A horn honked and Tank barked sharply.
“You can do it,” he assured her, then kissed her, palmed Tank, and carried him inside. “I’ll wake Hawk and bring him out in a few.”
Class act. Right.
Gloria had changed from her swimsuit/sarong pairing into a casual summer dress and heeled sandals. Her hair had air dried in thick waves, but she was presentable. Maybe not presentable enough for Emily Trudeau, but there was only so much she could do on short notice. She rounded the deck to the front of the house, where a maroon Cadillac was parked.
Emily had just turned off the car and was climbing out. The older woman wore a prim and proper black and tan dress, which made Gloria feel underdressed. By the look Emily ran down Gloria’s body, it was obvious the other woman wasn’t impressed.
“Asher is waking Hawk now. He’s pretty beat after a long day.”
“Oh.” Emily looked to the house.
“He had fun, though. We ate lunch and swam.”
Emily said nothing.
“He and Caleb played most of the day. I think they really hit it off.” Gloria cleared her throat, wondering what the heck was taking Asher so long.
“Caleb is one of your nephews?” Emily asked.
“Oh, well, honorary,” Gloria said, feeling badly about fudging the truth before. He’s my best friend’s son. I’ve known him since he was born.”
Emily assessed her again, staying quiet and making her feel uncomfortable. Gloria began resenting playing nice with this woman who was clearly going out of her way not to be nice to her. If Gloria was able to lay things out for everyone else, there was no reason for her to walk on eggshells around Jordan’s mother.
“Next time, maybe Hawk can stay overnight,” Gloria said. “He’s going to be a bear when he wakes up.” She didn’t know that, but it made sense. If she were fast asleep after the day they’d had and someone jostled her out of her nap, she’d be a monster.
“That would require me trusting that Mr. Knight is capable of handling him overnight,” Emily said. Which pissed Gloria right off.
“And I’m sure Jordan was a natural,” Gloria quipped.
Emily blinked, straightening her shoulders. “I’m not sure what you think your role is, Ms. Shields.” She narrowed her eyes. “But Hawk is not your child. It’s up to his parents to decide what’s best for him.”
“And you, apparently.” She was so sick of this back-and-forth. Of playing nice.
Emily stepped closer. The woman was Gloria’s height, so they stood eye to eye.
“I’m Hawk’s relation,” Emily stated. “His grandmother. Asher referred to you as…how did he put it this morning? Oh, right. His girl.”
His girl. Gloria liked that. But Emily saying it made it sound so…tawdry.
“I’m not sure what rights are afforded to you as his girl, but I’m guessing it does not include making decisions for my grandson.”
Stung, Gloria opened her mouth to retort, but no words came out.
“These so-called nephews of yours. Have you ever had them overnight?”
She felt her face go red. The answer was no, she’d never had Lyon or Caleb overnight. She wasn’t about to admit it, but her silence said more than she could have.
“Maybe you should ask yourself why you are not trusted with your nephews’ care before you insist on being trusted with Hawk’s?” Emily raised her eyebrows haughtily. She had the answer she needed.
The front door popped open and Asher came out, bag in hand. Hawk hung on to him much like Gloria noticed Caleb hanging on to Landon earlier. Asher and Hawk looked so natural together, her heart lurched.
Asher moved to Emily’s SUV and strapped a half-asleep Hawk into his car seat.
Emily spared a look over her shoulder. “Not such a bear after all, is he, Ms. Shields? Guess this worked out just fine.”
“Nah, he’s too tired to be grouchy.” Asher gave Emily a smile. And why wouldn’t he? He had no idea what had gone down just moments ago. “Thanks, Em.”
She hummed softly, probably trying to decide if she should tell him everything that had just transpired. She must have thought better of it, however, because even though she glared at Gloria before shutting the car door, she said nothing more.
Gloria and Asher watched the Cadillac reverse out of his driveway and vanish down the tree-lined road.
“What was that about?” he asked.
“It was her letting me know I have no business in Hawk’s life,” she answered. It sucked, and she wanted to bitch about it.
“That’s bullshit.”
Earlier she would’ve agreed. Now she wasn’t so sure.
“Is it? No one has ever asked me to so much as babysit. Not even Kimber and she’s my best friend.” Tall pines shrouded Asher’s cabin, looming and black in the nighttime sky. Gloria walked beneath the covered porch and sat on the bench by the front door. “What’s that say about me?”
“That you’re busy and your friends respect your time.” He sat next to her, elbows on his knees.
“Or maybe it says the runaway daughter of a drug addict isn’t a fit person to leave your children with.” She faced him.