tucked her jet-black hair behind her ear, little gold horseshoe studs in the lobes. “I understand what a mother will do to protect her child. Would it have been me, I’d have found it very difficult to trust Brodie at that time of his life; especially with his—” she paused, then said less warmly “—marriage.” It was the only time Maeve had seen even a hint of disdain on Martha Carter’s face.
Maeve nodded, she felt too overcome for a second to say anything. That this woman could be so nice to her after everything, could be so understanding. It made her think of her own parents, made her realize that compassion was a gift, not a given. “Thank you, Martha.”
Martha smiled, her eyes glinting just like Brodie’s. “Thankyou, Maeve. Zoey is my first grandchild, and I am absolutely thrilled to have her—and you—in the family. Now come on, let’s head out and join the others.”
They went through the house and out the back where most of the men had gone with Zoey and Logan to see the horses. Even Emmett was out there with them. Maeve watched as the older man got a packet of Polo mints out of his shirt pocket and gave Zoey a couple to feed the two inquisitive horses.
Noah and his girlfriend, Ren, had been left in charge of the barbecue.
“I think it’s ready, Noah,” Ren was saying, hands in the pockets of her shorts as she looked pointedly at the coals.
Noah was shaking his head. “That isnotready.”
Ren shook her head. “I don’t know why you can’t just have gas? Oh, hi, Maeve!”
“No one who wants to cook a steak properly has gas,” Noah replied. “Hi, Maeve.”
Maeve raised a hand in greeting, grateful for the ease with which they welcomed her. She knew Ren from the diner, Zoey said she made better milkshakes than the owner, Loriana, but Ren had sworn them to secrecy on that fact.
