Finding Our Forever (Silver Springs #1)(62)

He sat on the edge of the nightstand. “I feel like I should—like we should do it together.”

“What if she’s not happy to have me back, Eli?”

“How could she not be happy about that? Look at you! You’re gorgeous and so smart and good. What mother wouldn’t be proud of you?”

At that point, the emotion Cora had been struggling to hold back got the best of her. As tears began to run down her cheeks in earnest, he walked over to scoop her into his arms. “Don’t cry,” he murmured. “It breaks my heart to see you cry. Everything’s going to be okay. We’ll figure it out together.”

“You don’t hate me?” she asked.

He laughed as he kissed the tip of her nose. “No. If this is the worst thing we ever have to get through—I mean between us, I understand it’s been very difficult for you and I’m not making light of that—we’re going to be okay.”

“So are we getting married?” she asked. “Do I get to keep the ring?”

He reached over to get it. “Absolutely,” he said as he slid it onto her finger. “Do you like this setting, or do you want to take it back and pick another one?”

“I want this one,” she replied. Somehow it meant more that he’d gone to the trouble of finding what he thought was just the right thing for her.

“I’m glad you like it.” He held her chin while he kissed her. “Merry Christmas.”





Chapter Twenty

Eli was so happy that he and Cora were to be married that he tried not to let the little detail of her maternity bother him. He could see why she hadn’t told him that she was Aiyana’s daughter, so he didn’t find it hard to forgive her. Being in love for the first time made him hesitant to let anything destroy the excitement they were feeling. He knew how wonderful Aiyana was, couldn’t imagine her reacting negatively to the news, so he figured they’d wait until the holidays were over and sit down with her and explain everything. He told Cora that Aiyana probably didn’t have the support she needed, so she’d made the decision to go with adoption because she thought it would be the best alternative for Cora—and had simply been too engrossed in helping others to search for her.

But the more he mulled over the situation, the more he began to think there had to be other factors he should be taking into consideration. Cora kept saying that the woman she’d come to know would not have walked away from her child unless she felt she had to. So, why did Aiyana feel she had to resort to adoption? And how could they find out before dropping a bombshell that could either make her incredibly happy, or bring up a part of her past she preferred to leave buried, even if it did include a child?

He didn’t dare approach his grandparents or uncles with the conundrum he and Cora faced. Like Cora had said, it felt wrong to bring anyone in on this, especially Aiyana’s family, since they didn’t have her permission. But there was one other person Eli trusted, one person who also loved Aiyana with all his heart.

“Sorry for the delay,” Cal said as he walked into his wood-paneled office, where Eli had been waiting for the past ten minutes.

Eli smiled as they shook hands. He believed Cal to be one of the finest men he’d ever met—and still it felt awkward to speak to him about something so personal. Maybe it would be easier if Cal’s relationship with Aiyana had been more clearly defined over the years, if Eli felt as if he could look at him as a father figure instead of just a particularly generous friend of the family. But as much as Cal loved Aiyana, and Aiyana seemed to love Cal, the relationship had never progressed—a mystery in and of itself. “Thanks for seeing me.”

“You said it was important.”

“It is.”

“What can I do for you? Do you need food, equipment, money for the school? If so, you came to the right place.”

“Thank you, but...this has nothing to do with New Horizons.”

Cal’s ruddy face showed concern. “Then what’s it about?”

“My mother.”

A frown tugged at the corners of his lips. “I should warn you that might change my position. I care about you a great deal. I hope you know that. But my first loyalties will always lie with her.”

Eli let his breath go in relief. “Thank you for confirming your devotion. That’s why I’m here—because I knew I could depend on that.”

“I don’t understand.”

“You’ve met Cora.” Eli knew he had; Cal and Cora had joined them for several of the Sunday dinners they’d had at Aiyana’s over the past few months.

“Yes. A very nice woman. You chose well.”

“Thank you.” News of their engagement had obviously spread, but Eli wasn’t here to talk about that. He scooted forward. “I’d like to ask that what I’m about to say doesn’t leave this room. If anyone is going to tell Aiyana about...what I plan to reveal, it should be Cora. Can you give me your word?”

“As long as whatever you’re keeping from her isn’t harmful to her.”

“That’s what I’m hoping you can help me decide.”

Cal, more somber than Eli had ever seen him, leaned back in his seat and clasped the wooden arms of his leather swivel chair. “What is it?”

As Eli explained, Cal sat motionless, listening.