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Ryan had yet to move. He was cornered. No way out, and in his arms, now slumbering, was his nephew, so he couldn’t cut and run even if he wanted to.
“I’ll make the coffee and bring in some cake. You take everyone into the lounge, Dad.”
Ryan flinched as Hope addressed Jacob.
They filed out, leaving Faith with the Lawrence siblings.
“How can you call him ‘Dad’?” The words sounded gruff out of Ryan’s mouth.
“He asked if I would,” Hope said softly. “It felt right, so I agreed.”
She looked tired, as most new mothers did. But happy, Faith thought. Or she had before Jacob and his family arrived.
“That’s your choice.” Ryan sounded angry. “I’ll go.”
“Our half brothers and sister are innocent, and they deserve more from you, Ryan. They’re good people. I love having them in my life, and you would too if you let yourself get to know them.”
“That’s not fair, Hope,” Faith said before she could stop herself. “Ryan has had no time to adjust like you have, and you’re forcing his father and siblings on him. He has no obligation to them, and he’s done nothing wrong here.”
Hope looked her way. “Stay out of this, Faith.”
“No, she’s right, Hope. I don’t owe them anything. They’re strangers to me, and I need you to understand that and respect that I don’t want them in my life.”
His face didn’t change, but Faith knew he was a mass of conflicting emotions. Ryan was a good guy; she knew that. But he had a block about his father, and as far as she was concerned that was justified.
Hope sighed. “I’m sorry, and you’re right. I had no right to put this on you.”
“Why did you?” Ryan asked.
“I guess I like having this big extended family and want you to be a part of that.”
Faith got down cups and plated up food. Maybe she should leave as this was an overdue conversation between the Lawrence siblings, but she couldn’t make herself. She cared about these two.
“But I know you’re right and I am sorry I pushed this on you. Forgive me for forcing things with Dad and the others, Ryan.”
He kissed his sister’s cheek. “I forgive you.”
Hope sighed again, then took the platter Faith had just filled with food and walked back into the living area without saying another word.
“She didn’t realize she was hurting you, Ryan.”
“Yeah, I know, and thanks for saying what you did.”
“I’m not telling you this to make you feel bad. I’m telling you so you understand how much Hope loves and respects you.”
His eyes were steady on her face as his body swayed from side to side with his nephew safe in his arms.
“Hope once told me she believed you to be the best person she’d ever known. She said you were a good, honest, and kind human. I remember the exact day I heard those words because I was sitting down at the lake crying. It was two weeks after you’d left.”
“Faith—”
“I never told her I was crying because of you, but she knew. We cried together that day, and it was then she spoke those words. She told me the one thing she’d missed most about you was how safe you made her feel. When you were close, everything seemed possible.” Faith said the words slowly, dragging them from her memory. “Because you loved her and would always be in her corner no matter what dumb thing she did.”
“She never told me that.”
“Hope was never big on talking, Ryan. You know that like I do. For her to talk to me that way, you know it was a big deal.”
He brushed his lips back and forth over his nephew’s head while he thought about her words. “Will you come in there with me, Faith?”
