pounding on each other those first months. Thought it did both of you
good."
Ethan's lips twitched. "He usually started the pounding."
"But you never were one to back off once your blood was up. Took some
doing to get it up," he added. "Still does. We watched you watch and
settle and think and consider."
"You gave mea time. Time to watch and settle, to think and consider.
Everything I've got that's decent came from the two of you."
"No, Ethan, we just gave you love. And that time, and the place."
He wandered over to the window, to look out on the water and the boats
that swayed gently at the dock. He watched an egret sail across a sky
hazed with heat and plumped by clouds.
"You were meant to be ours. Meant to be here. Took to the water like
you'd been born in it. Cam, he always just wanted to go fast, and
Phillip preferred to sit back and enjoy the ride. But youa"
He turned back again, his gaze thoughtful. "You studied every inch of
the boat, every wave, every turn of a river. You'd practice tying knots
for hours, and nobody had to nag you into swabbing the decks."
"It came easy for me, right from the start. You wanted me to get a
college degree."
"For me." Ray shook his head. "For me, Ethan. Fathers are human, after
all, and I went through a time when I thought my sons needed to love
schooling as much as I did. But you did what was right for you. You made
me proud of you. I should have told you that more often."
"You always let me know it."
"Words count, though. Who would know that better than a man who spent
his life trying to teach the young the love of them?" He sighed now.
"Words count, Ethan, and I know some of them come hard for you. But I
want you to remember that. You and Grace have a lot to say to each other
yet."
"I don't want to hurt her."
"You will," Ray said quietly. "By trying not to. I wish you could see
yourself as I do. As she does." He shook his head again. "Well, fate
takes its time. Think of the boy, Ethan, think of Seth--and what pieces
of yourself you see there."
"His mother--" Ethan began.
"Think of the boy for now," Ray said simply, and he was gone.
Chapter Sixteen
there wasn't a hint of rain on the breezy summer air. The sky was a hot,
staggering blue, an unbroken bowl that held a faint haze and fragile
clouds. A single bird sang manically, as if mad to complete the song
before the long day was over.
She was as nervous as a teenager on prom night. The thought of that made
Grace laugh. No teenager had ever dreamed of nerves like these.
She fussed with her hair, wishing she had long, glossy curls like
Anna's--exotic, Gypsy-like. Sexy.
But she didn't, she reminded herself firmly. And never would. At least
the short, simple crop showed off the pretty gold drop earrings Julie