by Gina Wilkins
Duncan stayed for just over an hour. Then, promising Alexis he would drop by again to play video games with her, he told them he had to go.
Mia walked him to the door. “It was very nice to meet you, Duncan.”
“You, too. Connor’s mentioned you several times during the last few years, and I’ve always wanted to get a look at you. You’ve been a good friend to him. Better than he deserves, I imagine.”
“Oh, I doubt that. Connor’s been a good friend to me, too.”
“Hmm.” He patted her arm. “Just don’t let him take you for granted, you hear? Connor’s a great guy, but he can be a little obsessive at times. A little self-absorbed. He got that from my father, I think. Dad was just like him. My blessed mother had to pretty much whop him over the head sometimes to get his attention. You can bet she didn’t let him get away with it for very long.”
“Connor’s working very hard to get through this semester. I think medical school is even more difficult than he expected. But he’ll be a wonderful doctor.”
“No doubt. Tried to tell him that when he decided to marry Gretchen rather than go to medical school when he got out of college. He regretted that decision soon enough. Wasn’t like she was ever going to encourage him to do anything that would take that much time and attention away from her. You’re nothing like Gretchen, I’m happy to say. You’re just the gal I’d have picked for him myself.”
Her face going a bit warm, Mia cleared her throat. “You, uh, know that Connor and I are just very good friends. Not anything more.”
“Hmm,” he said again. With a last pat to her arm, he stepped out the door. “I’ll be seeing you, Mia. Take good care of my little granddaughter, you hear?”
“I will. Goodbye, Duncan.”
Shutting the door behind him, she bit her lower lip. Duncan hadn’t sounded at all convinced that there was nothing going on between her and Connor. She wondered how many other people secretly suspected the same thing. Not that it mattered, of course. She had never worried overmuch about gossip.
She was much more concerned about her own confusing feelings when it came to her best friend and temporary roommate.
Connor slipped into the house at almost ten that evening, trying to be quiet because he knew Alexis would already be in bed. He’d seen the lights on in the living room when he’d driven into the driveway, so he figured Mia was in there, reading or maybe watching TV.
Seeing those lights had given him a funny feeling. He was so accustomed to coming home to a dark, empty house that it felt odd knowing someone was here to greet him. Odd in a good way, he decided, but a little unnerving, too. Much too easy to get spoiled to.
Mia was reading. She looked up from her book when he walked in. He wondered if she didn’t like the story she’d been reading. Was that the reason she looked so stern?
“Hi,” he said. “How was your day?”
“It was nice.”
Something was definitely off in her voice. There was just a touch of chill in her tone.
He searched his mind for a possible explanation. The last time they’d actually talked had been last night, when she’d given him the neck massage. That had ended rather awkwardly, but he couldn’t think why she’d be annoyed with him. Unless she’d somehow read his mind and figured out exactly how he’d reacted to having her hands on his shoulders. He’d spent an uncomfortable hour or so afterward, cursing his healthy but inconvenient male reactions, but surely she couldn’t know that.
Fortunately, they’d been interrupted before he’d done anything stupid enough to ruin their friendship. Or so he had hoped.
“Um—is something wrong?”
“No, of course not. I just thought you might make it home before Alexis was in bed tonight. I guess you had to put in a long day.”
The faintest hint of disapproval in her voice made his defenses go up. “Yeah. Long day. I got a lot of work done.”
“That’s good.”
He sank onto the edge of the couch. “How was your day? Is everything okay with Alexis?”
“Yes. We had a very nice day. We made cookies. Watched a video. Oh, and your father stopped by.”
That made his eyebrows rise. “Dad? When?”
“This afternoon. He said he wanted to meet his granddaughter. And he brought her a gift.” She motioned in the general direction of the television.
Following her gesture, he noticed only then the big box sitting on the floor by the TV stand. “A gaming system? He brought that for a six-year-old?”
He didn’t know why he was at all surprised because that sounded exactly like something his father would do. His dad had accepted the news that he had a granddaughter with typical equanimity—surprised, of course, but seemingly pleased as well. He’d always said he would make a terrific grandfather; now was his chance to prove it. Starting with an extravagant gift that would no doubt be the first of many unless Connor had a little chat with him.
“I didn’t know how to hook it up to the TV—or even if you wanted me to try—so I just set it there for now.”
He knew how to set up the game, but he would deal with that later. “What did Alexis think about my dad?”
“They hit it off very quickly, actually. She calls him Pop.”
“That’s what I called his father, who died when I was still in elementary school.” It was strange to think that his father answered to that name now.
“She asked about you at bedtime.”
He ran a thumb along the seam of his jeans in a restless movement. “Did she?”
“Yeah. She wanted to know when she would see you again.”
“It isn’t as if it’s been that long since I’ve seen her.”
“When did you see her last, Connor?”
He had to stop to think about it. Had she been in bed when he’d come home the night before? She had. She’d had the nightmare, which had interrupted…
He swallowed. “I guess it was yesterday morning.”
