Joyce looked at Ruthie. She could see Jeanie in the child’s face. But her soul ached that Jeanie would never get to meet this precious grandchild of hers. It wasn’t fair. Why was life so unkind to those who deserved the best?
At least Kyle had come back. Under less than wonderful circumstances, sure, but he was home now and that was what mattered. Ruthie made up for so much. Babies were like that. Gifts of promise and potential. Tiny packages of untapped possibility.
With a grandfather like Mitch, Ruthie could become anything she wanted. Kyle had yet to do much with his life, but Joyce didn’t hold that against him. Losing his mum had done a number on him. And with the way he’d blamed his father for so much, well, he’d done his own head in with that one.
Things had to be better now, though. Kyle and Mitch weren’t just talking again, they were working as a team. She’d seen them, putting that crib together, laughing and chatting like nothing had ever happened.
Which wasn’t to say Jeanie’s presence was no longer in the house. With Kyle back, Joyce half-expected to see Jeanie walk into the kitchen at any moment. It was an odd feeling. She knew Jeanie was gone, and yet, her spirit most definitely lived on.
Kyle had her laugh. Maybe Ruthie would, too. No doubt she’d grow up to be a great beauty like her grandmother. Joyce didn’t know what this Addison looked like, but the Ripley features were strong in Ruthie.
Maybe that was what had put Addison off the baby?
Joyce liked that she could see Jeanie in the little one’s features. As far as she was concerned, any mother who didn’t put her child first didn’t deserve to have her likeness carried on. Wasthat petty? She didn’t care. She didn’t like Addison, and nothing was going to change her mind.
Although, she was happy that Addison had been such a miserable cow or Kyle never would have come back. That would have been a real tragedy.
Beryl let out a sigh, shifting to uncross her ankles. “How am I ever going to go back to Devon after this?”
Joyce smiled. She’d suspected Beryl would feel that way, she just hadn’t expected it to happen so soon. “Do you think you’ll get up to visit your son while you’re here?”
“Not unless he pays for a ticket.” She looked at Joyce. “And don’t go asking your boss. I won’t accept another thing from him.” Frowning, she looked out at the pool. “Neville’s gotten awfully close with his wife’s family. Sometimes, I think he’s forgotten all about me.”
“That’s not true.”
Beryl shrugged. “No, it’s not. He calls once in a while. But the calls are quick, and he never has much to say. I feel like…I don’t know, like I’m more of something to cross off his to-do list than anything else.” She looked at Joyce. “I shouldn’t have retired. It’s not a great feeling to realize you’ve come to the end of your usefulness.”
“Beryl, don’t say such a thing. That’s not true at all.”
“It’s how I feel. You don’t understand, because you have people to look after.” Beryl looked longingly at Ruthie. “I don’t even have a pet.”
Hearing her big sister talk like that gave Joyce a pain in her chest. She resolved right then and there to do something about that.
She’d need to know a little more about Kyle’s plans, but an idea had begun to take shape. Could she get Beryl to agree to it?
That was the fly in the ointment. Beryl could be a bit resistant to change, but she’d just said herself that she didn’t have a wholelot to go home to. Maybe not in those words, but Joyce could read between the lines.
Her sister needed a purpose. And Joyce was going to give her one.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Kyle tucked his hands behind his head. “I love Ruthie with all of my heart, you know that, so I hope this doesn’t come out wrong, but it’s really nice to have a break from being solely responsible for her.”
Mitch glanced at his son, currently sprawled on the sofa in Mitch’s office. “Didn’t sound wrong at all. I understand that. You’ve been her only real parent for three months. It had to be exhausting.”
“Yeah. Babies are a lot of work.”
“Yes, they are. You’ve done a great job with her. I hope you know that.” Mitch turned his chair to see his son better. “I am really impressed with the way you stepped up and took care of her.” He smiled. “My kid has a kid.”
Kyle rolled his eyes, clearly amused. “I’m not such a kid anymore, Dad.”
“I know.” He was twenty-six. An adult. A father. Which brought to mind something else Mitch had been thinking about. “With me and Joyce helping, you’ll have a lot more time on your hands.”
Kyle nodded. “I will, for sure. I’ve already found that to be true in the short time I’ve been here. I also know I need to dosomething with my life.” He sat up. “I need to provide for myself and Ruthie. Not saying I don’t appreciate what you’re doing for us, I do. But I need to pull my own weight. And as crazy as it sounds, I want her to be proud of me.”
Mitch understood that. He’d felt that way himself as a father. Still did. “Do you have any ideas about what you want to do? You were interested in writing once upon a time. Although that’s not the easiest way to make a living.”
“I’m still interested in writing, but I’ll need something besides that. I know you don’t just start out making money,” Kyle said. “Although I did write a book.”
