She waited for the child to digest the info.
“Yeah,” said Emily.
“I like you and your brother. I don’t want to take your mother’s place. But I think there’s room for me, too. I want a place of my own in your life. Your mother will always love you. When you are here, I want you and Adam to feel comfortable at my house and with me.”
“I’m sorry.”
Confused, Ryan shook her head. “What?”
Studying the floor, Emily muttered softly, “I was bad.”
Smiling, Ryan wrapped an arm around the girl and hugged her close. “Don’t worry about it. You know what I’d like?”
“What?”
“I’d like us to do like my mom and me.”
“Huh?”
“We can go to toy stores and start our own doll collection. Would you like to do that with me?”
Emily’s head bobbed up and down.
“Good. While your dad and brother watch games on TV or do whatever men do, we can buy a curio cabinet and fill it with our own set of dolls. What do you say?”
“Yeah.”
“Great!”
“When? When can we start?”
“I’ll talk to your dad. Maybe we can start the next time you come over.”
“Next week?”
Ryan shrugged. “Maybe. We’ll have to work the details out with your dad.”
The car horn blared. Ryan glanced out the window and found an impatient Keir standing next to the car. She stretched out a hand to the little girl. “Time’s up. We better go. Your dad doesn’t look too happy with us.”
It was a calculated risk that Emily wouldn’t take Ryan’s hand. But, if Ryan planned to ever establish any bond between them, it had to start somewhere. Without a moment’s hesitation, Emily slipped her small fingers in Ryan’s larger hand, and they left the room together.
Ryan’s heart swelled with possibilities. Maybe they could become friends and be the family that Keir wanted them to be.
Baby steps. She’d accomplished baby steps with Keir’s daughter. Baby steps just might lead to much more.
Chapter 22
Two weeks later, Ryan stood at her kitchen counter, sprinkling garlic powder, Mrs. Dash, and rosemary on both sides of T-bone steaks prepared for the grill. Once the task had been completed, she added three tablespoons of Lawry’s steak marinade to the steaks before snapping the lid on the container and placing it in the refrigerator to chill. Drying her hands on a paper towel, she took a moment to glance out the kitchen window.
Together, Keir, Adam, and Emily worked diligently to build a fire in the drum Ryan’s parents had converted into a barbecue grill. Smiling, she watched Emily run around the side of the house and return seconds later, dragging the water hose. Keir stood at Adam’s side, directing his son in the fine art of building a proper fire.
Laughing at the trio, Ryan took a moment to admire the small group. Since the heart-to-heart in her mother’s room, Ryan and Emily had formed a pact. Emily began to soften toward Ryan, and a tentative friendship blossomed once Emily realized Ryan wanted to be friends. To date they had shared one treasure hunt for Bratz dolls. The trip had been a hoot. They didn’t always see eye to eye, but Emily had created a place in her world for Ryan.
Yes, Keir’s daughter was a princess. When the diva in training grew up, she would rule her land with an iron fist. Ryan felt sympathy for the poor soul who fell in love with Emily Southhall.
Humming to the theme song from the movie The Fighting Temptations, Ryan headed to the refrigerator and removed the ingredients for potato salad. She returned to the counter, peeled potatoes, and chopped eggs and onions.
It had been years since she’d enjoyed such simple pleasures ... the constant and supporting presence of a man she cared for, maybe even loved, although she refused to look too closely at her emotions in that area. Yes, indeed, life had settled into a wonderful, happy pattern for her and her new family.
“Ry?” Keir called from the back door.
“Yeah?” Ryan answered.
Comfortably dressed in a pair of tan carpenter shorts and a ginger-colored T-shirt, Keir entered the kitchen. “We’re almost ready for whatever you want to put on the grill. Maybe we should cook something for the kids to eat first?”
Keir crossed the tile floor to the refrigerator and filled a cup with filtered water from the fridge door. Facing Ryan, he watched her with a mischievous gleam in his green eyes while finishing his drink. He moved behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, drawing her against his body. Keir made a beeline for her neck, kissing and licking the soft skin.
