But she couldn’t help feeling a little guilty. Here she was, being all presumptuous again, that he needed her. Because a man new to parenthood needed advice from a childless woman. Sandra gave herself a mental shake. She wasn’t as clueless as he’d been. So, her helping him had nothing to do with the final look he’d given her.
How would he handle their first week? This time of year was busy for Eb too. Would it create problems for him if he needed to take time off to help Rue adjust? Sandra was pretty sure he wouldn’t hesitate to do it. Could he work remotely if necessary?
Sandra reminded herself it wasn’t any of her business. She had her own job to worry about. With that mental reminder, she dealt with an email.
Then her mind went back to Eb. It was a good thing Grace was only in kindergarten. She would spend more time at the daycare, which would help Rue adjust more easily. Maybe Sandra could bring the girls something back from New York, like one of those fancy porcelain dolls a friend from high school had collected.
“Are you thinking about Eb and his daughter?” Walt asked.
Sandra gave him a side-eye. He knew her too well.
“Yes. I want to bring Rue and Grace a present from New York.” She woke her tablet. “I’ll need to find something for Alex too.”
“I’m sure they’ll all like whatever you get. I’m surprised you didn’t ask me if Linda and I visited them yesterday.”
Sandra turned to him fully then. “Did you? How were they doing?”
“They looked like they’d both just wakened.” Walt chuckled. “All the cupboard doors were open—with nothing inside. Your suggestion to take breakfast over was brilliant. Having spent so much of my life as a single man, I can only sympathize. I can’t even imagine what I’d have done to find myself responsible for a young child.”
“Yeah. I got the same impression.” Sandra wanted to ask more, but it would make Walt curious, thinking she was more interested than she ought to be. Which she was.
“Did you let him know you were going out of town?” he asked.
She thought back and said more casually than she felt, “I mentioned it to him in passing.”
Walt raised a brow, his eyes bright with interest. Now, happily married, he’d taken to making suggestions about people she might like to date. He’d always acted fatherly toward her, something she’d appreciated. But until he’d married Linda, he’d never tried playing matchmaker for Sandra.
“Grace couldn’t talk about anything else yesterday. She’s observant for someone so young. Maybe it comes from having spent so much time in a stodgy English castle. But she said the three of you would make a cute family.”
“Boss…”
“I know. Mind my own business.” Walt reclined his chair. “But Eb looked like a man who could use some help with this, and that little girl deserves the best she can get. I can’t imagine what her mother was thinking to toss her off like she did.”
Sandra pinched her lips to keep from sharing with him the lie Paige had told Eb. It wasn’t her secret to share.
Walt had been watching Sandra. “I can tell by your expression there’s more to this story. I’m glad he has a friend like you. And how you’re finally stepping out from work to have a friend too. I’ve learned the hard way how important staunch friends are.”
Her tablet woke with another email. She opened it and gave it a quick scan. “There’s been a slight change to one of your interviews.”
When they finished going over his schedule again, Sandra copied Eb’s email address and pasted it into her private one.
Eb,
Walt told me you and Rue were planning to go swimming yesterday. I hope it was fun. If you wouldn’t mind sharing, I’d love some pictures. Here’s my cell number. I’d also like to bring Rue back a doll from New York. What kind do you think she’d like?
Sandra included her number and clicked Send. She’d barely wondered if he’d reply to her email when her phone pinged with a text with a photo. It was a selfie of Eb and Rue, their hair wet, faces alight with grins. Sandra took a picture of Walt snoozing in his chair and sent it to Eb with two words.
Sandra
I’m jealous.
* * *
When the snapshotof Walt Kinkade, gently snoring in a reclining chair on what must be his private jet, came through on Eb’s phone, he chuckled. Despite the fun day with Rue, Eb had felt Sandra’s silence on Sunday, like an additional weight on his shoulders.
Of course, she wouldn’t have called him or offered to spend the day with them. She’d mentioned needing to get ready for a busy two weeks of interviews around the country.
But Eb had missed her steadying presence and quick smile, the way she seemed to know when to say something or keep silent. And Rue had asked where Sandra was several times. Two weeks had seemed like a very long time—until he’d received the email with her phone number.
