Annabeth nodded.
“’Bout what?” Cody carried Tom into the room.
“Your mom has some big news,” the Major spoke. “Your Grandma and I are going to head out. But we’ll see you later this week?”
Annabeth frowned. “You’re not staying for dinner?”
“Not tonight.” The Major shook his head. “You have a nice dinner, just your little family—this time.”
“Once we know what Renata’s planned, we’ll let you know,” Ryder agreed.
After another ten minutes of goodbye hugs and happy tears, Annabeth flopped onto the couch and patted the cushion next to her.
Cody sat, looking up at her with round eyes. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” she reassured, taking his hands in hers. “Nothing at all. I have to tell you something and it just occurred to me you might be mad about it.”
“Why?” Cody asked.
Annabeth glanced at Ryder, who shrugged. “Well, I probably should have talked to you about it—”
“I should have asked you first,” Ryder jumped in, sitting beside Cody.
“Asked?”
“If I could marry your mom.” Ryder’s words were so calm it took a minute for Annabeth to realize what he’d said.
“M-marry Mom?” Cody looked back and forth between the two of them. “You want me to say if it’s o-okay?”
Ryder nodded.
Cody stood up and faced them. He crossed his little arms over his chest, tapping his left pointer finger on his chin. Annabeth couldn’t help but smile, glancing Ryder’s way to gauge his reaction. Ryder wasn’t smiling. If anything, he looked worried.
“Will you help her?” Cody asked. “So she d-doesn’t have to w-worry ’bout money?”
She leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. “Cody—”
“Yes.” Ryder nodded.
“She works so hard because she has to.” Cody glanced at her, almost apologetically. “So she can take care of me and G-Grandma Flo. But you can h-help with all that.”
“I will.” Ryder nodded. “But I’ll tell you, Cody, I’ve never known your mom to do something she didn’t want to do.”
She sat back, listening to them. Apparently her son knew everything. Relying on Ryder to “fix it” didn’t sit well with her, though. She couldn’t afford to trust anyone else. It was a risk, relying on him, for her or her children’s future.
“I guess.” Cody shrugged.
“Are you two done? Not that either of you asked, but I love my job.” She sighed. “I feel important—and I like being able to provide for you.” She stood, ruffling Cody’s hair as she headed into the kitchen. “Anyone want some lemonade?”
“No, th-thank you,” Cody answered.
She glanced back, waiting for Ryder’s response. But that’s when she saw it. Ryder loved Cody. There was no denying the tenderness on his face, the look of a father. It took her breath away.
Ryder’s pale blue eyes settled on her. “I’m good.”
She nodded, hurrying into the kitchen. Her heart was pounding. Just when she thought she knew how to handle Ryder Boone, he threw her a curveball. It was one thing to be a gentleman, to step up when he should. It was another thing altogether to let another man’s child into his heart—to love unconditionally.
She took a sip of lemonade and her stomach growled. She glanced down, placing both hands over the slight swell of her belly. She should eat something.