Unexpected Arrivals(76)

“Why don’t you take Legend up there, and I’ll get the floats.”

I had forgotten all about the tube and raft that had drifted a bit when we hopped off them. James rounded them up while we climbed out of the waist-high waves and back onto stable ground.

When I put Legend down, he pulled on my hand and clutched it tightly. “Who are they?” he asked as he pointed under our umbrella. He hadn’t shown an ounce of fear with James or me, yet suddenly, his trepidation was front and center.

“Those are your grandparents. Are you excited to meet them?” I’d raised the tone of my voice half an octave to try to convince him there was nothing to be afraid of. Clearly, it hadn’t worked.

“I’m not supposed to talk to strangers, Cora.” His generally wide eyes squinted in the sun as he stared up at me.

“They won’t be strangers soon. They’re your daddy’s parents, and I promise, you’ll love them as much as they do you.”

He took a hesitant step in their direction. “They don’t know me.”

I squatted next to him and took his chin between my fingers. With a genuine smile, I said, “Remember how your mama told you about your daddy and me?” I continued talking when he nodded. “Your daddy told his parents all about you. And they can’t wait to meet you.”

“Do you think they have cake?”

I hoped like hell they did. I was also certain if they didn’t, Susan would make a call and have one at our fingertips in thirty minutes. “Maybe, but if not, I bet we can make that happen. What’s your favorite kind?”

We started walking with James on our heels.

“Carrot cake.”

I ruffled his hair. Of course it was.

“Mine’s red velvet.”

“What about Daddy?” I realized there was so much none of us knew about each other and how much I enjoyed these simple questions.

“Vanilla.”

“That’s boring. Does he at least like it with sprinkles?”

“Nope. Just vanilla cake and vanilla icing. Maybe you can convince him otherwise. He has a birthday coming up, and I’m sure he’ll like anything you pick out.”

“You must be Legend,” Susan exclaimed as she clapped her hands together and kneeled in front of him.

“Cora said my daddy has a birthday soon, and I can pick out his cake.”

Susan grinned wide, and Brock burst out with laughter. “White on white. That’s all your daddy likes, son.”

“Wait, who said you could pick out my cake?” James grabbed Legend, swung him into his arms, and dug his fingers into his son’s sides.

He erupted into a fit of giggles and pointed at me. “Cora did.”

“Oh, she did, huh? Then maybe we should get her.” And suddenly the two of them were both after me, poking me every chance they could, trying to get me to laugh.

I finally collapsed on the towel under the umbrella, and Legend hopped in my lap.

“Grandma, did you bring us something to eat?” He hadn’t been told what to call her, but she beamed with pride at his declaration and acceptance of who she was in his life. Only a child could get away with the innocent way he brought us into his world.

My arms circled his chest in a hug I hoped conveyed to Legend what words failed to say.

“I did, and Papa brought some chairs for us all to sit in so we don’t get sandy.”

“What’s in your basket, Papa?” And just like that, we were all in Legend’s fold.

The five of us sat under the umbrella eating roast beef sandwiches, potato salad, and grapes. Susan and Brock asked Legend so many questions I was afraid his jaw would get tired between chewing and talking, but he ate up the attention as quickly as he did his lunch. He was well-mannered and equally well-behaved. I wondered how Chelsea managed to raise such a well-rounded child while managing a life-threatening disease.

“You have a big house, Papa. Do lots of people live with you?”

“Just me and your grandma. Although right now, your daddy and Cora are staying with us, too. Maybe you can spend the night with us before you guys go home.”

“Where do you live?” Legend asked James while looking to me for the answer.

“In New York. Do you know where that is?” I tried to remember just how young he was. He hadn’t started school yet, and I wasn’t sure he’d ever been out of Geneva Key.

“That’s a long way away from my Dottie.” His expression turned sour, and he didn’t say anything else.

“Who’s Dottie?” Susan asked, unsure of what was going on.

“She was my mama’s best friend. And her mama’s, too.”

“That’s who Chelsea and Legend lived with. Dottie took care of Legend until we could get here.” James pleaded silently with his parents not to ask more questions. Unfortunately, his mother missed the clue.

“I’ve lived here all my life. There’s no one named Dottie on the island.” Her gaze went back and forth to James and me before landing firmly on me…waiting.

“Dottie is Gwendolyn Chase.” I let those words hang in the air so his parents could fully absorb the weight of what we’d walked into upon arriving in Geneva Key.

“Your grandmo—”

I cut her off with a wave of my hand before she could complete that thought.