“Dad. Please. Just stop talking.” She buried her face in her hands and shook her head.
“Okay, I will. But I want you to know I truly care about Bianca. I love her, and I can see a future with her.”
“A future? Are you talking about marriage?” Joy stared at him with wide eyes. “Dad, isn’t it too early to think about marrying Bianca?”
“Well, yes, but—”
“But what?”
He rocked back in the chair. “I don’t know. I just . . . well, other than you, she’s my favorite person in the world.”
Joy’s entire expression softened, and she smiled. “I know what you mean. Bianca’s the best, and even though I’m giving you a hard time, I really am happy for you.”
“Thanks, honey.”
*
That night, Daniel couldn’t sleep. Once again, he’d failed to tell Joy the truth she deserved to know.
If only he could talk to his brother about this. Despite Enzo’s faults, he was surprisingly insightful when it came to parenting advice. Daniel figured it probably had something to do with being an eighth grade math teacher.
Picking up his phone, Daniel scrolled through his contacts until he found his brother’s name. With a deep breath, he hit Enzo’s number and waited until voicemail picked up. Slightly relieved, Daniel left a message. Then, he hung up and lay back in bed.
Even though he hadn’t talked to his brother tonight, maybe it was a step in the right direction. Maybe his message was the spark that would reunite them. With that thought on his mind, he closed his eyes and fell asleep.
Chapter 24
Claudia
While trudging through the snow-covered sidewalk on campus the next day, Claudia heard Leland call her name. She spun around to see him running toward her with the biggest smile on his face.
“You look happy,” she said, burrowing into her heavy coat.
“I am happy. We just finished the project, and they’re going to air our commercial during the local news tonight at five. You’re coming, right?”
“Coming? Where?”
“To our professor’s house. The whole team is going to be there to watch it.” He spoke as if she should already know this, but he’d barely said anything to her all week. He certainly hadn’t invited her to watch his commercial with the rest of the team at their professor’s house.
“I don’t know,” Claudia said.
His face fell. “Why not?”
“Well, you didn’t invite me. This is the first I’ve heard about it.”
“I’m sorry. I’m inviting you now. Can you come?”
Looking up at his expectant face, she sighed. He’d been so caught up in his own life that he had no idea she’d been upset this past week. Something in her expression must’ve clued him in because he frowned. “What’s wrong? Is your dad okay?”
She nodded. Way to put things into perspective, Leland. “Yes, my dad’s fine. Everything’s fine. I just feel like I haven’t talked to you in a long time.”
“You didn’t get my texts?”
She shrugged, wondering when she’d become that clingy girlfriend. “I got a few of them.”
“I’m sorry,” he said. “How about tomorrow we go see a movie? Just you and me.”
“I’d like that.”
“Yeah?”
She nodded. “I’ve got to get to class, but will you text me the details for tonight?”
“I’ll pick you up,” he said. “And I’ll walk you to class right now.” Reaching out, he took her violin case so she wouldn’t have to carry it. It hardly weighed anything, but she appreciated the gentlemanly gesture.
They walked in silence for a beat, their feet crunching on the snow. “Leland, I’ve been thinking about what you said regarding driving down to your grandmother’s house.”
“Yeah?”
“I think I might want to meet her.”
He stopped walking. “Are you talking about Mimi or your birth mom?”
She smiled. “Well, both of them. But yeah, I think I’d like to meet my birth mom. I just don’t want you to film it, okay?”
“I won’t. I know you were upset that I asked. I’m a filmmaker, so I’m always going to ask. You just have to tell me no, okay?”
“Okay.”
They resumed walking, and Leland asked what had changed her mind. Claudia told him what Uncle Geoff had said about her not being part of the gene pool.
Leland swore. “That guy can be a little dense, can’t he?”
Claudia laughed. “Yeah. I’m sure he was just trying to bond with me, but I didn’t like hearing him say that.”
“No, but I’m sure your parents don’t feel that way.”
