“Hello, be right out.”
Devon stepped back from the door, and a few seconds later Elena bounded into the outer office, running a hand through her salt and pepper curls.
She enfolded Devon in a warm hug. “It’s so good to see you, Devon. How’s the nursing going?”
“It’s going great. I work with a fantastic group of doctors, and there’s nothing more satisfying than bringing babies into the world.”
“And now you have your own baby.”
Michael stared at Elena with his wide, brown eyes, and a lump formed in Devon’s throat. Normally, he’d angrily assert that he was not a baby. Now…the stare. He seemed fixated on Elena’s hair.
“Michael, this is Dr. Elena Estrada. She’s going to talk to you just like Dr. Mowry did at home.”
Elena knelt in front of Michael and took his hand to shake it. “Very nice to meet you, Michael. You can call me Dr. Elena, and you can talk to me about anything in the world.”
Michael shook her hand, his gaze floating to her head.
“Do you like my hair?” Elena shook her curls.
“Your hair is gray.”
Elena laughed. “Yes, it is. Is your grandmother’s hair gray? I know your grandmother.”
He shook his head. “My grandma’s hair isn’t gray.”
Devon snorted. “Yes, it is, but she makes sure it stays blond through artificial means.”
“Who has gray hair like mine, Michael?”
Michael dropped her hand and nestled close to Devon.
He hadn’t mentioned Mrs. Del Vecchio since the murder. He’d called her Granny Del at her suggestion. Maybe he’d tell Elena all about Granny Del and her gray hair. It was the first time he’d even come close to referring to her.
“Elena, this is Kieran Roarke. Kieran, Dr. Estrada.” Elena already knew Kieran was Michael’s father, and Devon had already told Elena in advance that Michael wasn’t in on the secret.
As they shook hands, Elena’s thin brows rose. “I know all about Mr. Roarke. It’s good to have you home, Kieran. Gary from the garage has already told half the town of your return.” She pushed open the door to her inner sanctum. “Shall we get started? Your mom and…Kieran can join us first, Michael, and then if you’re okay with it, just you and I will have a chat.”
They all squeezed into her small office, Devon and Michael claiming the comfy, floral sofa while Kieran perched on the edge of a chair across from them. Elena settled into a deep chair, cradling a steaming mug.
“We’re here to talk, Michael. You can tell me anything, and it’s private. We’re also going to play some games. How does that sound?”
He nodded.
Elena looked at Devon. “Mom, do you have any questions?”
“Do you think you might use hypnosis?”
“I don’t think so. Michael probably just needs to process some feelings he has about death and dying…and abandonment.” She shifted a glance toward Kieran.
Was that her subtle hint that she and Kieran needed to tell Michael he had a father? As Michael began to notice all the dads at the hospital day care, Devon had answered questions about his own father with vague murmurings about him being away. She’d probably done a poor job of it.
“Michael, do you want to check out the toy chest?” Elena pointed to a wooden chest in the corner, painted with brightly colored suns and flowers.
Michael shimmied off the couch and trotted toward the toy chest. He yanked it open and pulled out a squirt gun and a G.I. Joe action figure and settled cross-legged on the floor.
Elena jerked her thumb toward the door.
Devon clasped her hands between her knees. “Michael, Kieran and I are going to leave now. Is that okay? We’ll be right across the street.”
Michael looked up, his gaze darting toward Elena. Licking his lips, he put up his hand in a tentative wave.
Devon blew him a kiss from trembling lips.
When they left the office and Kieran shut the outer door behind them, Devon leaned against it and closed her eyes.
Kieran’s hand dropped to her shoulder. “Are you okay?”
“It’s just so hard to watch.” She rubbed her nose with the back of her hand. “Michael has changed so much. He used to be so bubbly and friendly, so talkative and alive.”
“Like you.”
“Oh, I don’t think I’m like that…anymore.”
“That’s how I remembered you-in my dreams.”
She opened her mouth, but he grabbed her hand. “Let’s get some lunch and talk.”
Butterflies circled inside her belly. Was she ready for this? After she’d blurted out the truth about Michael’s paternity, she and Kieran hadn’t had any time alone to discuss anything. Was she ready to bare her soul?
Was he?
Kieran dropped her hand when they hit the street. When Devon needed comforting, he could use that as an excuse to touch her, to be close to her. But he didn’t want to make a habit of it. It would set them both up for heartache if he gave in to his urges.
He meandered down the sidewalk and his steps landed him in front of a large, plate-glass window with a sloppy burger and a mug of beer painted on the front. He looked up at the sign hanging over the door announcing Burgers and Brews.
Devon, lost in thought, stumbled against him and looked up at the gaily painted sign. “Your friend, Bryan Sotelo, owns this place. Are you sure you want to venture inside?”
“If Michael can talk to a stranger, so can I.”
“Bryan’s not exactly a stranger, which makes it harder for you.”
He wedged a shoulder against the door. “I came back to Coral Cove to learn about my life. Skulking around like the Phantom of the Opera isn’t going to help.”
He pushed open the door, and gestured her to enter first…not that he was holding back or anything. The breakfast crowd had thinned out, and the lunch crowd hadn’t hit full-force yet.
A guy with long hair and a tattoo snaking down his arm looked up from the long bar and smacked his palms on the gleaming surface. “Kieran Roarke. I heard a rumor you were alive.”
The man vaulted over the bar and crushed Kieran in a bear hug. Kieran returned the hug with one arm, raising an eyebrow at Devon. If he had any question about whether or not he was the hugging type, this display just answered it-he wasn’t.
“Man, you just missed Colin, but he knows, right?”
Kieran disentangled himself from the guy who had to be Bryan and stepped back. “No, Colin doesn’t know. Army didn’t want to notify anyone right away.”
“Say no more.” Bryan held up his hands. “You guys were into some deep undercover stuff. What happened to your eye?”
“Damaged.”
“Won’t stop you from hitting the waves, right, bro?”
“Probably not.”
“Bryan.” Devon tapped Bryan’s muscled biceps. “I hate to break up this homecoming, but Kieran and I have a lot to talk about.”
“I’m sure you do.” He slapped Kieran on the back. “Let’s catch up later, dude. Do you two want something to drink?”
“I’ll have a diet soda.” Devon pointed to a table in the corner. “Can we grab that table?”
“Sure. Something to drink, Kieran? I’ve got some great local brews on tap.”
“Little early for a beer, Bryan. I’ll take an iced tea.”
Devon sprinted for the table like she had a lot on her mind. He couldn’t blame her. She’d waited almost five years to tell him about Michael, and he couldn’t wait to hear about his son. Maybe if he knew more about him, he could figure out why the death of a friendly neighbor had spooked him so much.
