She sighed happily at how well things had turned out, until a dark shadow loomed behind her.
Cranky Jones.
Blocking the light from the doorway, he dumped their bags and the stroller onto the floor.
“Cheer up,” she said.“The hut’s notthatbad.”
But she knew it wasn’t their accommodation that was making him scowl.Nothing was going right for the poor sucker, and to boot, despite what he’d said in the cab, it was obvious he’d had a fight with his mom when he’d gone to collect his things.
“Is it the age gap that bothers you?”Libby asked.“Or the fact you didn’t know?”
“Both.”Cranky massaged his neck and shoulders.“I mean, he’s got to be at least fifteen years younger than her.It can’t last.”
“Does it have to?Doesn’t your mom deserve to just have a little fun?”
“Of course she does.”But the downward curl of Dan’s lips told her he’d never considered his mom havingthatkind of fun before.
“Hasn’t your mom dated since your dad?”
“Not as far as I know.”
“So she hasn’t had…”
Dan’s hand shot up, and Libby clamped her big mouth shut.Clearly, he didn’t want to think about his mom having sex—not onhishoneymoon, anyway.Probably not ever.
With a heavy sigh, Cranky dropped to the bed and hung his head.
“You were right,” he said.“I did upset her.I was angry.I acted like a spoilt brat.”
His head drooped.His shoulders sagged.A puppy left out in the rain.Oh, for Pete’s sake.Where was the Olympian?The Lightning Strike.The guy who’d stood on countless podiums like he’d conquered the world?
“Okay, Cranky,” she said.“It looks to me like you’ve got two choices—sulk, or apologize and make things better.”
Leaving him to his brooding, Libby set about making a snack of fruit and crackers for Karim.Once she’d found a plate and a knife in the little kitchen, she sat on the floor next to her child, who’d already gotten his toy cars out of her bag and had lined them up, ready for action.She sliced up a mango, handed him a chunk, and snagged a piece for herself.
“Want some?”She held the plate up to Dan.
“No, thank you.”
He looked so tired and alone, so…helpless.Should she give him a hug or a hard poke with a stick?
Karim scooted one of his cars across the tiled floor.It hit Dan’s foot.
“Crash!”
“Honey, be careful.”
“It’s okay.”Dan picked up the car, something wistful and longing shining in his eyes.“Cool cars, kiddo.”He scooted the car back, and her baby’s face flashed like a neon sign.New playmate!
Karim scooted another car toward him.
Dan stopped it with his foot, then scooted it back.
“You might be here all night now,” Libby said.“Karim loves to play.”
“I’d much rather play cars than do anything else right now.”Dan looked even sadder and more alone than before, and then he let out another sigh.“I guess I have this unrealistic idea about everlasting love.That’s what I thought my parents had.That’s what I thought…” He bit the words back, shaking his head.
That’s what he thought he had with Isabella?