“Probably not.” Claudia opened her phone and found the picture of Bianca she had from the internet. “Do you really think we have the same smile?”
Leland peered down at the photo and nodded. “I do.”
“I do, too. I guess I’d like to see what else we have in common.”
Chapter 25
Bianca
While talking to Daniel in my kitchen the next day, my phone rang with a call from an unfamiliar number. “Hello?” I said cheerfully.
“Is Bianca there?” I didn’t recognize the young woman’s voice and figured she was a new client calling on my personal cell number instead of the salon’s.
“This is she,” I said. “Or am I supposed to say this is her? I can never remember. Actually, I don’t think I ever learned. Do you know?”
“This is she,” she said without hesitating.
“Are you sure?”
“Positive. When a pronoun follows a linking verb, you use the nominative case.”
“Oh, the nominative case,” I said, sarcastically. “Well, there you go.”
Daniel gave me an odd look like I was crazy for discussing grammar on the phone with a stranger. I laughed. “I’m sorry. I’m sure you didn’t call to chat about the proper way to answer the phone. Were you needing to schedule an appointment?”
“An appointment? No, I . . .” A long silence followed, making me wonder if we’d lost the connection.
“Hello?” I said.
“Yes, sorry. It’s just . . . I’m Claudia. Claudia Cavenaugh.”
I froze. “Claudia?”
“Yes. You put your phone number on one of your emails. I hope it’s okay I’m calling like this.”
My heart began beating in my throat. This was Claudia, my daughter. Claudia, the beautiful young woman I’d watched play the violin on YouTube. Claudia, the baby I’d held in my arms all those years ago.
Daniel stopped what he was doing and stared at me. “It’s Claudia,” I whispered, shifting the phone in such a way that it slipped from my hand. My efforts to catch it failed, and I ended up knocking it across the kitchen. I scrambled to get it, but when I finally did, the line was dead.
Panic shot through me. “That was Claudia, my daughter. I hung up on her.”
Daniel patted my shoulder. “It’s okay. She’ll call back, or you can call her.”
“How can you be so calm?” I asked, fumbling with my phone to find the list of previous calls.
“She called you, Bianca. This is what you wanted, so it’s a good thing. But you have to relax.”
“I am relaxed,” I shouted.
Thankfully, the phone rang with her number. I quickly hit the receive button. “Claudia?”
“Yes.” She giggled nervously. “I guess we were disconnected.”
“I know. I’m so sorry. It was entirely my fault. I’m just so excited to hear from you that I’m freaking out. How are you? How’s your family? How’s Leland? Tell me everything.”
I turned away from Daniel so I wouldn’t have to see him mouth the words calm down.
“Things are good,” she said. “What about you? How are you?”
Tears filled my eyes. “Oh, honey, I couldn’t be better. I’m just so happy you called. It’s wonderful to hear your voice.”
“It’s nice to hear your voi
ce, too.”
Awkward silence fell, then I laughed because what exactly did one say the first time they spoke to the child they’d given up eighteen years ago and had dreamed of meeting forever?
“I must sound like a lunatic,” I said. “I just can’t believe it’s really you.”
“Yes, well, it is. After I read Joy’s email—”
“Joy’s email?”
“Joy Serrano? The girl you’ve been teaching to drive. She said she knows you from Bible study?”
“Yes, of course. But . . .” I turned to face Daniel. “Joy emailed you?”
His brow lifted as Claudia said, “She did.”
“Wow. What’d she say?”
“Oh, she just encouraged me to reach out to you. She said you’re a wonderful person and I should contact you.”
I pressed a hand to my heart, feeling incredibly grateful that Joy had done that for me. “I can’t believe she wrote to you. I had no idea she was going to do that.”
“Well, she did.” Claudia giggled again, the sound like gold to me.
“I’m just so happy you called. And I’m amazed by your musical abilities. I’ve watched your video a million times. I have absolutely no musical talent, but my sister Vicki plays the piano. Well, she used to in middle school. She’s probably forgotten everything by now.