Ryan found herself melting against him until the first whiff of strong chemicals forced her to wrinkle her nose in disgust. “Oh!” She stepped out of his embrace.
Puzzled, he raised his head and asked, “What?”
Turning in his arms, she pinched the tip of her nose with her fingers. “You stink. Your clothes smell like charcoal and lighter fluid, my friend.”
Hunching his shoulders, Keir admitted, “Well, yeah. Probably.”
Ash and charcoal stains covered the front of his T-shirt.
“No probably about it. It’s a fact. Do you have another shirt you can put on? This one’s pretty much done in.”
“I might have one upstairs.” He strolled across the tile floor. “I’ll just change.”
“Wait. Leave that one here,” Ryan suggested. “I’ll put it in the washer, and when you get ready to go home, you’ll have a clean shirt.”
“Okay. But I suspect an ulterior motive for this ‘takeoff-your-shirt’ stuff.”
“Really? Like what?”
“You just want to see me naked.”
“I want to do more than look,” Ryan whispered.
“Are you interested in touching?”
“There’s that,” she answered, with a grin.
Doing a double lift of his eyebrows, Keir added softly, “Basically, you just want to see me strip. Am I right?”
Smiling leeringly, she answered, “Absolutely.”
“I don’t want to disappoint the lady of the house,” he muttered, taking the bottom edge of the shirt in his hands and pulling it off his head. The T-shirt dropped on the floor, and he kicked it in Ryan’s direction. “How’s that?” He smiled seductively.
“Wonderful,” she answered, sauntering to where he stood near the doorway. Standing on tiptoes, Ryan planted a kiss on his lips while her hands roamed over his chest. Instantly, his arms wrapped around her, and for the second time in less than five minutes, she found herself in his embrace.
Pleased with this turn of events, Ryan gave herself up to the taste of Keir’s sweet lips as she lifted her arms to pull him against her.
The door bell exploded in the quiet of the kitchen, pulling them apart. Ryan muttered, “Who is that on a Sunday afternoon?”
“I’ll get it.”
“Thanks, hon.”
“Hey, anything for my lady.”
Giggling, she answered, “Sweet talk will get you a whole lot tonight.”
“I’m going to hold you to that,” Keir tossed over his shoulder as he headed for the front door.
“Don’t. You’ve got the kids this weekend.”
He sighed. “Can I sell them and come back later?”
“Nope.”
“That’s all right. We’ll make up for this delay later this week,” Keir promised, strolling from the room.
Ryan tossed a dish towel at Keir’s retreating back before turning to the kitchen window to check on the kids. She laughed out loud when she saw Emily point a finger at her brother and shout, “You better listen to me. I’m the boss of you. Do you hear me?” Ryan shook her head at the diva in training.
A familiar voice drifted into the kitchen. “Who the hell are you?”
Keir retorted, “Who the hell are you?”
There was a moment of stunned silence, and then Keir shouted, “Hey! Where are you going? Stop!”
Shocked, Ryan dropped the knife
in her hand, wiped her hand on a paper towel, and started for the door. Too late. Helen had stormed into the room.
Keir trailed the woman. “I’m sorry, honey. This woman barged her way into the house. Do you know her?”
Too shocked to say a word, Ryan stood rooted to the spot, watching her older sister dominate the room. Oh my God! What is Helen doing here?
Arms folded across her chest, Ryan’s older sister took her time studying Keir. Her gaze traveled from the top of his wavy dark hair down the hard planes of his bare chest, along his narrow waist, until she reached his feet. Helen turned to Ryan and asked, “Who is he?”
Keir gave Helen a taste of her own medicine. “Who the hell are you? What do you want?”
Helen addressed Ryan. “Answer the man’s question!”
Finally finding her voice, Ryan said, “My sister, Helen Ford. This is my friend Keir Southhall.”
“Friend?” said Helen. Immediately, Helen’s eagle gaze focused on Keir, giving him a second sweeping glare. She let out a grunt of disapproval. The disdain in that one word made Ryan cringe. “I’d say there are other names for it.”
