JT was right behind him. “What does your girl know about kids?”
“No idea,” he admitted, pulling his key out of his pocket as they approached his door.
He heard a strangled scream, and his heart threatened to stop.
“Get in there.” JT was practically pressing against the door. “Someone’s hurt.”
He got the door open and raced down the hallway.
“I don’t see ’em, Captain,” a familiar voice said in a completely unfamiliar accent. It was Vanessa, but she was affecting a deep, harsh tone. “I think that last harpoon did the trick.”
All of the cushions of his couch were on the ground, lined up like a platform. Vanessa was crouching down at one end, Ryder wrapped around her in a sling. The baby was giggling like mad at the antics. Sophy stood at the other end of the cushions, a paper hat on her head, and she seemed to be steering an imaginary wheel.
“You can never tell with the Jasper shark,” Sophy shouted. “He’s still out there. We can’t let down our guard!”
The whole place smelled like cookie dough and grilled cheese. Vanessa’s hair was pulled back in a high ponytail, and she was throwing herself into the role with gusto. She pointed into the dining room. “Yer right, Cap’n. He’s off our bow right now!”
Jasper was crawling on the floor, and for once the kid had some clothes on. There was a triangular piece of paper taped to the back of his shirt, and he was playing the role of shark to the hilt.
“I think your girl has this covered,” JT said quietly. “Damn. That was smart. She figured out how to keep him from climbing.”
“Should we take out the shark, First Mate Ryder?” Vanessa was grinning down at the baby in her arms, who bounced against her hip in obvious glee.
“Well, that’s charming.” His mother strode in.
Vanessa gasped as she realized they were no longer alone. Her eyes went wide, and she stepped off the cushions.
“Nana!” Sophy jumped off and ran toward her grandmother. “Nana, we had so much fun.”
“I’m a shark!” Jasper was on his feet, pointing to his back. “Nessa gave me a fin, and I’m the terror of the seas.”
JT smiled broadly as he got to one knee to inspect his son’s fin. “Now that is a great fin. I’m glad you had a good time. And it looks like Ryder’s in love.”
Ryder wasn’t paying his father any attention at all. He was staring up at Vanessa, his hands on her shoulders.
Vanessa looked slightly panicked. “I’m so sorry. I should have thought about the cushions but we were deep into the storyline and…”
“Cushions can be replaced,” his mother said. “Although these look fine. What can’t be replaced is a good old-fashioned adventure. My boys were worried the children had taken you down, but it’s obvious to me you’re made of sterner stuff than that. I’m Ava Malone. You must be Vanessa. Michael’s been telling us all about you.”
“He has?” Vanessa asked, her eyes wide.
His mother nodded. “He has. Now hand off Ryder to one of my lads and I’ll make us some tea.”
His mother was already on her way to the kitchen.
Vanessa simply stood there like she might get out of this if she didn’t move.
She was adorable standing there in her bare feet with a baby squishing her face in his chunky little hands. There was still a bit of what looked like flour on her shirt. She’d expected a quiet afternoon and gotten the storm, which she’d turned around and made into something delightful for the kids.
Michael moved in.
“I didn’t know what Gunsmoke was so I couldn’t get Ryder to go to sleep, and then Jasper tried to climb the bookcase in your office, and I had to do something,” she whispered. “And now your mom is here.”
He eased Ryder out of the sling and passed him off to JT. Sophy had already disappeared, following after her grandmother.
Vanessa was still standing there when he turned back around. He followed his instincts and pulled her close. “You did a magnificent job, baby. The kids loved you.”
And he was starting to think he might, too.
He kissed her, a sweet brush of his lips across hers.
“Your mom is here,” she whispered again.
He nodded. “She is, and she tends to get what she wants, and she obviously wants a little time with you. But I promise she doesn’t bite.”
“Does she know?”
His heart threatened to break because he understood what she was asking. How hard was it to always have to ask if the people she met knew who she was? Like she needed to put her shame out there for everyone to see so it didn’t surprise anyone. Like she had to apologize for existing. He pulled her close, letting her feel him standing there with her. “Yes, she does. She’s a good woman. She might ask you questions, but she won’t judge you. I promise. She’s my mom.”