Unexpected Arrivals(69)

“But he’s mine. I get to keep him, right?”

“He’s not a dog, James.” I rolled my eyes at his insidious question, choosing to ignore that I could have done a five-minute comedy routine on the kid’s name alone.

“Legally, yes. Chelsea named you his sole guardian and parent. However, if for some reason the two of you are averse to those roles, Dottie is prepared to have you sign over custody and all parental rights.”

“She wants my kid?” My husband’s face grew angry, and the crimson crept up his neck and into his cheeks.

“Not in a malicious, or even greedy way, Mr. Carpenter. She has been with Legend every day since he was born. She is the only family, other than Chelsea, he’s ever had.”

“But she has to be like a hundred years old,” he screeched his disbelief.

“James.” Now it was my turn to hiss at him.

The attorney chuckled at his outburst. I, on the other hand, was mortified. “I assure you, Mr. Carpenter, she only has Legend’s best interest at heart. Dottie thought it would be best if you met Legend in a place less formal than this, one he’d be comfortable in.”

“Like her house?”

I wanted to laugh at the expression on his face. Neither of us had a clue how to handle any of this. James was doing the best he could, even if he hadn’t managed to hide his dismay.

“No, he likes to play at the park by the pier. She thought it would be a safe place for him to welcome you into his world.”

My mind had retreated back to a place of uncertainty. This was about to happen, and I wasn’t sure I could face it. If it hadn’t meant leaving James, I would have been out that door without risk of it hitting me in the behind as it closed.

“When?” James’s face was unreadable. His eyes danced with excitement, even though his knee bounced with anxiety, and his thumb stroked mine in soothing love. None of his body languages agreed with each other.

“Today at three if you’re available.” Karen’s eyes were kind and understanding as if she’d dealt with this type of thing a hundred times before.

James glanced at me for approval, and I just nodded, wondering where the hell life would take us in two hours.





15





Cora





Mother Nature had delivered a perfect day to meet the newest member of our family. I wanted to believe it was a sign that everything would work out. However, in the time since we’d left the offices of Clary, White, & Boyd, James had already pulled back. It had nothing to do with me and everything to do with the apprehension over meeting his son, who was not a newborn, but a child who knew little about him. I expected us to do this together, though now I felt like I was somehow intruding on their initial meeting.

“Do you not want me to go?”

We sat in the car at the end of the pier, staring out at a place the two of us had been hundreds of times before. It was as familiar to us as New York. I couldn’t count the number of memories we shared on that very pier and along that shore.

“I do. I’m just afraid we’ll overwhelm him. And I’ve never met Dottie. It’s not you. I’m just a mess. I absolutely need you here, just bear with me. I’m flying by the seat of my pants, and I’m about to lose my shit.” The only way past this was through it. He knew it; I knew it. Yet neither of us were comfortable with it.

With the windows down, it was easy to hear the waves in the distance and the seagulls crying. I didn’t miss Geneva Key, but I missed the way the air smelled of salt and how the wind blew through my hair in even the slightest breeze.

From our vantage point, we could witness every person who approached the playground from the parking lot or the beach. It had remained vacant until a few minutes after three. I couldn’t make out the features of either person who approached, other than it being an older woman and small boy.

“Do you think that’s them?” James asked as if one of them was the boogeyman, and I’d somehow gained superhero powers to thwart him.

“I’d say it’s a safe bet.”

“Are you ready?”

I still wasn’t convinced he wanted me to do this with him, but I’d regret staying behind. We were meeting our destiny—whatever that might be—and I was determined to be a part of it.

“As ready as I’m going to get.” I put on a brave face and unbuckled my seatbelt.

James and I met at the front of the car, and hand in hand, the two of us made our way down the pier to our future.

The woman lingered on the opposite edge of the playground, while the little boy ran to the jungle gym and immediately started climbing like a monkey. His exuberance brought a genuine smile to my face, and when I glanced up at my husband, I saw the same exuberance shining brightly on his.

“Dottie, look at me!” the small child yelled to his friend as he hung upside down by his knees from the metal bar.

When he began to swing, she called back, “Be careful, Legend.” Her silvery hair blew across her face when a gust of wind kicked up.

We stood at the edge of the pier and watched him play like any other kid. James squeezed my hand and met my eyes with wonder and love. I only hoped the two of us remained as optimistic while this all unfolded.

“Should we go introduce ourselves to Dottie first or Legend?” he asked as if I had the answers to this situation.