Island Affair (Keys to Love #1)(29)
Luis liked the guy’s sense of humor. Plus the fact that he’d started to come to Sara’s defense when their older sister bared her fangs.
“Says the man who was mouthing the steps to his daughter’s routine from his seat in the auditorium,” Carolyn threw in. “I thought he was about to volunteer to dance in the wings with their instructor, helping preschoolers struggling to remember the next step.”
Jonathan shrugged good-naturedly. “What can I say, my little girl has me wrapped around her pinkie. I could have easily filled in for the teacher.”
“Now that I would have liked to see. I’m sorry I wasn’t feeling well that day,” Ruth said, sliding her feet into her black sandals. “Next year, I’ll do my best to be there.”
“Me too,” Charles chimed in. He and Ruth exchanged another secretive nod before he continued. “Robin, you’ve done such a fine job covering for me while I cared for your mother. While we’re here, I’d like us to discuss keeping this division of duties permanent. If you agree, we’ll talk with the hospital when we get back.”
Surprise widened Robin’s gray eyes at her father’s announcement. Her jaw dropped, leaving her mouth a shocked oh that smoothed the rough edges of her caustic personality.
Beside her, Edward clumsily patted her thigh, his mouth tilted in a crooked smile his orthodontist skills might not be able to straighten but that showed his pride for his wife.
“Dad, are you sure?” Robin asked, her abrasive tone tempered with awe and uncertainty. “Stepping back, permanently, that means—”
“That means more cases for you. More responsibility and leadership expectations. You’ll be the Dr. Vance that’s paged first for difficult consultations, not me. If you’re ready for it.”
“Yes! Of course, yes!” Pulling her feet out of the water, Robin hurried toward the shaded porch. A trail of darkened wet footprints marked her steps across the bricked deck. Charles rose from his seat on Ruth’s lounger to wrap his oldest in a bear hug.
“This is what you’ve worked for, and I’m happy to hand over the reins to you. Just like—” Charles pulled back to grasp Robin’s shoulders. He peered down at her, the same authoritative expression he’d aimed at Luis and Sara when they’d first arrived. “Just like I’m happy for each new follower person or sponsor opportunity Sara garners. Or each patient you and your brother save. And especially any dance recital moves Jonathan teaches us this week.”
“Which could possibly happen tonight, if we all hurry and freshen up.” Ruth checked the dainty gold watch encircling her left wrist, then rose to stand beside them. “It’s nearly five thirty. If we plan to eat before sunset at eight, we’ll need to get a move on.”
Jonathan and Carolyn strolled over to join the rest of the group. Luis stayed in his deck chair, waiting to take his cue from Sara. While their banter had eased her discomfort earlier, she didn’t appear in a hurry to congratulate her sister. Instead, she gazed at her family standing in a huddle, without her.
The longing on her face made Luis want to wrap his arm around her, make their own circle of trust, and reassure her that everything would be okay.
He was used to being the voice of calm and reason with many victims on the job. Only, this pulse-racing urge to hold and comfort Sara wasn’t something he ever felt for the random strangers, even the locals he knew, who relied on him for aid. Not by a long shot.
“This is an unexpected move, Dad. But a good one,” Jonathan said.
Father and son shook hands; then Jonathan one-arm hugged his mom, cautiously tucking her slender body against his side with care.
Luis wished he’d known Ruth before her body had been weakened by cancer. Then again, it seemed the weakness of body may have precipitated a strength in spirit in a whole new way. One her family was only getting used to. Her children anyway. She and her husband appeared to be on the same new page.
“And you,” Jonathan told his older sister, nudging his chin at her over Ruth’s head. “I’d tell you to make sure you do the Vance name proud. But you’re so damn hard on yourself, I figure you’re already mentally giving yourself a tougher speech than I would.”
Hands clasped at her waist, excitement contained and her reserved demeanor reestablished, Robin gave her brother a brisk nod. “You are correct.”
“Let’s be clear, though,” Jonathan said. “Two Vances will continue practicing at Phoenix General. So, it could very well be my Dr. Vance page you hear.”
“I’ll keep that in mind the next time you call from the ER, needing my expertise.” Robin’s haughty reply was tempered by a smug smirk that had her brother barking out a laugh.
Throughout the exchange Sara remained apart from the others. Brows knitted with a frown, silently watching her family in their tight circle. One she had admitted she didn’t quite fit into.
Still, Luis had trouble reconciling the information Sara had given him back at Higgs Beach with what he’d learned after spending time in the company of her parents and siblings.
It was a little strange studying the Vances all together. They spanned nearly three separate generations between parents, oldest siblings, then Sara. It was understandable that she might feel like the odd man out with the others paired off in age groups. And clearly Robin’s bluntness may not always be easy to deal with.