Chapter 78

 

New York, 1984

 

Ann Ryan, had only been mothering the child for a few weeks, but knew an instant sense of loss as she tucked Gavin in beside his grandmother in the rear seat of the large Lincoln town car. Mrs. Nelson was enforcing a court order that allowed her to spend two weeks with her grandson. Yes, Ann thought, I’m going to miss this little boy. Those people who claimed environment was as important as heredity were definitely right in Gavin’s case. The years the child had spent in the care of that loving couple in New Mexico had left their mark. There was nothing in Gavin’s personality that reminded Ann of his biological parents be they Nelson, Connors, or O’Neill. When Gavin threw his arms around her neck and kissed her goodbye, Ann actually fought an urge to grab him out of the car and keep him safe with her.

So while she made plans for the days of freedom, Ann Ryan watched Michael O’Neill suffer as he prowled his empty house and could understand why. She missed the antics of the child as much as his father did.

It was only the second evening since Gavin’s departure when Michael announced, “Had a chat with Kate this morning. She’s got the summer place open. With the Connors boys off politicking the place is fairly empty. Invited me down. I’m headed to the shore for a breather—you want to come along?”

Kate, Ann knew was Catherine Connors and Michael O’Neill was the only person alive who dared to call his cousin Kate. “Michael, do you think that’s wise?” Ann said. “What if Gavin sees us? He wasn’t too keen on going. And Candace could claim you were interfering with her visitation privileges.”

“That’s tough. She’s got my kid.”

“Mich…ael…he is her grandson.” Ann forced a smile. “She won’t do him any harm.”

“Not claiming she would,” he admitted. “But that damn ocean can be a dangerous place for a little boy. Don’t remember Candace Nelson being a very protective mama with Andrea.”

And how could you, Ann thought, but chose not to remind him, that Andrea was a teenager before he ever knew her. Ann remembered a much different Nelson family life when they were children. Neither did she inform him of how stupid it was to think he could prevent anything from half a mile away at the Connors’ compound. She only said, “You know if it will make you feel better, I’ll set my plans aside and go with you.”