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For once Candace couldn’t believe that Nick’s decision to employ Bertha had been driven solely by profit. Even though her eyes were bright with life, Bertha’s hands were crippled with arthritis, her back hunched. Seven years ago she would’ve already been over sixty. Nick must really care about the old woman.
Yet he hadn’t brought Jennie to visit her…
Because he hadn’t believed that Jennie was his child?
Before she could speculate further, Bertha said, “Giving Nick a summer job all those years ago was the best business decision we ever made.”
“Flattery gets you everywhere,” Nick told Bertha, lifting his napkin as the waitress delivered the smoothies to the table.
Candace smiled her thanks to the waitress, placed her straw in the deep pink drink and sipped. Despite being so driven, it appeared Nick did have some redeeming qualities. Bertha clearly thought he was wonderful. Mrs. Busby had extolled his virtues as an employer and now Bertha was implying that he’d single-handedly saved their garden center. Would taking Jennie from her father be the best thing for the child?
Candace found herself wavering.
Then she forced herself to take stock. Jennie’s well-being came first. She gazed at the man who had thrown her into such confusion. Could Nick Valentine match the kind of love she could give her daughter?
“Would you like to join us for a cup of tea, Bertha?” Nick was asking as he picked up his own smoothie.
Bertha glanced from Nick to Candace. A crafty expression crept across her time-wrinkled face. “I think I’ve kept you young people long enough.” Patting Candace’s shoulder, she added, “Nick works too hard, my dear. Do an old lady a favor and make sure he takes it easy today…and has some fun.”
Satisfaction settled over Nick.
Down near the lake the carnival was in full swing. Two black ponies led by a woman with long braids plodded along the path beside the lake, their young riders clutching at the reins.
Things were finally going better, he decided as Candace slowed the stroller, in which Jennie was still sleeping, and brought it to a halt.
Changing Candace’s belief that he was a poor parent hadn’t been as easy as he’d thought it would be. For one thing, Nick found it difficult to talk about himself. For another, while he’d vowed to spend more time with Jennie and to behave more like her father, that meant changing habits of a lifetime. He would do it. He’d already made great strides in spending more time at home. Hell, even Pauline and his sister had noticed. Nick had every intention of honoring the promise he’d made to Jennie the day she’d almost ended up in the lake—except he’d never been the kind of man who wore his heart on his sleeve.
Fortunately, his plan of inviting Candace to see firsthand the family-friendly empire he’d built had been nicely jump-started with Bertha’s zealous endorsement. He could’ve kissed the woman who’d played such an important role in his life.
How could Candace not reconsider her low opinion of him?
A little way down the rolling bank, he caught sight of his sister waving frantically. “There’s Alison,” he told Candace. “Come on, if Jennie wakes up she can play with her cousins.”
They reached the lake, and he introduced Candace to his sister’s husband, Richard, while their two sons crowded around—the four- and six-year-old both talking at once.
“Can we go see Princess Piggy?”
Nick shuddered theatrically.
“Scoot,” their father ordered.
“Can we have money to get some cotton candy?”
Alison rolled her eyes. “I’m sure your dad will give you money…be back in ten minutes.”
“I might go with them,” said Richard. “Just to make sure they don’t get into trouble.”
As the boys and their father disappeared around the bend in the path, Alison turned to Candace and shook her head. “Kids! You’re lucky you don’t have any.”
As Nick glared at his sister, Alison immediately realized her mistake. “Oh, I’m so sorry, Candace, that was tactless, I wasn’t thinking.”
“Who’s Princess Piggy?” asked Candace in what Nick was sure was a brave attempt to distract his sister.
Alison brightened up. “Haven’t you seen the kissing booth? You ought to get Nick to take you—it’s his favorite booth.” Alison grinned.
Candace shot Nick a wary glance. Nick could’ve rung his sister’s neck. “That’s not very nice.”
Alison hooked her arms through his and Candace’s and bore them both along with her. “See? There’s Princess Piggy.”
