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“I think we should raise our sons together.”
His head snapped back, and whatever potential moment had been about to occur was forgotten. Maybe it had only been a figment of Esme’s too vivid imagination.
“How would that work?” His thick brows drew together. “Are you proposing—”
“A partnership. Platonic, of course,” she amended quickly, knowing he’d never agree to anything more. Not that she wanted more. Her focus was doing what was best for Chase and Noah.
Liar, her body whispered, and Esme patently ignored it.
“A partnership,” Ryder echoed. “We’d raise the boys like we were both their parents?”
Color rose to her cheeks. “It probably sounds outlandish, but that’s how my dad was raised.”
“Your dad was switched at birth?”
She shook her head, trying to make sense of her muddled thoughts, which was difficult with Ryder so close. “No, it was a different circumstance. My grandfather, Edgar Fortune, and his brother, Elias, were not the most upstanding men or fathers. The family rumor is that they were on the run after an accident here in Chatelaine at the mine they owned with their brothers.”
“I heard about that tragedy,” Ryder said with a nod. “There’s a plaque hanging in the foyer of the LC Club commemorating the fifty men who died when the silver mine collapsed. However, there’s no mention of a connection to the Fortunes.”
“They were chased out of town—or took off on their own, depending on who you ask—pretty quickly after pinning responsibility on the mining foreman. Edgar and Elias spent some time in Cave Creek and met my grandma and great-aunt. But they didn’t stick around there either, even after learning they were going to be fathers. So the jilted girlfriends decided to raise their babies together. My dad and his cousin grew up as close as brothers. Neither of them knew their fathers, but the family my grandma and great-aunt created was something for them.”
He continued to stare at her, so she went on, “My sister and brother and I weren’t close with our cousins growing up, but that could change now that we’re all here. I moved to town because my great-uncle’s widow—her name is Freya Fortune—is using part of the inheritance Uncle Elias left her to help out his three grandchildren and my brother, sister and me. She wants to transform the reputation of our branch of the Fortunes in Chatelaine. She’s helping each of us fulfill our dearest wish.”
“That’s amazing,” Ryder murmured. “It must have come as quite a surprise.”
“It did. My older sister, Bea, has been a waitress forever, but now she’s going to open her own restaurant. And Asa, my big brother, came to town last summer and fell in love with a dude ranch he hopes to buy. They’re going to make a difference in this community.”
“What’s your wish, Esme?” Ryder’s voice felt like a caress against her skin, and she had a hard time remembering her own name, let alone how Freya was helping her.
She winced as the answer came to her. “This is going to sound silly compared to what my siblings plan to do, but I was already pregnant when Freya contacted us. Ever since the first test came back positive, my wish has been to be a good mother to my baby.”
Gesturing to the room around them, she continued, “I was able to buy this house with my late husband’s life insurance policy payout, and Freya has given me an amount that matches what I’d make as a teacher for the school year. She also gave me an open account at GreatStore to buy whatever I need for Chase.”
“You’re a teacher?” he asked, his mouth curving at one end. “That suits you.”
“Thanks, I think.” She bit down on her lower lip. “I’ll go back to work next year, but I adore being with Chase for now.” She smiled down at her baby, certain this was the right thing to do. “I’d love to be able to take care of Noah as well. I’m sure your babysitter is great, but I can give them a mother’s love. I want to be a mother to both of our sons.”
When Ryder’s eyes widened, Esme wondered if she’d said too much. This wasn’t one of her beloved stories with a guaranteed happy ending. If Ryder decided he didn’t want her in his son’s life...where would that leave her? Chase might not be her biological child, but her heart didn’t care, and it immediately expanded to include Noah.
She didn’t have the charm that Asa did or the drive Bea possessed in wanting to make her dreams come true. All Esme had ever wanted was a happy life with a family who belonged to her.
Before the plane crash took their lives, her parents had lived more like bickering roommates than a couple who treasured growing old together. She knew they’d started as high school sweethearts, but by the time Esme had any concrete memories of their marriage, that bloom of first love had all but disappeared.
Her aunt and uncle hadn’t been happy either, and with her grandfather’s history, she wondered if it were possible that there could be some kind of missing piece in her branch of the Fortune family tree that would prevent her from being happy.
Esme had hoped to find true love, but after Seth’s betrayal, she couldn’t imagine opening her heart again and being hurt by a man. Maybe she simply wasn’t worthy of being loved and carried the black mark of the unhappy couples who came before her. But she liked Ryder, and her gut told her he was a good man. He would be a great father, and really, what more could she ask for?
“My son,” Ryder said slowly, then cleared his throat. “Both of our sons would be lucky to have you as a mother. I might not know what I’m doing as a parent, but I’m not a fool.” He nodded. “Raising them together is the right decision. We’re a team, Esme.”
She released the breath lodged in her lungs and smiled. “We’re going to make this work,” she assured him. “It will be okay because Chase and Noah will remain our top priorities.” She waved a hand. “Not that I’m going to place expectations on you like that you can’t date or whatever. I’m sure you—”
“The last thing on my mind is dating,” Ryder said, then seemed uncomfortable at what his comment might insinuate about Esme and glanced at his watch. “I should check in at the office. It’s nearly the end of the business day, and I’m guessing we won’t hear from the hospital until tomorrow.”
She tried not to be disappointed. She hadn’t been referring to the two of them dating, anyway, so had no reason for the pang in her chest. Besides, if Ryder was the player her sister seemed to believe, he’d show his true colors soon enough. Nothing else mattered as long as he followed the rules they established and was a kind and loving father to the two boys.
“We’ll need rules,” she announced.
One of his thick brows raised in response. “For the record, I’m better at making rules than following them.”