“Anyway, you’re tiny like she is and blonde as well. If you were able to look at any of the pictures I sent you in that email, you know, of course, that I’m the opposite of tiny and blonde.”
“Yeah.” Claudia was quiet as though overwhelmed by everything I just threw at her. I didn’t blame her. I really did need to take Daniel’s advice and calm down.
“I’m sorry,” I said. “I know I’m talking too much. Daniel is here, and he keeps looking at me like I’m crazy, but I’m just so happy to hear from you.”
“Daniel? Is that your boyfriend?”
“He’s Joy’s father. He’s renovating my kitchen, but yes, I guess you could call him my boyfriend.”
Daniel grinned at me, and I grinned back. “He was running a special,” I continued. “Remodel your kitchen and get a free boyfriend.”
At that, Daniel raised his brow. I probably sounded like such a dingbat. Okay, Bianca. Stop talking about yourself and ask about her.
“Tell me about you,” I said. “I know you play the violin and you’re studying French. Are you really planning on studying abroad next year?”
“I hope so. It will depend on my schedule and how my dad is doing.”
“I bet he’s so proud of you. And your mom, too. How long have you been playing the violin?”
“Since I was three.”
“Three? That’s so young. You must’ve had such a small violin.”
“I did. Actually, I still have it.”
“That’s wonderful. I’d love to see it sometime.”
“Oh, well, okay.”
I cringed, knowing I was being too aggressive. She wasn’t ready to meet me yet, so I needed to back off with those kinds of comments. “Sorry,” I said.
“No, it’s okay. Actually, Leland and I are driving down to Houston this week so I can meet his grandma. I was thinking we might come down to Rose Island to meet you. If you’re available, that is.”
“You’re coming to Rose Island? This weekend?” My voice squeaked with excitement.
“If you’re available. Is that okay?”
“Are you kidding? Of course, I’m available. When will you be here?”
“Friday around noon.”
“Oh, that’s great. I’m totally free Friday. I have an extra bedroom in my apartment and a comfortable pullout couch, so you can both stay here. Or my parents have plenty of room at the ranch. In fact, we should all stay at the ranch.”
Claudia hesitated. “Oh, we weren’t planning on spending the night. We were just thinking we could drive down for lunch or something.”
“Yes, definitely. Lunch would be great. Lunch would be perfect.” I spoke with an upbeat tone, all the time telling myself, Keep it together, Bianca. Don’t scare her away.
“If you change your mind and decide to spend the night, we could have a big dinner at the ranch and you could meet your cousins.”
“Matt and Drew?” she asked.
“Yes. I know they’d love to meet you as well as my parents and sisters. And you can meet Joy and Daniel.” I’d told Claudia all about my family in one of my letters.
“Okay. I’ll definitely be there on Friday, but I’ll have to get back to you about spending the night, if that’s okay?”
“Of course. Take your time. You can tell me later. You can even decide once you get here. Whatever you want is fine with me.”
“Okay, thanks.” She sounded relieved that I was so cool and laid-back. Ha! If only she knew how wound up I was at this moment. In fact, it took all my self-control not to invite myself up to Leland’s grandmother’s house in Houston.
“Well, I’ll see you Friday,” she said.
“See you Friday.” I waited until she hung up, then I set down my phone on my new granite countertop and tried not to pass out again.
“Everything all right?” Daniel asked, eyeing me suspiciously.
Throwing my hands over my head, I gave a loud whoop of triumph. “Whoooooo. Yes!”
Daniel laughed. “She’s coming on Friday for lunch?”
“Yes! Can you believe it? She’s coming here to the island with her boyfriend, Leland. I wanted her to spend the night, but lunch is good, too.”
“Lunch is great. I’m really happy for you.”
I gave another whoop, then I laughed. “Friday is going to be the best day of my life.”
Daniel grinned. “Well, if she’s coming on Friday, I guess I better get to work.”
