Page 116 of Edge of Steele
“Wise child, this one.” Artie grinned.
“I don’t know, Peanut,” he said, ignoring Artie. “You feel this way now, but what about when it’s time to go to school, and you have to go to a new one? Make new friends? Will you think moving is such a good idea then?”
“I can do it for a family.” She turned and hugged Artie’s waist. “He wants to be my grandad, so can’t you let him? Please?”
Finn didn’t know how to answer. He had to make the right decision for Avery, not for himself, and he didn’t know if he could separate those feelings to do the right thing.
“I’ll think about it, Peanut,” he said.
She frowned but held out her little finger. “Pinkie promise?”
He bent down and crooked his finger in hers as she’d taught him to do. “Promise.”
She threw her arms around his neck. “I love you, Finn. Bunches. Will you adopt me and marry Ryleigh?”
His heart melted into a liquid puddle in his chest, but panic followed. They’d talked about adoption. He’d offered. He didn’t know if his heart really had been in it then. He’d offered more out of wanting to make her feel secure, but right after Felicia had died, he’d thought about having a child for the rest of his life and the thought had strangled him. Now?
Now, he’d truly taken her into his life, and she was his forever. He had to finalize the adoption as she’d said, but that was just a formality. He was Avery’s father now, and proud and thankful he could fill the role. It beat the joy of being a SEAL a thousand times over, and he would never regret his decision to parent this little girl.
He didn’t feel the least little twinge of fear for their future together. Anxiety over doing a good job as a parent, yeah, but that was what parenting was all about.
And that meant making the right decision now. He couldn’t fail her.
Please, God, please. This child has been through so much. Help me do the right thing for her. For my daughter.
Ryleigh feigned reading her book, but she covertly watched the dock where Finn was fitting right in with her family and the Maddox family too. He’d been deep in conversation with the brothers and Colin several times today, but she had no idea what they’d been discussing. Seemed serious, though. Maybe he was just thanking them for their help as she’d done earlier.
Maybe. But if that was true, she might’ve expected some backslapping or fist bumping. Neither of which had occurred.
Teagan poked Ryleigh in the arm, then pointed at the dock. “Wonder what’s going on over there.”
Ryleigh pretended to just then notice Finn, Avery, and Ryleigh’s grandad engaged in what looked like a very serious conversation as her father looked on from nearby. And Ryleigh didn’t miss seeing Avery toss her arms around Finn’s neck and hold him tight. How far they’d come in a few weeks.
No, that wasn’t right. The change had really taken months, with much rejection from Avery. It was just the last few weeks that he seemed to finally break through to her somehow.
Ryleigh’s heart soared for him, but fell in a flash. Ryleigh wanted to be around to see how they fared together. More than that, she wanted to be part of their story. In what form, she didn’t yet know because once her emotions all calmed down from the grenade incident and she could think, she knew becoming a mother was a big step that she needed to consider. To pray about. So she wouldn’t hurt this little girl more.
“You know God wouldn’t have put him in your life again unless He wanted you to follow your feelings this time,” Teagan said.
Ryleigh flashed her gaze to Teagan. “What?”
“You didn’t think I knew about him, did you?” Teagan laughed. “Well, surprise, sis, we all know—have known for ages that he hurt you.”
“Even Mom and Dad? Gran and Grandad?”
“Yep, everyone. The cousins, Uncle Gene and Aunt Iris too.”
Ryleigh couldn’t believe this. “But no one said anything.”
“Because we respected your privacy and figured if you wanted to talk about it you would.”
Ryleigh gaped at her sister. “Since when does privacy mean anything in our family?”
“Since you were so very devastated and couldn’t even talk about it. We thought you would at some point, but then time passed and you were all right, so no one brought it up.”
“That’s as shocking as running into Finn again.” She shook her head. “I’m surprised Grandad didn’t deck him.”
“Me too.” Teagan laughed. “Dad probably would’ve if he’d been the first to see him, but Grandad has convinced everyone that Finn’s a great guy.”
