The Best of Us (Sullivan's Crossing #4)(69)

“Oh, I don’t know. Because I want her to be happy. She always assumed she’d never have children, which I thought was an awful assumption. She should have children. I didn’t give birth but I had a child to raise and love. It was the best part of my life. But, Sully, I want to visit the next generation. Maybe do a little babysitting when I have the time. My sister was ten years younger than I was. I had barely gotten myself into a house when she came to me, eighteen and pregnant and not willing to share the name of the father. Then she died during a routine surgery and left a four-year-old for me to raise. I loved every second of it. That doesn’t mean I want to do it again.”

“You staying for dinner?” he asked.

“Yes, sure.”

“Good. You going home tonight?”

“I will, yes. Leigh seems to need to talk a lot.”

“When you go home tonight, tell Leigh that having her to raise was the best part of your life and no matter what else happens, no matter whether they shack up or not, she’s going to have a child to raise. I wasn’t a very good father, I know, but Maggie lit up my world and I loved her so much. I was so proud of her, like you are of Leigh. Leigh should have that opportunity.”

“That’s so lovely, Sully. I’ll do that.”

“And then tell her that when you’re out here at night, we sleep naked.”







For success, attitude is equally as important
as ability.

—Walter Scott



14


JULY BROUGHT THE Sullivans and Joneses and all their attached family members and significant others to the Crossing for a Fourth of July celebration. Avery Boyle, Sierra and Connie’s new daughter, made her public debut and Leigh was able to cuddle the baby she had delivered. Rob took a rare day off and brought the boys to the Crossing and Finn brought Maia, as well. To look at her, one would never know everything Maia had been through. Upon watching her closely, Leigh could see there were hints. She didn’t have a lot of energy and she often leaned against Finn, not letting him get too far away, but she was so happy to socialize with her surgeon and Maggie pronounced her making a beautiful recovery. Later in the evening, Rob’s boys helped Connie and Dakota shoot off fireworks over the lake.

A couple of weeks later when Helen went to San Francisco to visit her friend Maureen, Leigh was invited to Rob’s house for dinner with the boys, Sidney and Dakota. Of course Rob cooked and turned out a wonderful meal using the backyard grill.

She tried to look around without anyone noticing. Rob had a very nice and well-kept house. This was only the third time she’d been to his house. Once for dinner with Grandma and Grandpa Speers and one morning for coffee before Rob went to the pub. She had to admit, he did an excellent job of creating a comfortable home for his small family. The house wasn’t large but there were five bedrooms—he had an office at home and there was a guest room, the one that his sister, Sid, had used for the year or two she’d stayed with him. There were lots of wood built-ins—the dining room hutch, the TV wall unit, bookcases. There was a large leather sectional, man-size. The kitchen was impressive, but then Rob was partial to kitchens.

It was a good house. But there was no reflection of her at all. Of course.

And it was full. Where in the world was he thinking to squeeze her in? And where was Helen supposed to live?

She passed the twelve-week mark and Rob stepped up the discussions. “We should make a few decisions,” he said. “You’re going to be showing before long. I have to tell my sons what’s going on.”

“If you must,” she said. “I don’t think they’d know the difference if we waited a while longer.”

“They’re going to want to know how we’re going to proceed to be parents. For that matter, I’d like to know.”

She just shook her head. “I don’t know,” she said. “I’m filled with conflict. I’d like to try to get used to the idea for a while.”

“If we’re going to live together, I have to make adjustments.”

“What kind of adjustments?” she asked.

“You have your own things, lots of clothes, some furniture...”

“Rob, there’s no room in your house for me and my furnishings. No room for my desk or the antique dry sink I bought years ago and love. And where are we going to put a baby?”

“We’ll have to clear out a room and make a nursery,” he said.

“Oh, see, there’s no room for that. Do you expect me to grab my toothbrush and recreate my life at your house? Here’s what I think—I think we leave things as they are until later.”

“Later?”

“We’re not ready to live together,” she said. “That’s a big commitment. It would be so traumatic if it wasn’t good and we had to separate. And I like my house. We should wait until... I don’t know...until the boys are older. Maybe until Sean starts college.”

“That’s two years,” he said.

“Maybe not quite that long... But I’m not ready...”

“Okay, but there are some things you’re not thinking about. A baby is going to be a lot of work. Around-the-clock work. How are you going to go to the clinic by day, feed the baby a few times a night, keep up with all the extra laundry and work? You’ll be sleep deprived.”