“What?”
“Come with me into that room to meet them. My half siblings.”
He looked like a little vulnerable boy in that moment. And she realized how scared he was of opening himself up to a family he didn’t know and a man he’d resented and disliked for so long.
“I thought we’d just established you don’t want to.”
“I know, but I can do this for Hope. Especially now she understands I don’t have to connect with them.”
“That makes no sense.”
“I know.” He lifted his free arm and cupped his hand around the back of her neck. Pulling her in, he kissed her softly before she could stop him. “I never meant to hurt you by leaving, Faith.”
“I know that now.”
He kissed her again. “For courage.”
She carried a tray of coffee, and he carried Brody, and they entered the room together. It didn’t mean anything other than what it was. A friend there for another friend. She couldn’t let it mean any more than that.
“Coffee.” Faith smiled, lowering the tray she carried to the table. “Who has cream and sugar?”
“Hi, I’m Ryan. I believe you lot are my brothers and sister?”
He had a smile on his face, a gentle one, which he threw his sister before looking at his other siblings. And just like that, the tension in the room eased.
While she handed out drinks and plates of food, Faith listened to Ryan introduce himself to his siblings. She looked his way briefly and watched him nod to his father and shake his stepmom’s hand.
“Where is Newman?” Faith asked Hope as she handed her a mug of tea.
“He thinks we need to try other nappies, so he’s gone into town to find some.”
“Why?”
“Brody may get a rash, and he wants to be prepared.”
“That man’s crazy. You know that, right?”
“He’s the sanest man I know.”
“It’s okay now,” Faith mouthed to Hope before moving across the room to take the only spare seat.
Ryan stayed standing and rocked Brody, who still slumbered in his arms. Clearly, he was happy to have a reason to be on his feet. The big handsome rock god was well out of his comfort zone.
When the conversation stuttered, she or Hope stepped in.
Jacob Robertson sat in silence, watching his children. A small smile curved his lips. The smile of a father who was proud of his offspring.
They’d made a tentative bond, Faith thought, clearing away cups and plates an hour later. The siblings could build on that. Maybe not between Ryan and his father, but the others.
“I’m heading off now. I’ll see you later,” Faith told Hope as she appeared in the kitchen.
“Thanks for being here for Ryan and making me realize I was wrong in pushing him.”
“You would have got there,” Faith said and hugged her friend.
“Is there something between you two?”
“No!”