“Yes. You passed us in the kitchen as we were having breakfast, told us you had to hurry out and said over your shoulder that you hoped we both had nice days.”
“I had that big test.” The one he’d screwed up royally, he thought glumly.
“I know. Then you didn’t get in until after she’d gone to bed and you were gone before she got up this morning. Now she’s in bed again, so it’s been almost two full days since you’ve seen her. You didn’t even go in last night when she had the bad dream.”
“I knew you were handling it,” he muttered. “I wasn’t sure she’d even want me to come in.”
“She can’t bond with you if she never sees you. I’m not saying you should blow off your studies, but surely you can spare a few minutes a day for her.”
He wanted to argue with her, wanted to justify his recent behavior. But he swallowed the words and nodded. “You’re right. I should be helping you more.”
“It isn’t that. Alexis and I are getting along fine. I’m just trying to help you both with this adjustment period.”
“I’m sure everything will work out. It hasn’t even been a whole week yet.”
What might have been doubt clouded her eyes, but she didn’t say anything else.
He stood and moved toward the TV. “I’ll hook this thing up and show you how to work it so you can teach Alexis.”
“Or you could teach her,” she murmured.
On the defense again, he replied somewhat curtly, “I’ll try to work that into my schedule.”
“Yeah, maybe you should do that.” It was as close as she had come to snapping at him since she’d moved in.
Clenching his jaw, Connor counseled himself to be patient. They’d both known there would be an adjustment period for all three of them with this new living situation. He supposed getting on each other’s nerves was as much a part of that as his inconvenient physical awareness of her.
“Let’s just get this hooked up,” he muttered and knelt beside the game carton.
He heard Mia draw in a l
ong breath. Maybe she, too, was giving herself a mental talk. After a long pause, she said in a more normal tone, “Okay. Show me how it works.”
Avoiding her eyes, he opened the box with just a bit more force than necessary.
Chapter Six
Mia was sure Connor stayed around most of Sunday only because she’d criticized him the evening before, but whatever his reason, she was glad he did. After lunch he sat down in the living room with Alexis for an hour and showed her how to play the games her grandfather had brought her.
Having volunteered to clean up the kitchen while they played, Mia listened with approval to the laughter coming from the other room. She knew Connor needed to study, but she doubted that a couple of hours spent with his daughter would be the difference between passing and flunking.
Alexis had seemed pleased to have Connor join them for lunch. She had answered all his questions about her first few days at school and even volunteered a couple of comments. They hadn’t quite gotten to the point where conversation was easy between them, but Mia thought that time would surely come soon.
As for herself and Connor, well, she only hoped they would get back to that point soon. They’d been almost painfully polite with each other that morning, both trying to get past the near-quarrel the night before.
Leaving the kitchen spotless, she moved to the living room and paused for a moment in the doorway. Connor and Alexis stood side by side in the middle of the room, facing the television set with identical looks of intense concentration on their so-similar faces. Each held a white game controller, which they were waving around in amusing gestures. She glanced at the television screen where animated characters they’d customized to resemble themselves mimicked the moves of their human counterparts.
Alexis seemed to be having fun. She giggled at something that happened on the screen. Connor was smiling, but Mia saw him check his watch once. She knew he was thinking about the studying he should be doing. But he kept playing, being very patient with Alexis as she learned how to work the controller, encouraging her when she couldn’t get it right the first time and high-fiving her when she accomplished a goal.
If gaming was a way to draw them closer together, then Mia was all for it. At least for a little while. She and Connor had agreed earlier that Alexis should spend no more than an hour a day playing with the video game, and the same amount of time or less watching television. Mia planned to stock up on art and craft supplies, building sets and other interactive toys to fill the remainder of Alexis’s days.
They’d been playing for just over half an hour when Connor set his controller aside. “I think that’s long enough for the first session. You did very well, Alexis. You were especially good at bowling.”
“I like bowling. It was fun. Thank you.”
Daddy, Mia added silently. She still hadn’t heard Alexis call him that.
But Alexis had already turned toward her, smiling proudly upward. “Did you see me, Mia? I almost got a strike that last time.”
“I saw that. You did great.”
“Maybe you can play with me sometime? I bet you’d be good, too.”
“Maybe I will.”
Connor looked at his watch again, more openly this time. “I had a good time, but I really should be studying now. I’m going to head for the library if you two don’t need anything else right now.”
“We don’t need anything,” Mia assured him.
Alexis left the room, heading in the direction of the bathroom, and Mia took advantage of the moment to say, “She seemed to really enjoy playing the game with you.”
He nodded. “You were right that I need to try to make more time for her.”
She twisted her hands in front of her. “About last night, Connor…I’m sorry if I was cross with you when you got home. I know you’re doing the best you can.”
Moving a little closer to her, he shook his head. “I’m the one who should be apologizing. You only want what’s best for Alexis. I shouldn’t have been so defensive.”
“I want what’s best for both of you,” she assured him. “I know how difficult this week has been for you.”
