Ray threw back his big head, let out his wonderful rolling laugh.
"Ethan, I've always appreciated your understated wit, and I wish I could
discuss the mysteries of the universe with you, but time's passing."
Munching on nuts, he studied Ethan's face, and as he did, Ray's wickedly
amused grin softened, warmed. "Watching you grow into a man was one of
the greatest pleasures of my life. You've got a heart as big as your
Bay. I hope you'll trust it. I want you to be happy. There'll be trouble
coming for all of you."
"Seth?"
"He'll need his family. All his family," Ray added in a murmur, then
shook his head. "There's too much misery in the short time we spend
living, Ethan, to turn away happiness. You remember to value your joys."
Then his eyes twinkled. "I'd brace myself, son. Your thinking time's
over."
Ethan heard Grace's car, glanced toward the road. He knew without
looking that his father was no longer beside him.
When Grace saw Ethan sitting on her front porch steps she wanted to lay
her head on the steering wheel. She wasn't sure her heart could handle
yet another trip through an emotional wringer.
Instead, she climbed out of the car and went around to unstrap the
sleeping Aubrey from her car seat. With Aubrey's head heavy on her
shoulder, she walked to the house and watched Ethan unfold his long legs
and rise.
"I'm not willing to go through another round with you, Ethan."
"I brought your purse by. You left it at the house."
Startled, she frowned when he held it out to her. It showed just how
jumbled her mind had been that she hadn't even realized she'd been
without it. "Thank you."
"I need to talk to you, Grace."
"I'm sorry. I have to put Aubrey to bed."
"I'll wait."
"I said I'm not willing to talk about this again."
"I said I need to talk to you. I'll wait."
"Then you can just wait until I'm good and ready," she told him and
sailed into the house.
It appeared she hadn't quite gotten down to mildly irritated, he
decided. But he sat again. And he waited.
she took her time, stripping Aubrey down to her training pants, covering
her with a soft sheet, tidying the bedroom. She went into the kitchen
and poured herself a glass of lemonade she didn't want. But she drank
every drop of it.
She could see him through the screen door, sitting on the steps. For a
moment, she considered simply going to the door, closing it, and tossing
the bolt to make her point. But she discovered she didn't have quite
enough mad left to be that petty.
She opened the screen, let it close quietly.
"Is she down for the night?"
"Yes, she's had a long day. So have I. I hope this won't take long."
"I guess it doesn't have to. I want to tell you I'm sorry for hurting
you, for making you unhappy." Since she didn't come down and join him on