“Nicole is a marvelous girl,” he said, and Paige caught the softness of pride beneath his steady voice. “But you’re right that I’m not completely happy.”
He leaned back slightly, a soft sigh escaping him. “They’ve been a bit distant lately. They know I don’t fully approve of them living together before marriage.”
Paige nodded, not judging, just understanding.
“I realize it’s old-fashioned,” he continued, his gaze dropping briefly to the popcorn bowl between them. “It’s just, I suppose Iamold-fashioned. It’s the way I was raised, you did things in a certain order. Marriage, then children. And now they’re doing it all at once, and I—” He exhaled slowly. “I don’t want to push them away, but I worry I already have.”
His words gave Paige’s heart a tug. She tilted her head, catching his eyes again. “Wanting the best for your child isn’t old-fashioned. And accepting that their path might look different from the one you imagined? That’s all right, too. You don’t have to approve to still love them and be there for them.”
His shoulders relaxed at that, a visible release of something heavy. “Do you really think so?”
“I do. Parents have to work around expectations all the time. Just because our visions of our children’s futures turn out differently than reality doesn’t mean we’re bad parents or we have to give up on them. We just adapt and—what’s that saying? Keep calm and carry on?”
He laughed. “Very good, yes.” He tossed a single piece of popcorn into his mouth and chewed.
“They want me to be a real part of this,” he said. “They invited me up tomorrow to celebrate. Meet her properly. Meet her parents. Talk about the future.” He gave an odd chuckle. “It’s strange to be told you’re going to be a grandfather by the same child you still picture as a boy with a scraped knee.”
“Kind of short notice, isn’t it?”
He nodded. “It wasn’t planned. Apparently, her folks were already going to be in town and Andrew and Nicole just decided to see if I could come up. Andrew admitted it was all very last-minute.”
“Well, if the universe believes you’re ready for grandpa status, I say go with it.”
He looked at her then, and the gratitude in his eyes felt like a secret shared only with her. “Thank you.”
“For what?” she asked softly.
“For giving me perspective. And for being here when real life interrupts the movie.”
Paige moved the popcorn bowl so she could lean against his shoulder just slightly. “That’s what real life does. It interrupts. But sometimes the story it brings with it is even better.”
He took a breath. “Would you go with me? We’d leave tomorrow and get home Tuesday, so nothing too major.”
She straightened. “To New York? To the gender reveal?”
“Yes.” His voice was calm, but she could see tension in his shoulders. “Is that too much too soon?”
Paige was trying to sort the dozen or so thoughts whirling through her head when he added, a little quickly, a little shyly, “I’ve already told Andrew about you.”
Her heart gave an unexpected leap. “You have?”
Graham nodded, looking almost boyish in that moment. “He’s been telling me for a while that I should get back out there, so I mentioned I’ve been seeing someone. Someone who makes me smile. Someone I would very much like him to meet.”
Warmth rushed through her. She was stunned and dizzied by his words. She tried to bite back her smile and failed. “You said all that?”
“It may have been phrased with slightly more awkward British restraint,” he said, eyes crinkling. “But yes. They know you’re important to me.”
Paige took a soft breath, acknowledging what it really meant. Graham saw a future with her.
“Well,” she said, her fingers tightening around his. “If you want me there and they’re okay with it, then I’d love to go.”
Graham’s shoulders eased, relief turning his smile into something more solid. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For saying yes. For being you.” His thumb brushed gently over her hand. “And bringing joy back into my life. Now I suppose we ought to do something about flights.”
Paige leaned closer, their faces inches apart, and whispered, “There’s something about me you need to know.”
