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He’d always been serious and intense but now wondered whether that was indeed his nature or a result of the constant pressure to succeed he felt from his father, plus the additional challenge of being a single dad.
A few days into his leave of absence, a weight had been stripped from him, replaced by the sweetness of genuinely enjoying the comforting routine of full-time fatherhood. He and Noah came to Esme’s each morning and spent the entire day with her and Chase. He loved every minute of it.
But who was he if he wasn’t achieving something? Ryder didn’t know the answer and was afraid he could never offer the boys what Esme was able to just by being her true self.
“I was just thinking about how to make this situation better. I want answers for us as well as for the boys.”
She padded closer and took a seat on the other end of the sofa. Too far, his body silently complained, although Esme had no idea the effect she had on him.
They were always together, making food in the galley kitchen or walking next to each other when they took the boys out in the double stroller he’d purchased at GreatStore. She seemed to think nothing of their arms brushing, or not to notice the way Ryder’s libido went on high alert every time he caught her sweet scent in the air.
“I have an idea about how to make our arrangement better—easier for you,” she said with a shy smile.
He stared at her and tried to hide his shock. How could she not see how much she tempted him?
“What do you think about the two of you moving in with Chase and me?”
His body went wild, every cell cheering like the Texans had just won the Super Bowl. Was she suggesting what he hoped?
“I don’t mean anything romantic, of course,” she said on a rush of breath. “We’ve established the rules for this arrangement, and I plan to honor them. You don’t have to worry in that regard.”
“You want to follow the rules,” he echoed, and his shoulders sagged in disappointment. He masked the reaction with a wide smile. “That’s a smart idea.” It was the worst idea he’d ever heard. “Just so I’m clear, you want us to live together?”
She nodded. “I hope you don’t mind me suggesting it. You and Noah are here every day, and even though your apartment isn’t far, it would be better—more efficient—if you moved in instead of going back and forth all the time. You can take the guest room, and Noah will stay in the nursery with Chase.”
She stifled a yawn. “This will help, especially at night. We can take turns getting up with them overnight. Maybe that way neither of us will be quite so tired.”
It made sense from a practical standpoint, and if Ryder were being honest, he liked being at her cozy home more than his sterile apartment.
“I’m sure you have a lease,” she continued, “and probably would want to keep your place anyway. You know...in case you’re going on a date or whatever.”
A blush rose to her cheeks. It wasn’t the first or second time Esme had suggested Ryder was missing out on the dating scene in Chatelaine, even though he’d assured her that wasn’t the case. He was too consumed with being a dad to think about anything else. Except that wasn’t exactly true because lately Esme was also consuming his thoughts.
But if he admitted that, she’d probably rescind her invitation, which could ruin the entire arrangement. She’d been clear about agreeing to parameters regarding who paid for what and how they would make decisions about the boys.
It was smart and practical, and he appreciated her forethought. It was also another reminder of how much better equipped she was for this role than him.
“I like your idea,” he said. “Noah and I would love to move in with you and Chase. I promise not to use all the hot water or leave the toilet seat up.”
She giggled and then yawned again.
“In fact,” he added, “how about if we stay tonight? I can pick up my things tomorrow, but you’ve been doing the lion’s share of caring for the babies—”
“Only because you’ve been working hard to track down the hospital staff.”
He nodded. “I wish I had more to go on. I’m going to ask the nurse, Nancy, about the volunteer no one can remember seeing before or since. Maybe talking about it will jog her memory. She mentioned seeing the older woman with the babies that night.”
“One of the two grandma volunteers,” Esme murmured, leaning back on the sofa cushion.
Ryder wanted to cradle her head in his arms and tell her she could use him for support, but that might come across a little too enthusiastic.
“On the phone, Nancy said that the woman had made an impression on her because she seemed so light on her feet even though she used a cane. But Mary has no record of a second hospital volunteer signing in for a shift that night.”
“Do you think this mystery volunteer is involved?” she asked.
He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “It seems doubtful, but we don’t have any better leads.”
“Why would someone switch our boys’ ID tags on purpose?” Esme asked. The question had plagued Ryder in the same way. “What did you or I ever do to the people in this town?” She suddenly sat up straighter. “But what if it’s not about us? We haven’t done anything, but could it have something to do with my family? People remember Edgar and Elias—if not, they’ve heard the story. According to Freya, many of the miners who were killed still have relatives and descendants in town.”
