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“Grandpa!” she cried. “Oh, Grandpa, I missed you so much!”

She launched herself at him. Ed opened his arms automatically, gathering her in next to Carter. The three of them made a tight knot on the sofa.

Hannah stood there, feeling like an intruder on something fragile and private, and yet knowing she had been the one to open the door to this reunion. Her gaze met Wes’s and she saw apology and regret in his expression.

She wished, fiercely, that this hadn’t happened here. That she had found a way to talk to Ed outside, away from curious little eyes and ears. Now that the children had seen him—and had thrown themselves straight into his arms—everything would be much more messy.

Now that they had seen him again, it would only make it harder for Morgan to insist on keeping her children separated from her father, if that was still what she wanted.

“When will we see you again?” Riley asked, tilting her head back to look up at him. “Will you be able to spend Christmas with us?”

“I don’t know about that, kiddo,” he said, smoothing a hand over her hair. “Your mom and I have some things we need to work through first. But whatever happens, please don’t forget that I love you. I love you both. And your mom. So much. Nothing will ever change that. Ever.”

Riley’s mouth trembled, but she nodded.

“It’s late,” Hannah said gently. “We have a big day tomorrow and we need to get home and into bed.”

Carter groaned, but he leaned in for another hug. Riley followed suit. Ed held them both, eyes closed, as if memorizing the feel of them.

When the kids finally went back down the hall to collect their things, Ed turned to Hannah.

“I’m sorry,” he said quietly. “I should have tried to talk to you when the children weren’t around.”

She shrugged. “What’s done is done. But I don’t feel it’s right for me to let you see them again until you and Morgan have had a chance to work things out. It’s not fair to put the children in the middle.”

He didn’t look happy about that, but after a pause, he nodded. “You’re right. They’re not bargaining chips. You said there’s a chance she’ll be back this week?”

Was she betraying Morgan’s trust by even hinting at their plans?

“We’re working on getting her home,” Hannah said carefully. “It depends on what her doctors say. They like patients to stay close during her particular treatment, since it’s experimental. But they are considering making an exception for the holidays.”

“You have my information,” he said, nodding to the paper still in her hand. “Will you please reach out when she comes back? I know you don’t owe me a thing. You don’t know me from Adam and you don’t know the whole story between me and my daughter. But I promise you this. I only want what’s best for her.”

Tears shone in his eyes again. “Cancer,” he whispered. “Just like her mother. I can’t believe she didn’t tell me. She’s going through this by herself?”

“She’s not by herself,” Hannah said. “She has an entire community behind her. You’ll see on Tuesday, if you come to the concert.”

“I’ll be there,” he repeated. “You couldn’t keep me away.”

To her surprise, he reached out and took her hand. His grip was firm and warm.

“Thank you for taking care of my grandchildren. If my daughter trusted you with them, I know she had a good reason.”

Emotion surged in Hannah’s throat, sudden and overwhelming. She nodded because she wasn’t sure she could speak without her voice breaking.

Ed turned then and extended his hand to Wes. As the two men shook hands, something like mutual understanding passed between them.

Ed squared his shoulders, nodded once more toward them both and let himself out the front door.

The house seemed hushed in his wake and Hannah became abruptly aware that she and Wes were alone in the small front room.

“Well,” she said, exhaling. “I didn’t expect my evening to end like that.”

“Me either,” Wes said. “You okay?”

She sank onto the nearest chair. “I don’t know what to think. Why do you suppose they’re estranged?”

He leaned a shoulder against the doorframe, crossing his arms loosely. “Hard to say without hearing both sides. But it sounds like maybe they’re a lot alike. Stubborn. Both thinking they’re doing what’s best for the other one.”