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“Of course she did,” Ryder muttered. Omelets were her specialty. Their routine had been to take turns cooking breakfast on weekend mornings. Omelets on her day and pancakes or waffles when he was in charge of the meal.
“Chase looks like you,” Chandler observed as he sat on one of the leather stools in front of the small island.
“You knew that. I texted plenty of pictures, even if you weren’t interested in meeting him.”
His father’s shoulders stiffened. “I’m not sure if you’ve noticed,” he said slowly, “but I haven’t had the easiest time accepting that I’m getting on in years. Being old enough to be a grandfather doesn’t exactly impress the ladies.”
Ryder wasn’t sure if his dad expected him to sympathize, but it had been a crappy week, and he wasn’t in the mood to be placating.
“Perhaps it wouldn’t be such an issue if you dated women anywhere close to your own age.”
His dad laughed and nodded. “You have a valid point, son. Speaking of that, I met someone in Florida a couple of weeks ago. She’s a year older than me and out of my league in every way.”
“Sounds promising.”
Chandler flashed a goofy grin that looked out of place on his serious face. “She is interested in your situation and impressed that I raised a son willing to step up for two children.”
A new girlfriend might explain his father’s interest in finally meeting Chase and Esme—if the two of them could help him make a good impression on a woman.
“I can see by your face that you don’t trust my intentions, and that’s also well deserved. But I think it could get serious with Lynda. I convinced her to meet me in Arizona, and I’m hoping she’ll come to Texas for bluebonnet season.”
“I guess we’ll see what happens,” Ryder conceded, unsure how to behave with this kinder, gentler version of his father.
“We sure will. In the meantime, the way Lynda talks about the joy her grandchildren bring to her life made me rethink my feelings about being involved in both my grandsons’ lives.”
Despite the ongoing struggles with his father, Ryder couldn’t deny that he wanted Chandler to get to know Chase and Noah.
“I appreciate you making an effort to meet them, Dad...and I don’t know how much Esme told you. But things are strained between us at the moment.” He blew out a breath. “The fact is, I’m going to need your support. Now more than ever.”
“If that’s the case, why did I have to hear about the change in your living status from her? Does your brother know? I haven’t talked to Brandon since I’ve been back.”
“I haven’t told anyone. It’s humiliating.”
“Hayes men don’t deal well with humiliation.”
“I suppose.” Ryder grabbed his empty coffee mug from the desk and then went to the counter to refill it. “I make terrible coffee compared to Esme. Can I offer you a cup?”
His father nodded. “I’d love some awful coffee. Esme wasn’t exactly forthcoming with details. She simply told me the two of you have decided it would be best to live separately until you find a place that gives each of you more privacy. There’s nothing humiliating about making an arrangement you didn’t ask for work. However you can.”
Ryder poured the coffee, then took the carton of half-and-half out of the refrigerator. He poured a generous dollop into his cup. Chandler took his coffee black—like his soul, Ryder used to think when he watched his father gulp down pots of the bitter brew as a child. Now he could see his dad as human, flaws and all, but not the villain Ryder had made him out to be.
“I asked her to marry me,” he said after a long sip. “She said no, just like Steph did, so that’s the second time I’ve proposed marriage and been rejected.”
“Third time’s a charm?” his father suggested with a wry smile.
“Oh, no. There won’t be another time. I’ve learned my lesson. You always told me the Hayes men weren’t meant for love, and I think I’ve proved it more than once.”
“Do you love Esme Fortune?”
Had he inadvertently mentioned love? Ryder’s heart pounded in his chest. He hadn’t meant to say the L word. “I should have said the Hayes men are terrible at relationships.”
Chandler lifted the cup to his lips, grimacing after taking a drink. “You weren’t kidding about brewing horrible coffee. It reminds me of the kind I make. But this business with Esme is different than the mistakes I made with women. Your mom, in particular. Things got tangled up with her, and I couldn’t right them.”
“Did you ever try?”
“At first,” his father asserted. “You were too young to remember, I suppose. But not as much as I could have or should have. Your mother and I married young. She got pregnant immediately, and your brother came a year later. My business was starting to take off, and to be honest, I wasn’t ready to settle down.”
Chandler put his cup on the counter and shrugged. “So I didn’t. It wasn’t right, but I can’t change the past. You’re not like me, Ryder. Me or your brother. You’re built like your mother. You were made for commitment. You’re steady and sure.”