“Helen!” cried Ryan.
“When did this happen?” replied Helen.
Halting her sister’s tirade with a sweeping hand gesture, Ryan regained control of her voice. “None of your business. Now, what can I do for you?”
“You’re my sister, and I’m here to protect you,” said Helen
Shaking her head, Ryan began, “Helen—”
“Come on now,” said Helen. She started across the ceramic tile floor. “You need your family.”
Sighing, Ryan asked, “Why are you here?”
“Well, thanks for the warm welcome,” replied Helen. “I came to see my baby sister and find out how you’re doing. You went on vacation, and we haven’t talked since that one time on the phone.”
The back door opened and slammed shut. Emily, followed closely by Adam, raced into the kitchen.
“Dad-dee,” Emily cried. “Come on. The fire’s ready.”
“Yeah, Dad. Check out the grill,” said Adam.
Helen’s eyes grew large, and her forehead crinkled into a frown. “Dad?” she muttered softly.
Ryan’s heart pounded against her chest. This was not the way she wanted Helen to meet Keir or his children. Unfortunately, what she wanted didn’t matter anymore since the situation was out of her hands. She placed her hands on the kids’ shoulders. “Helen, this is Emily and Adam. Kids, this is my older sister, Helen.”
Emily broke out into a smile. “The doll lady?”
Nodding, Ryan grinned. “Yeah.”
“Hi.” Adam waved.
“I like your dolls,” Emily admitted shyly.
“Thank you,” said Helen.
Hurrying to the refrigerator, Ryan handed each child a container. “Keir, why don’t you and the kids put the meat on the grill?”
Keir’s gaze shifted from Ryan to her sister and back again. There was a question in his eyes. “Are you sure?”
“Mm-hmm. I’m fine,” said Ryan.
“Okay. Emily, Adam. Let’s go,” called Keir.
The minute the group stepped out the back door, the older woman bombarded Ryan with questions. “What’s going on here? What possessed you to get involved with a man with kids? Of course, you realize that children complicate things? Sweetheart, this is a recipe for disaster. I don’t want to see you get hurt.”
Sighing, Ryan returned to the sink and turned on the water, rinsing a green pepper and celery. “I’m a grown woman. I don’t need you to burst into my home and save me.”
The older woman stopped next to the sink and put a hand on her sibling’s shoulder. “What are you doing?” Helen said in a conciliatory tone that made the hair on the back of Ryan’s neck stand up. “Honey, you have a good head on your shoulders. Do you realize when you take the man, you also take his children?”
I already know about the pain in the butt stuff. Emily gave me a large dose of “I hate you” already. But she told Helen, “I know that.”
“Are you sure? This isn’t just about you.”
“I didn’t say it was,” Ryan snapped.
“There are kids involved. You have to be careful.”
“Helen, we’re fine here.”
“Okay. Tell me more about this Keir. Is he married?”
“No!” Ryan whipped from the sink, facing her sister. “Of course not. What kind of woman do you think I am?”
Helen laid a hand on Ryan’s shoulder. “A good woman that may be making a bad mistake.”
“Well, I’m not. Keir is divorced.”
“With two children.”
“I can count. I know how many children he has.”
Nodding, Helen stepped across the kitchen to the cupboard and removed a glass. She filled her glass with cold water. “Can I ask you a question?”
“Why stop now?” Ryan answered.
“Where is their mother?”
“Shannon’s around. Emily and Adam live with her. They share joint custody. The kids visit every other weekend and during the summer.”
Swallowing the last of her water, Helen placed the glass in the dishwater. She returned to where Ryan stood at the window and rubbed the younger woman’s shoulder. “Ryan, honey. I know your life has taken some unexpected and unpleasant turns, and you miss your husband. But, are you sure you want to make this big of a transition?”
“Of course. I’ve made the change.”
“Have you really? Or are you using this man so that you won’t have to think about what you’ve truly lost.”
“Helen, enough.”
