apart and that they could easily make a life together- if only she came to terms with her fears.
She had to believe he loved her for who she was and that he had no intention of destroying her independence or strong personality, the very qualities he'd fallen in love with. She needed to believe that despite their different backgrounds, he accepted her unique traits. But, most important, she had to believe in herself, and trust that she wouldn't allow anyone to change her. Knowing all she had to come to terms with, Ryan planned to give her time before coming after her.
He refused to contemplate what he'd do if she turned him away for good. In the meantime, he'd used his own time wisely, doing as Zoe had suggested.
He'd returned to the business of living. His days consisted of getting back into the routine of work, dealing with clients, attending meetings, returning phone calls and scheduling business lunches.
Somehow the days passed, yet every time he returned to his condo, he was reminded of all he'd briefly had and lost. He missed hearing the sounds of female voices. When he woke up, he expected to find either Sam or Zoe making themselves at home in his kitchen. And on the nights when he managed to get some sleep, he'd roll over hoping to find Zoe had joined him in his bed.
Amazing how fast a man got used to things that were once foreign to him. Only now those things were nothing more than spectacular memories. He spoke to Sam every couple of days, but not once had Zoe answered the telephone when he'd called. When asked, Sam always said Zoe wasn't home. He doubted the kid would lie since she seemed to want Ryan and Zoe together as much as Ryan himself.
In his free time he'd done a lot of soul searching about his sister, her life and his uncle's role in both her running away and the way she'd died. Though Ryan had come closer to accepting and comprehending, he hadn't yet reached the point of complete forgiveness, so he hadn't returned Russ's calls. Since Ryan had always had his uncle as a sounding board, a mentor and a friend, now he had no one. And he felt the loss.
He hadn't been in touch with his family since Sam had left, but he was ready to deal with them, which was a good thing since his secretary informed him he was 'expected' at the house for dinner this evening. Well, it wasn't like he had anything better to do, Ryan thought.
It had been so easy to admit to Zoe that neither one of them had many friends or much of a social life. It was more difficult to acknowledge to himself how empty that now made him feel. He shook his head and laughed at how pathetic his life was and had been for a long time. Something he could see clearly now, faced with her absence.
She'd given him purpose and laughter, and he longed for warmth and intimacy to fill the void she'd left behind. A void he hadn't before known existed.
The question was, could he ever get her back?
RYAN ARRIVED at his parents' home at 6:00 p.m. sharp. Instead of the help greeting him at the door, his mother welcomed him. 'Hello, Ryan.' She kissed him on the cheek.
'Mother.' He glanced over her shoulder to see his father pouring drinks in the study. 'This informality is interesting. What's going on?' he asked.
His father, who until now had avoided Ryan and any discussion of Sam's entry in their lives, stepped forward, bar glass in hand. 'I can answer that. Your mother has spent the last couple of nights explaining our mistakes and convincing me we can do better with Sam than we did with your sister.'
Ryan raised an eyebrow. 'And you agreed so easily?'
His father glanced down, and when Ryan returned his gaze, he took in the graying hair and stooped shoulders he hadn't noticed before. 'I lost a daughter, Ryan. Just because I never show the pain doesn't mean I don't- and didn't- feel it.'
Ryan's heartbeat tripled as he heard the words nobody in this house had ever expressed while he was growing up. He couldn't believe how emotional they made him feel now.
His palms sweated and his relief nearly overwhelmed him. 'I'm so glad to hear you say that.' He forced the words from his tight throat.
His father's gaze never broke from Ryan's. 'It's a start, son. It's a start.'
They were a long way from normal, but thanks to a young girl named Sam, they were taking small steps.
'So this do-it-yourself attitude is a part of that?' Ryan swept his arm around the room, encompassing the lack of servants and more casual atmosphere. His father, Ryan realized, wasn't wearing a suit, but a collared shirt with the top two buttons opened.
The other man nodded. 'Apparently, we need to lose our snobbery. Your mother's words.' A slight smile touched Mark Baldwin's lips.
Ryan stopped short of calling it a grin. 'And you listened to her? Will wonders never cease.' As much as Ryan appreciated the changes in his family home, he couldn't hide his sarcasm.
'Give us a chance,' his father said. 'You might be surprised.' He extended the drink he'd poured and Ryan accepted the peace offering.
'To…change,' Ryan said in return, coming up with the most apropos word he could find under the circumstances.
'To change,' his father echoed.
'Is Uncle Russ coming for dinner?' Ryan asked.
His mother shook her head. 'He had to work late. He said to send his regrets.'
Ryan nodded, relieved he wouldn't have to face him just yet. He wanted time with his father to figure out what Mark Baldwin knew and fill him in on what he didn't. He hoped that together they'd come up with a way to handle the past- and minimize any future damage to the company or to the family. Soon though he'd have to pay his uncle a visit and begin to tie up those loose ends.
'I was sorry to hear Samantha and Zoe went home,' his mother said, interrupting his thoughts.
Her words took him by surprise. 'Does that apply to both Zoe and Sam? Or is the truth that you were glad to see Zoe go?'
His mother blinked, obviously surprised. 'Of course I mean them both.'
Ryan studied her, trying to assess her sincerity.
'That Zoe has character.' Grandma Edna walked slowly into the room using her cane. 'Reminds me of myself in my youth.'
'Then why did you make her feel like a pariah?' Ryan asked.
His grandmother laughed. 'Because the only way to be accepted is to earn your place.'
Grandma Edna smacked her cane against the floor for emphasis. 'We couldn't make it too easy on the girl, now could we?'
'You didn't make it easy on my sister and she's gone for good. Were you trying to repeat history?'
The older woman, whom Ryan had never known well, snorted in reply. 'Zoe's made of stronger stuff. I knew it the moment she stood up to me over those napkins at dinner. I, for one, respect her.'
'Well it would have been nice if you'd told her so.'
'She didn't ask.'
Ryan rolled his eyes. 'You could have shown her, then.'
She tapped the cane again. 'Zoe was too busy assuming we didn't like her and protecting Samantha from us, for no good reason. What about you? Why didn't
'Mother's got a point,' Vivian said.
Ryan opened his mouth, then shut it again. Were they really advocating
Grandma Edna sniffed. 'I'm hungry,' she said before he could formulate a reply.
Ryan knew that in her mind, her proclamation ended the subject, which was just fine with him. He turned and started for the swinging doors leading to the dining room.
'Dinner is in the kitchen tonight.'
