He runs his hand through his hair nervously and backs down a step like he’s leaving. “Um, I was just dropping Aspen off so she could spend some time with you while Jackson’s here. I should get going. It was nice seeing you again.”
I watch as he heads toward the gate. He fumbles with the latch, grumbling under his breath, “I knew this was a stupid idea.”
My heart hurts the farther away he gets. It’s as if he’s thrown a grappling hook in it, and it’s hit the end of the line. My body jerks forward as he continues down the path, and before I know it my bare feet are hurrying after him. “Raffe. Stop!”
He does, and I almost barrel right into his backside. My hands brace against his strong back to keep myself upright, and he flinches beneath my touch. I quickly step away from him.
Slowly, he turns around, and I force myself to meet his eyes. “I’m sorry. You just caught me off guard. I didn’t know you were coming, and …” I throw my hands in the air, not sure how to tell him how badly I want him to stay.
“And I’m still so damn good looking it stole your ability to speak?” he teases, and that grin I’ve dreamed of every night tugs at the corner of his mouth.
My shoulders fall at his joke, and I laugh lightly. His smile widens, and his blue eyes sparkle in the sun. “You’ve always had a way of making me forget my words.”
His cheeks turn red, and he looks away briefly before turning back to me. “Itisgood to see you again,” he says, and this time it doesn’t sound so empty.
“I’m glad you’re here.” I glance over my shoulder toward my sanctuary, and then back at him.
“It’s okay, I can …”
I interrupt him. “If we don’t get in there, you won’t get to try my cookies.” I lean closer to him, whispering, “Just between you and I, I think they’re even better than my mother’s.”
He barks out a laugh, and his shoulders fall too. “I can’t believe you said that out loud.” He pretends to look around us, like my mama might jump out of the bushes any minute.
I wave for him to follow me, and he quickly falls into step beside me. I smile because it feels so weirdly familiar. My heart skips a beat when I catch him smiling too.
When we get to the gate, he lets me unlatch it. “It’s a little tricky,” I say, hoping to ease any embarrassment he feels from his earlier attempt at opening it. His warm hand lands upon the small of my back as it swings open, urging me forward. He touches me there again when we reach the door of my house.
Every cell in my body is jumping around like a damn fool. No part of me knows what it should be doing. All I know is that I want to lead him through more doors.
Jackson, Brody, and Aspen all look up and smile when they see us together. The three of them are shrugged back on the couch, rubbing their bellies.
“Did you save us any?” Raffe asks.
Brody points to the almost empty plate on the table. “Better get over there before I go in for round two.”
As soon as Raffe sits at the table, Jackson stands from the couch and dumps his daughter onto his dad’s lap. “Brody and I need to get to work. Her diaper bag is in the front of the truck, if you need it.” He gives her a kiss on the cheek. “You be good for Nana and Papa,” he tells her.
She nods, already shoving another cookie into her mouth.
“That’s the last one,” her dad tells her. She nods, crumbs falling from her lips.
“I’ll give her some real food. I promise,” I assure him.
I slide into the chair next to Raffe, watching him with our granddaughter. Jackson referred to us as Nana and Papa. Never in a million years did I see all of this coming. I wonder what Raffe thinks about it. Is he angry that it’s not Rachel sitting here with him and Aspen?
As if reading my mind, his eyes lift to mine. He holds up his cookie. “I hate to say it, but I think you’re right.”
It makes me laugh. “But you’re not going to admit that out loud, are you?”
He shakes his head. “That woman has snuck up on me more times than I care to think about.”
My smile fades, and I look away. “Thank you for including my parents in Jackson’s life.”
“When I got back to …” He pauses, struggling for the right word. “When I got back to life, they were all I had. My own parents were gone by then.”
An awkward silence settles between us, because what the hell am I supposed to say to that? “I’m glad they were there for you,” I finally say.
“They would have been there for you too.”