“No. We’re far from done.”
“I’m done. Keir is part of my life, and so are his children. I know you think you’re helping me. But you’re not. Leave it alone.”
“I love you. And I don’t want to see you hurt. Please stop and consider what you’re doing.”
“Enough. Let’s talk about something else. What’s going on? Why are you here?”
Surprised, Helen stared at her sister. “You really don’t remember, do you?”
“Remember what?”
“I came to support you. To be here if you needed me.”
“Again. About what?”
“Galen’s birthday. He would have been thirty-eight this week.”
All of the fight went out of Ryan. She turned away, wrapping her arms around herself. How could she have forgotten her husband’s birthday?
Tears formed, but Ryan refused to cry in front of Helen. She blinked rapidly, fighting back the tears. “Thank you for caring. I’m fine.”
Helen asked, “Are you?”
“Yes.”
“What about Galen? You’re completely over him?”
Shocked, Ryan turned to her sister. “He was my husband. I can’t dismiss him like a high school date. I loved him. Galen will always have a place in my heart.”
“But you’ve moved on with Keir.”
Ryan opened her mouth to respond and then closed it, without saying a word. Had Keir taken Galen’s place? She glanced out the window at the man. Ryan didn’t have an answer.
She couldn’t let Helen see her this way. “How’s your family? What’s going on with Larry, Andre, and Gee?”
“Honey.”
“No. Stop. I’ve moved on. Thank you for caring, but I can handle things now.”
Helen opened her mouth, but Ryan cut her off. “I mean it. This is my life. Let me live it my way. Just like you’ve always lived yours. It’s my turn.”
Ryan turned away from the hurt in her sister’s eyes. Helen always made Ryan feel like one of her children. Ryan had been married, and Helen still wanted to treat her like a five-year-old.
Everyone had to grow up, sooner or later. It was Ryan’s turn. “I don’t need you to hold my hand. Keir is my support system now.”
Chapter 23
Lips set in a straight, uncompromising line, Helen stared out the kitchen window, contemplating the Southhall fami
ly working together in the backyard. She turned to Ryan and stated in a dull, troubled voice, “Obviously, you don’t need me anymore.”
“Stop that.” Ryan’s heart went out to her sister. She understood how much Helen loved her. But it was time for her big sister to stop trying to run her life and protect her. Ryan reached out a hand to comfort her. “That’s not true.”
Shaking her head, Helen sidestepped Ryan. “I’ve gotten a totally different impression.” Tears shimmered in her brown eyes. She turned on the heels of her loafers and marched out of the house, slamming the front door for good measure. The loud bang reverberated through the small brick house.
Guilt hammered at Ryan. Ryan hated seeing her sister suffer. After Galen died, Helen had remained at Ryan’s side, helping her through funeral preparations and the dark period. Each year, Helen spent Galen’s birthday and their anniversary with her younger sister. Ryan always felt grateful for her sister’s support during that time.
She drew in a deep breath and let it out gradually. Now things were different. Keir and his family were in her life, and that added a new dimension. Ryan returned to the kitchen counter to continue her dinner preparation. There would be time enough after everyone left to think about her husband and his birthday.
Ryan glanced out the kitchen window, observing Keir, Adam, and Emily. A sad smile raced across her face and disappeared. Helen had succeeded in destroying the happy mood. Everything was different.
Minutes later, Keir entered the house. Silently, he stood inside the back door, watching her. Ryan heard the door open and close. She ignored his presence, choosing instead to work at the counter.
“Hey,” he said softly.
“How are things going?”
“We’re almost done outside.”
“Good,” she replied.
“I saw your sister take off a minute ago,” he stated.
Ryan nodded. Her hand shook as she sprinkled chopped vegetables over the chunks of potatoes before mixing in relish, Miracle Whip, and mustard.
Moving farther into the room, he stopped directly behind her. “Everything work out?”
No. Nothing came together. My sister’s pissed off, and I wouldn’t be surprised if my dead husband haunts me for forgetting his birthday. “Yeah. It’s good.”
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