If a person’s mood could be improved by simply touching another human being, every soul inside the airport having a bad day should shake Gavin’s hand. Happiness radiated off him tonight. It had actually been there since they woke up this morning. While they shared their first cups of coffee of the day, Leah thought his mood couldn’t get any more jubilant.
She’d been wrong.
If this morning he’d been as excited and happy as a child about to meet Santa Claus, tonight his mood reflected that of a child about to meet Santa, the Tooth Fairy, and the Easter Bunny all at once. Leah didn’t think she’d ever been quite as happy as he was in her entire life, and she’d had some wonderful and exciting experiences over the past thirty-two years.
The arm around her waist tightened as they entered the airport. As usual, it was bustling with activity. Gavin guided them through the crowd toward the large screens listing the arrivals and departures. The airport was a great place to people watch, so while he checked for information regarding Erin’s flight, she focused on everyone around them.
“First they charge me twenty-five dollars to check my bag, and then they lose it,” a woman to Leah’s right said to her companion. The couple had two preteens with them, both of whom wore earbuds and were staring down at their cell phones, completely ignoring their parents. “I’m starting to wish we’d gone camping again instead of coming here,” the woman grumbled.
Too bad Gavin couldn’t transfer some of his happiness, because this woman needed a large helping of it.
“Before we pick up the rental car, I need a coffee,” the unhappy traveler said.
“There is a snack stand over there,” her companion replied.
Leah watched the family head toward the stand. Considering the woman’s attitude, the evening facing her companions looked unpleasant, and Leah was glad she wasn’t part of the small group.
“Looks like their flight is expected to arrive on time,” Gavin said, and the word their in his statement immediately caught her attention.
Children could fly without an adult. When she traveled on commercial airlines rather than private charter flights, she occasionally saw a child alone. An airline employee usually escorted them on and off the plane and then a family member met them somewhere in the airport. Since Erin was coming directly from Florida and her mom lived in Rhode Island, she’d assumed Erin was traveling alone while Amber returned home.
She let him lead her away from the screens and toward one of the busy coffee shops inside the airport. “Is Erin’s mom with her?”
“Both Amber and her fiancé are with Erin. We don’t let her travel alone. Todd, Amber’s fiancé, has family in the city. They’re going to visit with them before returning to Providence on Sunday.” They entered the coffee shop and headed straight for the last empty table. After pulling out a chair, Gavin waited for her to sit. “What would you like?”
“Whatever you’re having,” Leah replied, her thoughts focused solely on what he’d shared. She had prepared to meet Erin today, not Amber. While meeting new people never bothered her—actually, she enjoyed it—the thought of meeting the woman Gavin had at one time loved enough to have a child with set her nerves on edge.
It doesn’t matter if she likes me. Even as she thought it, Leah realized the statement was only partially true. While Amber’s feeling regarding her wouldn’t affect her and Gavin’s relationship, it could cause problems between her and Gavin’s daughter. Growing up, she’d had enough friends with divorced parents to know that the other parent often influenced a child’s opinion of a new boyfriend or girlfriend. If Amber didn’t like her, her opinion could easily rub off on Erin, causing some very uncomfortable situations during future visits.
Gavin set a covered paper cup and a blueberry scone in front of her. “You look deep in thought. Everything okay?” Rather than sit across from her, he pulled out the chair next to her.
“Yep.” Afraid he’d see the truth, she uncovered the cup without meeting his eyes. “Just lost in thought.”
He did the same and added two packets of sugar to the mocha-colored liquid in the cup. “Did you get a hold of your cousin?”
“I’m going to spend the day with her.”
With tomorrow being Gavin and Erin’s first day together in weeks, it seemed only right they had the time alone. Since they’d be gone most of the day, she’d made plans to spend time with Callie and her family.
Lifting the cup, she paused with it near her lips. “Do you and Amber’s fiancé get along?” If the man was at Amber’s apartment more than his own, Gavin must have run into him often. Even if he didn’t spend so much time there, Gavin would’ve made a point of meeting the man who spent time around his daughter.
“Todd isn’t someone I’d call to go hang out with, but yeah, we get along. He’s a decent guy. Amber and he are a good fit, and he treats Erin like a princess. I think he spoils her worse than I do.”
Gavin checked his watch every two seconds as they enjoyed their coffees and chatted about their day—or at least it seemed like every two seconds. Finally after what had to be the twentieth time, he stuffed his napkin in his empty coffee cup and pushed back his chair. “Ready?”
Half her latte remained, so she put the cover back on the cup and stood. Reaching out, she laced his fingers with her own. “I’ll finish on the way.”
They waited near the terminal exit as travelers walked past them, some alone and others in small groups. She’d not only seen the pictures Gavin had of Erin on his cell phone, she’d also seen the ones he kept in his home office and the one in his bedroom of them together. So she immediately recognized the young girl headed in their direction.
“She’s a mini you,” Leah commented.
