The girl nodded and went back to eating her rice pudding, scraping the bowl with her spoon to get every last bit, seemingly unconcerned.
Devlin looked at her across the table and raised an eyebrow, obviously surprised Avery hadn’t reacted with anything otherthan complete agreement. He dropped a kiss on the top of Avery’s head. “Are you all done?”
She nodded then placed her spoon in the empty bowl.
“All right, then, it’s time for bed. Why don’t you go brush your teeth, wash your face and get ready? I’ll be up in a minute.”
“Okay, Daddy.” Avery slid off his lap and brought both his bowl and hers to the sink, then scampered over to her. She reached up and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “Good night, Mama.”
Tresia was stunned. Yes, she knew Avery loved her—had actually told her that before—but she’d never ever called her ‘mama.’ The love she had for Avery made her heart swell and tears spring to her eyes. “Good night, sweetheart,” she managed over the lump in her throat before Avery dashed for the door to get ready for bed.
Another thought occurred to her, one that brought anxiety to mix with the wonder of Avery’s words. She glanced at Devlin, still overwhelmed. “Do you mind that she called me that?”
There was a gentle smile on his face but his eyes, so much like his daughter’s, held a touch of sadness. He shook his head, as if unable to speak, then rose from his chair and walked over to her, gave her a quick kiss on the lips, then left the kitchen. A moment later, she heard him whistling as he went upstairs.
Still stunned, Tresia did the dishes, then set up the chessboard in the parlor while he was upstairs putting Avery to bed. She poured two small glasses of brandy, then made herself comfortable at the table to wait for him.
She looked up as he came down the stairs. There was a bounce in his step and the gentle smile he’d worn earlier had grown. She waited until he took the chair across from her before she said, “I won’t ever let her forget Hannah.” She meant what she said.
“I know you won’t,” he said then reached for her hand over the chessboard, giving it a squeeze before letting go and taking a sip of brandy.
Again, that touch of sadness glowed from his eyes, but it was fleeting. If he wanted to talk about it, she’d be more than willing to listen, but for right now, there was another subject she’d been worried about discussing.
“I wanted to ask you something.”
Devlin looked up from the white pawn he was preparing to move and gave her his full attention. “What?”
“It’s about Sullivan’s,” she began but didn’t quite know how to continue. She looked across the table at him, searching his face. He hadn’t lost his smile. It was still gentle and filled with so many possibilities.
“What about Sullivan’s?” he prompted her after a few moments of silence.
“You know I want it back, right?”
“I do.”
She took a deep breath. “So what will happen if I can somehow manage to get it? We’ll be married. I’ll have you and Avery to take care of. I?—”
“You’re worried that you couldn’t have both—a happy marriage and a successful business,” he supplied the thought she had trouble with. “But I can’t see a reason why you couldn’t, Tresia. As long as Avery is happy and healthy.” He smiled at her over the chessboard. “And you have time for me.” He laughed. “Doesn’t Elsie at the Wagon Wheel have children?”
“She does. Her mother watches her girls while Elsie and Oscar are at the restaurant.”
“They seem happy. The children are well taken care of.” He sat back in his chair but never took his gaze from her. “Doesn’t Gemma over at Goldwater’s have children?”
“Yes.”
“And Mrs. Gonzales at the hotel?”
She nodded. “But their children are a bit older and actually help out. Avery is so young.”
“Didn’t your father take you to the store with him when you were young?”
“He did.”
“And you loved going there with him, spending your time helping, learning everything he could teach you.”
Fond memories filled her head, bringing a lump to her throat. “Yes.”
“I’m sure Avery wouldn’t mind being with you at the store. In fact, I think she’d love it.” He sat up and moved his pawn then looked at her. “I can help, too, here at home so you wouldn’t have to worry. I would hate for you to give up your dreams because we’re getting married. You should be able to do the things you want to do.”
