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“Of course there’s a choice.” Herb Otto chuckled, an apologetic smile on his face as his gaze met Graham’s.
“No,” Nick called out. “Come on.”
“One more try,” Diana added.
“I say you guys go straight for the tango.” Charity laughed. “I’ll find you a rose to hold in your teeth, Filly.”
“Charity Ann,” Mimi Otto snapped.
All five of their audience dissolved into laughter. “I told you,” Charity whispered, earning more laughter.
“My sister lives to make my mother crazy,” Felicity whispered, laughter in her voice.
Graham couldn’t help but chuck
le then.
“You look so happy, Mom,” Honor said. “You, too, Dr. Murphy. It’s nice to see you laugh.”
If Graham had been looking for a reason to keep Felicity in his hold, that was it. Honor was right. Laughter was good—therapeutic, even. “Why not?”
“You’re a glutton for punishment.” But she was smiling up at him.
“Find a good song, Nickie.” Honor pushed her brother up. “Something easy to dance to.”
“Are you sure about this?” Felicity whispered, soft enough that he had to stoop to hear her. “This could turn into some all-night dance-lesson torture.”
Nat King Cole’s soothing voice flooded the dark street. “When I Fall in Love.”
“I’m willing to risk it. Besides, it’s too good a song not to dance to.” He ignored everything everyone said, holding her closer, gently, moving with her, not the beat. She was right there with him, step for step. Spinning, turning, trusting him to guide her.
Honor was right. It had been a long time since he’d felt this happy. Too long. How could he hold on to this feeling once the song came to an end?
Chapter Nine
Felicity ran her fingers over the neatly stacked papers on the shiny mahogany tabletop. The room smelled of lemon wood polish, cologne, and coffee. The gold-rimmed bone china coffee cup in front of her sat untouched. It would be too cold to drink now—not that she had any interest in it. Her stomach was too knotted. And the words on the paper, the words coming out of Robert Klein’s mouth, weren’t helping.
“Do you have any questions?” Robert asked. “I know it’s a lot to take in.”
She had questions. So many questions. But one stood out more than the rest. How could you do this to our daughter? Not that she’d say it out loud. No, not say it, scream it—the way she wanted to. Matt wasn’t here anyway. There was never going to be an answer.
“The search for Amber’s family was a dead end?” Graham asked.
“Yes. We knew it was a shot in the dark. Amber was in foster care most of her life. No relatives to be found. I wish I had a different answer for you. Graham said Matt spoke to you both before he…his surgery.” He glanced between the two of them. “I’m taking it you didn’t know about the other stipulation?”
“No.” The word was hard. “No.” Her voice softened.
Robert nodded. “Matt and Amber were clear about what they wanted.”
How nice for them. Her hands slipped into her lap, smoothing over her gray skirt again and again. Anger now was pointless but inescapable. Neither Matt nor Amber could have anticipated this might happen, but the simple fact that this condition existed was…beyond Felicity’s comprehension.
The only biological family Jack had in this world were Honor and Nick. But that didn’t make this okay. While Matt and Amber had no problem leaving Jack in Honor’s care, Felicity was dumbfounded. Honor was a child. Eighteen, yes, but still a child. How could he? She had her whole life ahead of her.
She knew. Deep down, she knew. Matt had counted on her to do what was right for their daughter and his son.
“I’m assuming you need time to think about this?” Robert asked.
“No.” Her answer was quick.
