The excitement now coming off her was almost palpable, and Carlisle put his arm around Merry’s shoulders as they watched her mother with understanding smiles. It made Eb wistful as he thought back to the handful of times he’d come to this airport to pick up Paige. He’d never felt like this or sensed anything like it from her—or, if he were honest, for her.
Why hadn’t they just gotten an annulment? Even if Paige had been emotionally fragile at the time, it’d been obvious they weren’t well suited, and he’d never been more to her than a temporary diversion. Eb had assumed she had come off of a breakup with one of her boyfriends. Or maybe one of Paige’s friends had dared her to try having anormallife. The group had talked about it a lot during their holiday stay.
Rue had returned to his side and slid her little hand in his. If he’d gotten an annulment, there might not have been Rue. Or he’d never have known about her. Even considering everything Paige had put him through, he’d do it again if it meant he could have his daughter.
The small plane finally taxied into view. In public, Linda wasn’t normally this effusive. She must have really missed Walt. From what Sandra had told him, the Kinkades had been apart as long as Eb had been alive.
Barely out of high school, they’d experienced something he still hadn’t. For a second, he wondered if there was something wrong with him, if he lacked the capacity to love deeply like the adults around him today. But then Rue was lifting her arms to be carried.
No.Hewasn’t the one who had trouble connecting with people. Eb might have been spineless not to have gone after Paige to claim his rights to Rue, but it hadn’t come from his inability to care because his love for his daughter was a powerful thing.
It was time for Eb to stop beating himself up over what had happened with her mother.Hehadn’t been the one to walk out.
It’d taken him until this morning to get in for the paternity test, so he should know for sure by next week. The lawyer he’d hired had also assured Eb that Sandra had been correct. Even if he wasn’t Rue’s biological father, he had parental rights because he’d been married to Paige at the time of the birth, though the attorney had told Eb to be prepared. Paige could claim it’d been him who’d done the abandoning.
Rue let out a squeal, pulling him from his sour thoughts. The plane door had finally opened. Walt was the first one out, and he swept his wife into his arms.
“Grampy!” Rue wriggled from his grasp.
“Hang on.” Eb let her down but held her hand, captivated by the scene before him.
“Ah, they’ve noticed the rest of us,” Carlisle said from the side.
Merry finally let the children run ahead as she and her husband joined her mother and stepfather. Rue tugged her hand loose and hurried after them. Eb stood in place, not sure if he should have stopped her. He didn’t want to make her feel like she wasn’t part of the welcome party, but he also didn’t want her to intrude on a family moment.
“She’s fine,” Sandra said from beside him.
Embarrassed he hadn’t seen her leave the plane, he automatically embraced her. To his surprise, she hugged him back. Like,reallyhugged him.
The chemistry which had always flitted around the edges of their interactions over the past year ramped up big time, like it finally burst free. Therightnessof holding her made his arms stay around her. He didn’t want to let her go. So what if people might be watching them? And she was hot.
Wait. Too hot. Was she feverish? A surge of protectiveness washed over him. Until Rue, he’d never really had anyone to take care, but he sensed that Sandra needed him.
Easing his hold on her, he whispered, “Are you sick?”
“Sorry.” Sandra straightened and dropped her hands, so he did too. “I’m just really tired. How fun that you two are here. Who told you when we’d get in?”
“Linda invited us. I hope it’s okay.” Eb glanced over at the group where the three children were dancing around Walt. “Rue hasn’t talked about anything but the doll since your call, so be prepared.”
“Grace has been the same way.”
“And Alex?”
“He’s getting a robot.”
“Nice.” Eb grinned. “Now I’m jealous.”
“Ah, so you’re into robots, are you?” Before Sandra could say more, Walt called for them to join his group.
Almost like it was automatic, Sandra headed in their direction. Eb supposed working with the man for a decade, he had her trained well. Eb could only hope Walt treated her well too.
“The girls can’t wait any longer,” Walt was saying to Sandra by the time Eb reached them.
“Me either,” Alex insisted, his face scrunched in alarm that they’d forgotten him.
“Hey,” Merry chided. “No onehasto bring you guys presents back from a trip. You need to be grateful.”
“Iam.” With an exaggeratedly humble expression, the boy turned to Walt. “Thank yousomuch, Grampy.”
