With a grin for Pam, he leaned forward, propped hiselbows on his knees, and, as soon as she was before him, said to Ariana, “Hi, angel.”
She gave him a shy smile.“Hi, Cutter.”
He didn’t think he’d ever get used to hearing her sweet voice say his name.He had Pam to thank for it.Although Ariana’s birth had been a death knell for sex between Pam and him, Pam had wanted Ariana to know him, and vice versa.Rather than arrange visits on the sly, she had come right out and introduced him to Brendan as an old friend from Timiny Cove.Brendan knew of Cutter’s occupation and particularly of his involvement with diamonds, and he accepted that Pam and Cutter had a lot in common.So Cutter had been included in things like Christmas parties, Fourth of July cookouts, and even an occasional dinner party.Ariana took to him easily.
Now, sharing his pleasure with Pam in a glance, he looked back at the little girl.“I hear it’s a special day,” he said softly.
Ariana nodded and grinned.
“How old?”
It was a minute of arranging before she had four fingers standing straight and separate.
“Four?Whoa.Four is really old.”
Her eyes grew wide with suppressed excitement and she nodded again.
“Are you having a party?”
She nodded.“Saturday.Wanna come?”
He tapped her tiny nose.“I think the party’s for your friends.You don’t want me along.”
“I do,” Ariana insisted, all serious.She looked at Pam.“He can come, can’t he, Mommy?”
But before she could answer, Cutter said, “I have to be back in New York.That was why I wanted to see you today.”He lowered his voice in a teasing way.“I have something for you.”
Ariana was all excited eyes again.“You do?”
“Yup.”
“Where is it?”
“Behind me.”
Clutching his arm, she climbed up on the bench and peered behind him.A small box was sandwiched there.She tried to pull it out, but couldn’t.So she tugged at his arm to move him.He wouldn’t budge.
“First a hug,” he said.
She reached up for his neck.He helped her, scooping her into his arms and hugging her with a fierce gentleness as he rocked her from side to side.It was a treasured moment.Eyes closed, he savored her warmth, the child smell of her, her delicate feel.He would have held her longer if she had allowed it.But she drew back, wanting her gift.While he continued to hold her with one arm, he reached back with the other and drew out the box.Settling easily onto his lap, she began to pull at its wrapping.
Cutter caught Pam’s eye.“She’s precious,” he said softly.
Pam nodded.“We’re very lucky.”
“She has your nose and mouth.”
“But the eyes and the hair—” She pointed at him.
He liked that thought.There was something about children as a perpetuation of their parents that he found reassuring.He would have hated to die without leaving something of himself behind in the world.Not that he wasplanning to die in the immediate future, but he knew that he wouldn’t have children with anyone but Pam.Ariana had been unplanned.He didn’t regret her birth for a minute, only the circumstances surrounding it.
“Is she a tomboy, like her mommy was?”
Pam blushed.“Nah.She’s a lady.”
“Like her mommy is.How was day camp?”
Pam waggled a hand.“The part she liked best was coming home.”