She thought the girl resembled Gavin in pictures, but in person it was even more evident. From here she couldn’t tell the exact shade of Erin’s eyes, but her hair color matched Gavin’s to a T, and the shape of their faces was the same. She shared Gavin’s height as well. If Leah didn’t know any different, she’d easily assume Erin was eleven or twelve years old.
Leah switched her gaze to the two adults accompanying Erin. Amber was tall like her daughter and willowy, with light brown hair and a heart-shaped face. As they walked, she held Erin’s hand and listened to whatever her daughter was saying. Todd, Amber’s fiancé, looked vaguely familiar, but from where remained just out of Leah’s reach.
Everyone in the airport terminal knew the exact moment Erin spotted her father.
“Dad,” the girl shouted, and sprinted away from her mom. Her smile radiated so much happiness it was almost blinding.
Erin launched herself into Gavin’s arms and he picked her up off the ground. The smile on his face matched his daughter’s. “How’s my girl?” he asked before kissing her on the cheek and setting her back down.
Although he no longer hugged her, Gavin put an arm over Erin’s shoulders.
“Hungry. Can we get pizza on the way home? Or Chinese?”
He’d warned her that Erin would happily live on only pizza, grilled cheese sandwiches, and Chinese food if allowed. She hadn’t told him, but when she was about Erin’s age those had been her favorite food groups too. Even now pizza with a large helping of ice cream afterward were her go-to dishes when she needed some comfort food.
“We’ll see, Bug,” he replied as Amber and Todd reached them.
Gavin’s fingers wrapped around hers and gave them a quick squeeze before he stepped forward and gave Amber a brief friendly hug. After releasing her, Gavin turned toward Todd. “Congratulations on the engagement,” he said, shaking Todd’s hand before he moved back to her side, his arm immediately going around her shoulders.
Quickly Gavin went through introductions before they all started toward the baggage claim area. As they walked, he kept her hand locked in his right hand while his left held his daughter’s. Erin entertained them with details of her vacation, starting with the flight down to Florida weeks ago. By the time they reached the baggage area, she’d only made it through the first two days of the trip.
Leah stood by his side and his daughter was within arm’s reach. The only thing that could make the moment better was if they weren’t standing inside the airport. But at least they wouldn’t be here much longer. He had Erin’s two suitcases in hand, and Erin was in the process of saying bye to Amber and Todd.
Erin gave first her mom and then Todd a hug before turning and skipping back to his side, the unicorn-shaped backpack Todd had carried off the plane for her slung over one shoulder.
“Do you need to use the bathroom before we go?” She’d insisted she didn’t have to when her mom had asked on their way to get their luggage. Since the ladies’ room was right across from them now and he’d rather not have her announce ten minutes after they got in the car that she needed to go, he asked again.
“Nope. I went on the plane.”
Some things he could force her to do; using the bathroom wasn’t one of them. “Okay, this way then.”
Erin spent a lot more time at his apartment in Providence than here, but she knew her way around. When they walked in, she immediately dropped her backpack on the floor and zipped down the hall to the bathroom.
The anticipated announcement that she needed to go had come fifteen rather than ten minutes into their ride home, but it had still come. It had taken considerable effort not to remind her that he’d asked before they left the airport.
While Erin used the bathroom, he brought her bright yellow suitcases and backpack down to the guest bedroom she used whenever she visited. Unlike her room at his other home, which she’d helped decorate, this one was an identical copy of the one across the hall, right down to the dark gray comforter and bare hardwood floor. During her last visit in April, she’d asked if they could make this room more like her one in Providence. He’d promised they could, but they’d been so busy with other activities they never got around to shopping.
Until now, he hadn’t thought about her request since.
Gavin made a mental note to get some shopping in while she was here so she could change things up in the room and switched off the light.
He met up with Erin in the hallway as she came out of the bathroom. “Where’s Uncle Harry?” she asked.
When it came to romantic relationships, Harry could be a first-class bastard, but he was a good uncle, and the last time Erin stayed here, Harry was living with him. During that week Harry had been on his best behavior. He hadn’t brought home any women, and he’d spent several hours playing video games with Erin.
“He’s not living here anymore. His new house is done.”
She slipped her hand into his, a gesture he never tired of, while they walked back to the living room. “When will we see him?”
Unless away on vacation, Harry always made a point to see Erin at least once when she was in New York. Two months ago Gavin would’ve reminded his half brother Erin was arriving today. Given his relationship with Leah, he’d kept silent about Erin’s upcoming visit, hoping to avoid an unexpected visit from Harry while Leah was around.
“Not sure, Bug. We’ll have to wait and see.”
“I made him a bracelet. I made one for you too, and it looks just like mine.” She held up her wrist so he could see the black and yellow friendship bracelet tied around it. “They’re in my backpack.”
Erin left him with little choice. “I’ll call him later and see if he’s around.” And if Harry did visit, Gavin would make sure Leah knew beforehand so she could go elsewhere if she wanted.