I glanced at him before taking in all that still needed to be done on my kitchen. “Do you think you’ll be able to finish before Friday?”
“Definitely,” he said.
Delirious with happiness, I flung myself into his arms and squeezed him tight. “Thank you, Daniel. Thank you so much.”
He chuckled, the sound rumbling in his chest. “You’re welcome.”
Chapter 26
Daniel
Tuesday afternoon, Keith called to ask if Daniel had a pump he could borrow to remove the excess water in his hallway. Apparently, the bathtub faucet had been left running all afternoon, creating a huge mess.
“I’ll be right there.” Daniel hung up the phone, collected his equipment, and headed over to Keith’s place.
Pulling into the Fosters’ driveway, Daniel noticed right away that Keith and Jillian were having an intense conversation near her minivan. The baby was in Keith’s arms, screaming her head off, and Jillian looked like she was about to cry as well.
Feeling like he was intruding, Daniel reluctantly climbed out of his truck. Jillian kept her head down, but Keith acknowledged him by lifting his hand. “Thanks for coming, Daniel.”
“No problem. I’ll just let myself inside, okay?”
“Yes,” Keith said, looking relieved. “Go right ahead. Drew can show you everything.”
Daniel grabbed what he needed and headed toward the house. Keith had his hand on his wife’s back and was trying to comfort her, but she wasn’t having any of it.
How many times in the few short years he’d been married had Daniel been the man in Keith’s place, trying to calm his wife? Of course, Jillian seemed much more stable than Libby. Still, he didn’t envy Keith’s situation. Dealing with an emotional woman . . . well, Daniel could think of a lot of other things he’d rather do.
Inside the house, he found Drew attempting to scoop up the water with a bowl and a dustpan. Wet towels lay everywhere in a futile attempt to sop up the mess.
Drew gestured at the sump pump in Daniel’s hand. “Is that to get rid of the water?”
“It is.” Daniel set down the pump, opened the window, and threw the hose outside. “How do you get to the backyard?”
“This way.” Drew slo
shed down the hall, leading the way to the back door, which opened onto a wooden deck. Outside stood an old golden lab.
“Is your dog friendly?” Daniel asked.
“She is.” Drew leaned over to pet the dog. “This is Bella, the friendliest dog in the world.”
Cautiously, Daniel stepped onto the porch. He’d been bitten before by a “friendly” dog protecting his property, and that wasn’t an experience he wanted to repeat. Right away, the dog started barking.
“Hey,” Drew scolded. “Daniel’s here to help us.”
As if understanding, the dog went silent and began wagging her tail. Hoping that was a good sign, Daniel offered his hand, which Bella sniffed before deciding he was safe.
With the dog situation taken care of, Daniel walked over to the discharge hose and dragged it away from the house. Back inside, he plugged in the pump.
“We’re not going to get electrocuted, are we?” Drew asked, keeping his distance as the motor sprang to life. “Aren’t you supposed to keep electricity away from water?”
“You are, but this is a submersible pump, so we don’t have to worry.”
“Oh, that’s good.”
Daniel nodded, then asked if the oven was on. “It smells like something is burning.”
“Oh no! The cookies.” Drew raced back down the hall, and Daniel followed just as the smoke detector went off.
In the kitchen, they removed the burnt cookies from the oven, disabled the alarm, and opened a window to clear the smoke.
“I guess Mom forgot about the cookies, too,” Drew said.
“I guess so.”
The front door opened, and Keith entered the house with the baby, who’d thankfully stopped crying. “Is something burning?”
“The cookies.” Drew poked at one of the blackened sweets. “I think they might still be good.”
Keith shook his head in disbelief. “Daniel, thanks for coming to our chaotic home.”
“No problem.”
“Did Mom leave?” Drew asked.
“She did, but she’ll be back.” Looking down at the baby, he gave her a little jiggle. “Believe it or not, this precious baby girl is giving Mommy a hard time. Not to worry, though. Everything is going to be fine.”
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