Available.
He shrugged at the absurdity of the sign and turned off the ignition. The investigator had given him background information on the current family Samantha resided with and they were an odd bunch. Just a year ago, they'd made their living performing a JerseyShore comedy act based on the Addams family. Now they ran a spa. With clients coming in and out, Ryan didn't consider it the ideal place to raise a child.
Surely his niece would be thrilled to find out she had a sane and stable uncle and family who wanted her. Well,
Music and laughter sounded from behind the home and when nobody answered the doorbell, he followed the path that led to the backyard. He looked around, taking in the sights. A disc jockey played loud music while a monkey- he blinked, certain he was seeing things, and looked again. Damn, it
He wondered if the girl was his niece and his heart twisted tight in his chest. A bunch of kids ran by him, laughing and giggling. He glanced up at the clear blue sky and for the first time he noticed, draped between two large trees, a banner that said Happy Birthday, Sam. Welcome to the Family.
A sick feeling of unease settled in his gut as he realized he wouldn't be waltzing in and
'You're here!' a female voice said.
He turned to see an attractive woman wearing a bright red kimono with long black hair flowing over her shoulders. Her outfit was unique and inexplicable. Where he came from, women dressed in designer dresses and suits. He didn't know what to make of the middle-aged geisha woman appraising him with frank, interested green eyes that made him squirm.
'I'm Elena Costas.' She treated him to a welcoming smile. 'You must be the new man from Social Services. I know our caseworker is on vacation but she promised she'd send someone in her place to wish Sam a happy birthday- which you can do in a minute. Please, first come and meet my husband.'
A hint of Greek accented her speech and she spoke quickly without taking a breath, giving him no time to insert a word until she'd finished.
He wasn't the man from Social Services and it was best she knew it up front. 'I think you're confusing me- '
Ignoring his protest, she grabbed his hand, pulling him farther into the crowd.
He groaned aloud but resigned himself to going along. Short of digging in his heels, nothing would stop this determined woman, but that didn't ease his sense of guilt. Trained by his parents, Ryan typically behaved above reproach. He preferred not to lie or cheat, but this woman had presented him with an opportunity. If Sam's foster family thought he was a social worker, they wouldn't turn him away.
Besides, he had no idea how Sam would react to him showing up in her life and he appreciated the chance to observe his niece and figure out a plan that would benefit them both. He assuaged his conscience by promising himself he'd correct the false assumption before any real damage was done.
Unfortunately they didn't get far before they were stopped again.
'Halt,' demanded a beautiful woman, a younger version of the one holding his hand.
Ryan couldn't help but stare. Her silky black hair twisted around shoulders bared by a lime-green halter top tucked into a pair of faded jeans. The shirt's bright color complemented her Mediterranean skin tone, which glowed beneath the afternoon sun. She completely entranced him.
The older woman he'd begun to think of as a tornado came to a stop and uttered a few words in Greek to her that he didn't understand before switching to perfect English.
'Zoe, this man is the replacement from Social Services, so make nice. I want him to meet your papa. Have you seen him?'
'He's inside getting the cake.' She gestured toward the house. 'Mama, why don't you go round up Sam and her friends and get ready to sing?'
She possessed a deep voice that reminded him of hot sex and he felt himself begin to sweat beneath the afternoon sun.
Her mother nodded. 'I forgot to defrost the cake so I hope your father remembers to bring hot water to dip the knife. And your aunt Kassie better behave because you know how badly she wanted to bake the cake. But we had to please Sam on her special day.' She glanced at Ryan and smiled broadly. 'Carvel is Sam's favorite. Do you like ice-cream cake, Mr…?'
'Baldwin. Ryan Baldwin.' His head was already spinning from his dealings with Elena Costas and he opted to use his real name for fear he'd confuse himself otherwise. With his sister's myriad name changes, he had no fear they'd connect him to Sara Morgan, Faith's last known name.
He forced a comfortable smile. 'I love cake, especially Carvel.'
'Then let's do it so we can get to the gifts. I can't wait for Sam to see what we bought for her,' Elena said.
'Maybe we should wait until tonight when we're alone.' Zoe shot a pointed glance at Ryan.
Her mother shook her head. 'Nonsense. Mr. Baldwin seems like the kind of man who'd want a young girl to be happy. I'm right, yes?' she asked.
'Uh, of course.' But he wondered what kind of gift Sam would be receiving that had Zoe uncomfortable.
'You see?' Elena took his hand once more, grabbed Zoe and headed deeper into the yard.
They came to a stop by a picnic table and while Elena busied herself gathering the girls, Zoe turned to Ryan, her eyes intense and serious. 'You'll have to excuse my mother but she's so excited about this party. She just adores Sam and wants everything to be perfect. You'll like my family,' she assured Ryan, her need for his acceptance blatant.
In her mind, he was the social worker whose opinion would help determine whether they were an appropriate home for his niece. They needed to impress him. He needed for them to fail any inspection.
But as he observed her expressive face and the obvious pleasure she took in this entire day, he realized this was no act for a social worker. Zoe's love for his niece was so real, he couldn't help but like her for it.
'I'm sure I'll like your family,' he told her. Even if what he'd seen so far showed him a carnival atmosphere he couldn't possibly understand.
Zoe's shoulders eased and she seemed to relax. 'How's Katherine's mother? We were all so sorry to hear she couldn't make it today because of her mother's fall.'
Katherine must be the missing social worker, he realized, the moment of panic passing. 'She'll be okay.' He hoped he was telling the truth.
'Okay, cake time,' a male voice boomed through the loudspeakers. 'Everyone gather.' He spoke slowly and with a more distinct accent than Zoe's mother had possessed.
'Where's Samantha?' Ryan asked, nerves jumbled together inside him.
'There,' Zoe said, pointing.
Ryan followed her direction and once again felt sure he was hallucinating. The monkey he'd seen earlier stood on the back of a large dog, balancing with ease. The animals came to a halt when a bald man carrying a huge ice- cream cake stepped forward. By his side walked a beautiful blond teenager, her hand tight in the crook of his elbow.
'Faith,' he said aloud.
'Sam. That's my soon-to-be sister, Samantha,' Zoe said with pride. 'Of course we already think of her as part of the family,' she quickly assured him.
He nodded but couldn't speak any more than he could take his eyes off the girl who was the spitting image of his sister. At fourteen, Sam was three years younger than Faith had been at the time she'd run away. Sam possessed the same long, blond hair and similar features, with one marked difference. Where Faith had been morose, constrained by their conservative family's demands and expectations, Sam appeared vibrant, happy and full of life.
He swallowed over the lump in his throat. 'She's a beautiful child.'
