“I’ll get right to the point,” Barb said. “My husband and I should be the ones taking care of Owen. A child’s place is with his family. Surely you must see that.”
Robin wasn’t going to debate a decision that had already been made. “Piper and Daniel thought otherwise. It’s not for you or me to second guess them. I love Owen. I’ve been involved in his life from the beginning. He knows me, and he’s comfortable with me. I think that will be of great benefit in helping him deal with what’s happened.”
Barb’s thin lips formed a straight line. “It isn’t our fault we weren’t allowed around Owen. That was Piper’s doing. She didn’t like me or anyone else in the family. She made it her business to turn Daniel against us. Naming you as Owen’s guardian was her way of making sure it stayed that way.”
Robin knew there was more to it than that. Daniel’s problems with his family pre-dated Piper. More than once he’d described them as manipulative and controlling. “Whatever happened between you and Daniel has nothing to do with me. I was asked to be Owen’s guardian, and I agreed. I have no intention of going back on my word.”
This remark produced a sour smile. “I understand you’re not married. Have you considered the impact a child this age is going to have on your social life? Not only will you be a single parent, but you’ll have the added complication of Owen not being related to you. Most men don’t want a ready-made family.”
Robin had to give the woman credit. Barb was leaving no stone unturned. “Some men might have a problem with it, but I don’t think most men would.”
“You’re a small business owner. Kids are time-consuming and expensive. Will you be able to provide the love, attention and long-term security Owen needs?”
“I’ll do my best to ensure his happiness and well-being.”
“Will your best be good enough?” Barb demanded, her voice rising. “Put aside your friendship with Piper for a minute and think about Owen. Wouldn’t it be better for him to grow up in a home with two parents and other kids to play with?
Robin ignored the implication that she’d never marry or have children. “I can’t answer that, and neither can you. Every situation is different. I understand this one hasn’t turned out the way you wanted, but you and everyone else in Daniel’s family are welcome to visit Owen in Jacksonville.”
Barb threw up her hands in disgust. “You call that a workable solution? I shouldn’t have to coordinate with a stranger to spend time with my nephew.”
Robin wasn’t going to take responsibility for a situation she had no hand in creating. “The way I see it, what I’m offering will get you more access to Owen than you’ve had so far.”
Any semblance of civility disappeared from Barb’s face. “I knew it was a waste of time to try to reason with you,” she spat out, her lips white with rage. “You’re just like Piper. Selfish to the bone. All you think about is yourself.” She shot to her feet and jabbed a finger in Robin’s direction. “This isn’t over!” she yelled. “Not by a long shot! I’ll be talking to my attorney on Monday! I have no intention of letting this absurd situation go on a moment longer than necessary.”
Without giving Robin a chance to reply, Barb stormed out of the living room. A few seconds later, a door in the hall slammed shut.
Robin glanced down at her hands, not at all surprised to see them shaking. It matched the trembling inside her. Feeling sick to her stomach, she stood up and walked over to the window. For Owen’s sake, she had to put that horrible scene behind her. He was the only thing that mattered. She couldn’t worry about Barb’s threats. She’d promised to take care of Owen, and that’s what she intended to do.
* * * * *
Reece rescued the two frogs that had wandered into his pool and went back to getting out the leaves blown around by last night’s storm. This reminded him of the summer after graduation when he’d worked as a lifeguard at the YMCA. He’d just turned eighteen and thought he knew everything. This included believing he actually had a chance with the twenty-four-year-old school teacher who taught swimming lessons three mornings a week.
He hadn’t yet learned that friendliness isn’t always an indication of interest. She was nice enough not to laugh in his face when he asked her to the movies. That wasn’t the case with the other lifeguards to whom he’d foolishly confided his plans. They’d teased him relentlessly for the remainder of the summer.
Gypsy lifted her head and turned to look at the house. One or both of his weekend guests must be awake and moving around. Addison and Clayton had rolled in to Sawgrass just after midnight. He envied their ability to sleep in. It didn’t matter when he went to bed. He always woke up between five and five-thirty.
The French door swung open to reveal his sister wearing a flaming-red silk housecoat and furry slippers. The two siblings looked nothing alike. Addison had their father’s dark hair and heavily-fringed hazel eyes. Reece got the Diamond family nose, but otherwise favored his mother whose relatives hailed from Sweden.
“About time you got up,” he called out. “It’s almost ten.”
“Have you forgotten already? I’m sleeping for two now.”
“What’s Clayton’s excuse?”
She wrinkled her nose at him. “If you were married, you wouldn’t be asking that question.”
He had no comeback for that, and she knew it. “What time does the baby expo start?”
“The doors open at eleven. You should change your mind and come with us.”
And stick out like a sore thumb. No thanks. “I’ll have to pass. I’m meeting my new student this afternoon. He’s the nephew of one of Maxine’s friends.”
Addison stretched out on one of the chaise lounges. Gypsy wasn’t slow to join her. “Speaking of Maxine, you never told me how last weekend went.”
There was a good reason for that. Reece had mistakenly thought that not talking about the fateful trip to Savannah would speed up the process of putting that nonsense with Robin behind him. Along with other things he’d tried so far, it hadn’t worked. She remained a constant fixture in his mind. If that wasn’t bad enough, she’d started appearing in his nightly dreams.
“What do you want to know?”
“You can start with Wade’s girlfriend. What’s she like?”
Playing for time, he returned the leaf skimmer to the pool shed. “She’s nice.”
“Nice? Come on, Reece. You can do better than that. You’ve dated enough women to be considered an expert.”
He descended the steps into the pool. “No man is an expert on women. It doesn’t matter how many dates he’s been on. Females have been, and always will be, a mystery to mere mortal men.”
Addison made an impatient gesture. “Get to the point, flyboy.”
Reece laughed as he skimmed his hand over the surface of the water. “Robin is friendly, has an attractive voice, and most important of all (as far as Wade is concerned), Maxine seemed to like her.”
“Is she pretty?”
Pretty didn’t come close to capturing the essence of Robin’s beauty. She was exquisite, and with that bone structure, she would age gracefully. Reece had no intention of sharing this opinion with his sister. Addison meant well, but she had a habit of blurting out things at the worst possible moment.