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“We had two miscarriages before Rose,” she said, “and she was three weeks early, so things were scary. We drove to the hospital at one in the morning, and Nicky was there in an hour. I told Gav not to call him—I mean, there was nothing he could do. But he was there with us until I went into the delivery room, and he stayed until we told him Rose was okay.”
Mel kept her head bent over the gifts, but Hayley could see tears.
“The whole time, he was so sure,” she said. “I mean from the moment we told him I was pregnant again. ‘This one will be okay,’ he said. ‘I’m gonna be Uncle Nick.’ We were terrified, of course, but he had us believing too. So when Rose took her first steps, we decided to surprise Uncle Nick. I made him dinner, he sat in that chair, and Rose walked to him. It was just a few steps, but he …” She took a breath. “He hugged her so hard, and he was crying. First time I ever saw Nicky cry, and I realized he’d been terrified too, the whole time, because he was a preemie. Much earlier than Rose, but still. He was afraid she wouldn’t be able to walk. I wish you could have seen his face when he realized she wouldn’t have to handle what he deals with every day. He finds a way, but he’d never wish it on anyone else.”
“He looks at it like a fight,” Hayley said softly.
Mel nodded. “He was going to be Uncle Nick regardless, though. He was set on that from day one. Didn’t matter if Rose couldn’t walk or speak or see—he was going to do every single thing he could for that little girl. He’ll try to brush it off if you ask him, like it’s just something friends do for one another.”
“They don’t.”
“No, they don’t. But Nicky’s not like most people.”
Mel wiped her eyes as she returned to the couch. She looked straight at Hayley. “He wouldn’t love this conversation,” she said. “And maybe it’s not my place to tell you about Vicki or Rose. But Nicky doesn’t really date. I’ve only met a few of the girls he’s liked, and he’s never brought anyone to our house. And I have never heard him even suggest anyone was good enough to meet his Rosie Bear, let alone play with her or sing the Rosie song.”
Hayley didn’t have to ask what that meant. “What do I do?” she asked.
“If you don’t want him,” Mel said gently, “you’re going to have to cut and run. Say goodbye as soon as he drops you off, because he is way past the point where he can just be friends with you.”
Hayley nodded.
“But I think you do want him,” Mel said. “And if fear is the only thing keeping you from seeing where that leads, you should know that I have known that man since before I really knew myself, and there has not been a single moment of my life since seventh grade when he hasn’t been there for me when I needed him.”
Hayley smiled weakly. “He’s one of your boys.”
“Hayley,” Mel said, “Nick is decent to everyone he knows. But he will go to hell and back for the people he loves.”
33
Tours of the princess tent had to end sometime, and eventually they were back in the car, waving to Rosie and her parents on the front porch. Nick figured it would take about five seconds after they started driving away.
Five, four, three, two …
“Oh my God, Nick. That girl.”
He smiled. “I know.”
“Did you see the way she runs? It’s like her body has to catch up with her legs.”
“Yep.”
“And her friends,” Hayley said. “Nick, that girl loves everybody. They were all in the pool, but they were playingtogether, you know? Totally getting along. She introduced me to each one of them like they were family. Have you ever seen an adult love so many people like that?”
“Nope, can’t say I have.”
She stopped. “Mel was right. You’re completely full of yourself right now.”
“Am not.”
“You are! You’re practically preening.”
“I’m sure I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Nick said airily, “but if you’re suggesting I might be feeling some very justified satisfaction for introducing you to the sweetest little girl on the planet, then yes, I am.”
“Okay, rock star.” She smiled. “Maybe you deserve to feel a little cocky for this one.”
“Thank you. You’re back on the VIP list.”
“What’s that mean?”
