In the early hours of the morning, Red had nodded off at the keyboard, and when he had awoken, he had surveyed the design templates he had created. Plans for all the things a little boy would get excited about: a water slide and pool; a basketball court; a treehouse; and a mini movie theater. It was crazy, and his plans might never be realized, but he was going to wait for the right time to show them to Ronnie…
Red knew very well that kids today liked their electronics, but if they were like Marco, they would enjoy all these activities, too. The thought had galvanized Red. It was the first time he had remembered something about Marco and felt happiness instead of grief. Happiness knowing he had played a positive part in the boy’s life, at least for a while. He had shut down his laptop and gone to bed, knowing in his heart that he had come to a turning point. He had finally let go…
And maybe now a new chapter in his life could begin.
With a contentment he hadn’t felt in a long time, Red felt himself drifting peacefully toward sleep.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
RONNIE WOKE UP EARLY to a pink and baby blue sky. It promised to be a beautiful clear day. No snow, no freezing rain, just a whole lot of sunshine. Her little guy was seven today. And this was a birthday she hoped he would always remember.
Ronnie put her hair up in a ponytail and dressed quickly in jeans and a red T-shirt. After she made breakfast for Andy, she drove over to Casson and Justine’s. Andy went off with Casson for a walk in the woods. Ronnie strode to the big living room window with its gorgeous view of the frozen bay and the section Casson had cleared off for skating. It immediately evoked the memory of Red sweeping her up and skating effortlessly around his pond, with her clasped tightly in his arms…
She was flooded with a longing that she never thought she’d feel again. But this longing was much stronger, perhaps because she knew it would not be fulfilled by the man who had caused it…
A man who had helped her make a giant step yesterday…to let go and not feel she had to be with Andy every waking moment, guarding him, protecting him from getting hurt, or being there when he was hurt. Red had made her realize that she had to relax and let Peter be a responsible parent too, without her hovering over them.
Red had taught her a lesson about trust.
She had to try to give up the reins of control and trust that Peter could do the job of looking after Andy as well as she had done. And even if he couldn’t, she’d have to let go and hope that he would do the best he could.
Ronnie sighed. Red had given her a new perspective. Letting go was hard, though. But like it or not, she had to try. Perhaps now she could continue to let her guard down more, have more fun in her life, do things for herself.
And maybe the time would come when she’d be able to trust another man in her life…
The doorbell sounded. She strode to the door and when she opened it, her heart clanged at the sight of Red holding Ginger in her carrier.
She swallowed. “I—I thought… Casson told me he’d be driving over to pick her up…”
“I called him to say I could drop her off. He said he’d text you…”
Ronnie glanced across the room at her cell phone lying on the kitchen table where she had placed it upon arriving. Red stood on the doorstep, his eyebrows arching. “I’ll get Ginger’s bed in a minute… It’s in the truck.”
“Okay, thanks,” Ronnie said, snapping out of her stupor. She set the carrier down in the foyer and watched as Red returned with the pet bed and a bag with the rest of the items for Ginger. Ronnie reached for the bed, but Red wasn’t letting go. His brow was furrowed and he stood there blinking at her, with a steely intensity in his eyes. Eyes that seemed darker, the color of the stormy waters in some of the paintings of Georgian Bay by the Group of Seven.
“Ronnie, is there a chance we can talk before Andy’s birthday?”
“Talk? Here?” Justine would be coming down with the baby at any moment…
“How about in my truck? We could go for a short ride, if you have time.”
Ronnie’s heart began drumming. “I—I’m going to bring Ginger upstairs and I—I have to let Justine know.” She lifted the carrier and Red released his hold on the bed.
“Okay; I’ll wait in the truck.”
* * *
When Red saw her leaving the house a few minutes later, he jumped out to open the passenger-side door. “Okay if we just drive around the corner?” he said.
“Um, sure.”
He drove out of Winter’s Haven and down the highway. After a couple of minutes, he turned into a road through a densely wooded section that led to a small lake. He parked and then shifted in his seat to face her. She watched as he took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “Ronnie, I can’t forget…”
“What do you mean?” She knew exactly what he meant.
“You. I can’t forget you.” He rubbed his temple. “I didn’t get much sleep last night. Or the night before.” He let out a husky laugh. “In fact, you’ve kept me awake and thinking since you spun out before my eyes.”
Ronnie felt her heart pulsing, trying to anticipate what he was going to say next. And how was she going to respond…
“I wasn’t looking for anything like this to happen. I didn’t think I was ready.” He shrugged. “But it happened anyway.”
Her heart was going to rocket right out of