“I wouldn’t have gotten through it if it hadn’t been for you.” He leaned down to brush his lips against her cheek, a friendly gesture he’d done too many times to count in the past.
So why did it feel different this time? Why was her skin suddenly tingling, her pulse leaping? And why was he lingering so close to her, his eyes darkening, his smile fading? Their gazes held for a long, breath-holding moment, and then Connor cleared his throat and took a quick step backward.
“I’ll see you later,” he said, his voice husky. “I’ll try not to be too late.”
“Stay as long as you need to. Alexis and I will be fine.”
He hesitated only a heartbeat longer before he left the room to collect his books and computer.
Mia pressed a hand to her cheek for a moment, then turned for her own room. She’d get her purse and take Alexis out for a supplies run, she decided. She needed to get out of the house for a while. Maybe she was just getting a touch of cabin fever.
Connor had just parked at the library and was reaching for his backpack when his cell phone rang. He glanced at the screen, saw his father’s number and flipped open the phone to answer it. “Hi, Dad.”
“Hey, son. Hope I’m not catching you at a bad time.”
“No. I’m about to start studying, but I can spare a few minutes.”
“You ever do anything but study these days?”
“Not much.”
“Getting any sleep?”
“Not much,” Connor repeated with a wry smile.
“Mia tell you I stopped by yesterday?”
“She did. I spent a half hour playing video games with Alexis after lunch. That was a very generous gift.”
“She’s my only grandchild. I’ve got an obligation to spoil her now.”
“Yeah, well, just don’t overdo it.”
“Hmm.” With that noncommittal response, his dad continued, “She’s a sweet little thing, isn’t she? Cute as a button. Well-behaved, too. You’re lucky there.”
“Yeah, she’s really good. Hasn’t given us any trouble at all.”
“She looks like your mother.”
“Yeah, I guess she does.”
“Got her eyes. Just like you do. Your mom would have been thrilled with her, you know.”
“I know. I wish they could have met.”
“So do I, son,” his father murmured with a sigh. “So do I.”
“I’m sorry I wasn’t there when you met Alexis.”
“Mia said you were off studying.”
“Yes. I didn’t get in until late.”
“I know it’s important for you to do well in your classes, but make sure you leave time for your daughter, Connor. My one regret from your boyhood is that I didn’t make more time to spend with you. Seemed like I was always traveling in my job or hanging out with my buddies. I missed too much of your life. I realized that when we lost your mom so soon.”
Connor was taken off guard by his father’s uncharacteristic soul-searching. Duncan Hayes always said he didn’t waste time on regrets or justifications. “Are you okay, Dad?”
“Don’t worry, I’m not dying or anything,” his father replied with a short laugh. “I guess becoming a grandfather makes a man look at things a little differently. Don’t want you to make the same mistakes I made. But don’t worry about it, Conn. You’ll be a good father.”
“I hope you’re right.” Connor wished he could be so sure of that himself.
“Besides, you’ve got Mia to help you. Speaking of lucky…how come you never told me the friend you talked about so much was such a looker?”
“I’m sure I mentioned that she’s attractive.”
“I knew you were fond of her, but I didn’t realize how close the two of you were.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, for her to give up everything and move in to help you with your k
id, even though you’re hardly ever there to help her…that’s a bit more than everyday friendship.”
Connor cleared his throat. “I’ve always said she was my best friend.”
“Same way I always felt about your mom.”
Shifting behind the steering wheel, Connor murmured, “Uh, Dad…”
“Don’t worry, I’m not going to start nagging you to set a date. But don’t be stupid there either, okay, boy? Luck only stretches so far. Takes a little effort to hang on to your good fortune.”
“Yes, well—”
“Anyway, I’ll let you go. I know you want to get at the books. Just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed meeting little Alexis. I plan to see her quite a bit, if that’s okay with you.”
“Of course it is. She’s your granddaughter. I want the two of you to be close.”
“Good. So when you think about it, get me a picture of her, okay? I want to show it off to my buddies when they pull out pictures of their grandkids.”
“Yes, I’ll do that. ’Bye, Dad.”
Connor had to admit to himself that he was a little surprised by how enthusiastically his father had taken to his role as grandparent. Maybe Duncan had been a bit more lonely than he’d admitted since his wife had died. Connor had always figured his dad had filled his days with his work at the industrial parts manufacturing company where he’d been employed as a salesman for more than thirty years, and his evenings with the friends with whom he bowled, played cards, fished and watched sports. Apparently his father had missed the sense of family Connor’s mother had provided.
If only this development hadn’t come at such a hectic, difficult time in his own life, Connor thought, climbing out of his car. He’d like to be able to enjoy it more himself, but he was just too overwhelmed by all the stress and responsibility.
As he headed into the library, he wondered—not for the first time—if he had made a mistake trying to stay in school. Maybe he should have quit and gone back to teaching, for Alexis’s sake and his own. Maybe he shouldn’t have let Mia make so many sacrifices to help him hang on to a dream that he might have waited too late to pursue.