Satisfied with his response, she moved on to another topic. “Can we get pizza tonight?”
They did need to eat, but he wasn’t in the mood for pizza. Honestly, he didn’t know what he wanted, but he knew it wasn’t pizza. “Let’s see what Leah feels likes and then decide.”
Erin flopped into an armchair across from Leah and folded her legs up like a pretzel. “Are you and Leah going to get married like Mom and Todd?”
You had to ask me that now. Part of being a parent was embarrassing questions from your child. And he’d gotten plenty of them from Erin since she first learned to talk. This one got the gold medal, though.
Leah cleared her throat, and when he shot a quick look at her, she had a hand over her mouth. When their eyes met, she merely shrugged and remained silent.
Thanks for the help.
“Your mom and Todd have known each other a lot longer than Leah and me.” The reply didn’t answer Erin’s question, but it wasn’t a lie either. Before she could point out he hadn’t given her the information she wanted, he spoke again. “Bug wants pizza. I’m leaning more toward Thai or Indian. What are you in the mood for, Leah?”
When Leah dropped her hand into her lap, a smile tugged at her lips. “Pizza gets my vote.”
***
During dinner and as they played a friendly board game, Gavin found himself mentally stepping back and watching Leah and Erin interact. Somehow Leah seemed to ask his daughter all the right questions. In no time they were chatting away as if Leah had known Erin since birth and completely ignoring him.
He knew it was a good sign that they were getting along well already, but that didn’t mean he liked being the odd man out where his daughter was concerned.
“She reminds me of Reese,” Leah commented.
They were alone for the first time since leaving the airport. He’d sent Erin to change into pajamas before they put on one of her favorite superhero movies. For the past year or so she’d been obsessed with superheroes, especially female ones. Before that she’d been into movies based on her favorite book series. No doubt in another year or so, she’d have a new obsession.
“I thought the same thing when we were at your brother’s house.”
Leaning closer, he touched his lips to hers in the briefest of kisses and then pulled away. Regardless of his best intentions, sometimes when he meant to merely kiss Leah, desire got the better of him and he got carried away. Yeah, they were alone now, but Erin could return at any moment, and he didn’t want her walking in on anything inappropriate.
“She likes you already.” Leah might not be a mother, but she was a natural with his daughter. “Todd and Erin get along great now, but I remember Amber telling me it took Todd a good month of trying before Erin warmed up to him.”
“Must be because I voted for pizza tonight.”
He pretended to consider Leah’s theory. “It probably helped,” he agreed with a straight face. “But it’s not the only reason.” Gavin was about to tell Leah how much he appreciated the way she was welcoming his daughter into her life, but a tornado of energy disguised as a young girl in pastel-colored pjs stopped him.
Erin flung herself on the sofa next to him. “Here’s your bracelet.” She handed him a larger version of the one she wore. “Mom let me bring the thread with me. I’ll make you one tomorrow, Leah. Do you like yellow and black? I have pink, purple, and green thread too. I made Uncle Harry a green and black one. What colors would you like?”
“Surprise me,” Leah replied.
Satisfied with the answer, Erin settled in next to him and leaned her head against his arm as he pressed Play on the remote control. Immediately, the theme song to the newest superhero movie in the series filled the room. Once the action started, Erin wouldn’t say much of anything else.
But the action on the screen hadn’t started yet.
“My room is ugly. You promised we could change it. Can we do it tomorrow?”
“I planned to take you to Six Flags in the morning. How about I take you sometime next week?” The weather for the next few days looked great for outdoor excursions, and he didn’t get many opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. If he had to go shopping, an activity he didn’t care for, he’d rather do it on a day when it was better to stay inside anyway.
“Or I can take you,” Leah offered. She knew his views on shopping. “We can make it a girls’ day out. Visit the Met first, have some lunch, and then go shopping.”
During dinner Leah had discussed art with Erin, and he’d expected to her to ask Erin then if she’d like to visit a museum with her. She hadn’t.
“I love the Met. Can we go Sunday?” Erin asked.
“Your dad has something planned for Sunday. But I’ll take the day off and we can go Tuesday.”
I love you. The thought formed before the magnitude of it hit him like a high-speed train.
He didn’t enjoy spending time with Leah.
He didn’t desire her.
He loved her.
How could he not? Not only was she thoughtful and caring, but she was also making Erin a part of her life and saving him from a shopping trip.
He should’ve realized it days ago, because the emotion pulling at his heart now was the same one he’d experienced on Sunday night.
“Awesome. I can’t wait.”
Now that the opening sequence was over, Erin turned her attention to the television. With her eyes focused solely on the movie, he brushed a kiss across Leah’s cheek. Later, when they were alone, he’d demonstrate his gratitude. But for now words would have to suffice.
“Thank you,” he whispered before relaxing and simply enjoying the moment with the two people in the world most important to him.