Emma joined him and peered up and down the street. “Ruth should be back soon. Unless she drove to Dartmouth to meet him on the other side.”
“You shouldn’t have let him go,” Matthew grumbled, still cross with her.
“I’m sorry, but I was surprised to see him. I needed time to consider how to handle the situation.”
“You think too much,” he replied.
Just then, Ruth’s car appeared from around the corner and pulled up in front of the house. Matthew’s eyes grew wide as saucers.
The passenger-side door opened, and Logan stepped out. Emma sat up straighter on her knees, instantly alert. She was reminded of the day he’d jumped out of the surfboat and landed, for the first time, on the beach on Sable Island. She’d been quite curious that day.
“Is that him?” Matthew asked.
“Yes.”
Within seconds, her heart settled, and she sat back on her heels.
Emma and Matthew watched in silence as Ruth walked with Logan up the steps, and they entered through the front door. Matthew leaped off the sofa and ran to the foyer, where he stood up straight, staring. Logan stared back at him. Emma felt frozen in space and time.
“Are you Matthew?” Logan finally asked.
Matthew nodded.
Logan held out his hand and stepped forward. “It’s nice to meet you. Do you know who I am?”
Matthew nodded again.
“Good. But I need to say it anyway. I’m your dad, which is probably a lot to sort out in your mind.”
“I’ve been sorting it out for years,” Matthew replied. “Ever since Mom told me about you. She read me all your letters.”
Logan met Emma’s gaze. “I’m happy to hear that.” Then he returned his attention to Matthew. “But why didn’t you ever write back?”
“I didn’t know I could.” Matthew shot Emma a heated glare, filled with accusation.
Feeling instantly guilty and defensive, she quickly explained. “I wrote letters on your behalf.”
Logan watched their exchange, then squatted to speak to Matthew at eye level. “Your mom sent me pictures of you, and I kept every single one. But now I’m here in person, so I want to know all about you. Do you miss living on Sable Island?”
Matthew’s face lit up. “No! I never had a bike there, and you can’t play ball hockey.”
“But you must miss the horses and the beach.”
“A little.” Matthew thought about it. “I miss Georgie.”
“Who’s that?”
Emma slowly approached. “Willow’s offspring. Matthew was two years old when Georgie was born.”
“Is Georgie a boy or a girl?” Logan asked Matthew.
“A girl,” Matthew replied with a chuckle. “But we don’t call her a girl. She’s a mare.”
Logan rose to his full height. “It’s good to use the correct terminology. Do you ride her?”
“I used to,” Matthew replied. “Until we left. I hope she’s okay. Grandad promised to take good care of her.”
“I’m sure he will,” Logan said. “You must miss your grandad as well.”
