was opened by an older woman with classic features and blondish hair, which was pulled back tight. “You must be Simon.”
“I am. Thank you for inviting me.” He offered her his hand and smiled at the warmth shining from the woman’s eyes.
She accepted the handshake. “I’m Helen, Cat’s mom, and she’s right, that’s one great accent you have. Come in, please.” She stepped back to give him room to enter. She was about the same middling height as Cat.
He should have told her that she looked more like a sister, but he couldn’t get past the fact that Cat liked his accent. Having spent his late teens and most of his adult life living in London, he’d picked up a bit of how they spoke.
What else did Cat find agreeable?
“We’ve got the game on in the family room. Are you a fan of football?”
“I enjoy watching it, yes.” Simon grew up watching the Giants, having been born and raised in New York City.
He followed Cat’s mom from the large entrance area into a warm kitchen filled with tempting food aromas and family members huddled around a spread of snacks. The itchy feeling of being the odd man out hit quick and sure. Add that he was Opal’s father, and it made him the proverbial white elephant in the room.
Where was Cat?
“Cat’s feeding Opal. She’ll be down in a moment,” her mother answered as if reading his thoughts. “Simon, this is my husband, Andy.”
Simon stood straighter, but Cat’s father still towered over him. He extended his hand. “Good to meet you, sir.”
Cat’s father looked through him and Simon was certain the man found him lacking in every way possible as he accepted his hand. “Thank you for coming.”
“Your invitation was very kind.” Simon saw where Zach got his bearing. He glanced around the room again, wishing Cat would hurry.
Her mother was now busy in the kitchen with Zach’s wife and a tall blond man he’d met at church—also one of Cat’s brothers.
“We look forward to knowing you better,” Andy said.
Simon merely nodded. Too many layers in that statement to uncover each one now. He felt a strong urge to apologize, but the words evaded him. There wasn’t much that could be said to expunge what had happened between him and Cat.
Fortunately, Cat’s sister Monica scuffled toward him before he made a fool of himself trying to explain the unexplainable to Cat’s father.
“Hey, have you considered my website offer?” She too was quite tall. Cat came from a family of giants. “I can do an online catalog that’ll knock your socks off.”
“I’m closing up shop.”
Monica’s mouth dropped. “You are? Why? I thought you were doing well.”
“Yes, well—”
Cat’s father placed his hand on Simon’s shoulder. “Grab a plate and come watch the game. We’ll talk later.”
Simon didn’t mistake the hard look in Andy’s eyes. Cat’s father reduced him to an awkward teen in a matter of moments. He’d known from the start that coming here wasn’t going to be easy, but he hadn’t expected the tension to be quite this strong.
“Hello, Simon.” Cat breezed into the room, grabbed a carrot from one of the trays and popped it into her mouth.
“Where’s Opal?”
She pointed to the ceiling, still crunching. “Sleeping.”
“What if she wakes up? How will you know?”
“Baby monitor.” Cat pulled out what looked like a white walkie-talkie from the pocket of her long top.
She wore gray leggings with woolen socks. Her hair was up, but some of it fell around her face. He loved her hair like that. He wished they were alone. So many things remained unsettled between them. Unsettled in him.
“Have you met everyone?”
“Just your parents, when I arrived.”
“Grab a pop. That’s my brother Cam in the kitchen with my mom. They pretty much run the show with food prep and the rest of us clean up.”
Cam turned and gave him a nod. His hands were deep in a bowl of something.
Simon remembered that he’d seen Cam at the diner in town, as well as in church. Simon picked up a can of soda from an ice-filled tub and followed Cat down a few steps, where everyone was gathered to watch the game. A couple soft couches and chairs were filled, along with a rocking chair near the fireplace. A couple of Cat’s brothers lounged against large pillows on the floor, leaving only one two-seater couch open.
“Everyone, this is Simon Roberts.”
He nodded as Cat introduced everyone in the room. He’d likely not remember their names, but there was a strong family resemblance. Cat was one of ten kids, with four older brothers and three younger, as well as two younger sisters.
Simon sat next to her on the two-seater, with nothing to say.
Fortunately, he didn’t need to say anything, as Cat kept talking. “My brother Matthew is still on the lakes. He’s an officer on a Great Lakes freighter, but his wife and her two-year-old will join us for dessert later. Greg there is Rose’s son. She married Cam around this time last year.”
The teenager gave him a nod. His mother, a warm smile.
Simon had seen them both at the diner, as well. “You’ve a large family.”
“I do.” Cat leaned back.
Simon also sat back but didn’t relax. The warmth of the fire and conversation surrounded him as he was peppered with well-intentioned questions that he answered the best he could. These people were nice and well-adjusted, a far cry from the world he grew up in. It should have felt comfortable and welcoming—he could tell that was the atmosphere the whole family was trying to create. But instead, it just made him feel out of place.
The desire to bolt overwhelmed him, but the future of one tiny baby kept him seated. Opal slept without a peep from the baby monitor and Cat looked tired. He noticed her eyelids drooping as soon as the football game started.
The desire to make things better for her twisted deep inside, but there wasn’t much he could do. With his arm draped along the back of the loveseat, he whispered, “You can lean into me.”
“No, no. I’m fine.” Cat’s eyes met his.
Could she really lean on him, through all of this? He’d given her no reason to, announcing he was closing up shop and skipping town. Sure, he’d offered financial support but how could he give Cat something to truly lean on?
Looking around, he was tempted to foist his responsibility for Opal on these people. Cat had everything she’d need right here.
He’d never had a normal family life. What made him think he’d do any better for Opal than these people? He couldn’t, so was there any point in trying?
But what of his daughter? Uncles couldn’t take the place of a father and he was her father.
* * *
Cat tried to clear the fog from her brain. She rested against someone warm. Inhaling the subtle, spicy scent, she opened her eyes and blinked.
“You weren’t out long.” Simon’s voice was soft and deep and it rumbled through her. That voice of his was her undoing with its buttery half accent and slight lilt of words.
“Sorry.” She sat up fast and rubbed her cheek, still warm from where she’d leaned into his shoulder. The shirt he wore was soft flannel, yet the man managed to look fashionable even in that.
She heard her sister’s voice through the monitor. If Opal wasn’t awake, she would