After the Storm(104)

            Though the question was asked innocently enough, Donovan could see the anxiety in the little girl’s eyes. As though she feared that Donovan would turn them out and send them on their way.

            Even Travis glanced at Donovan, clear question in his eyes. There was a shadow there as if he feared the same, that he wondered if this was a temporary situation and that Donovan would hurt Eve.

            Donovan reached for Cammie’s hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. But he included both Eve and Travis in his declaration. He wanted them all to understand exactly where he stood.

            “Absolutely I’m going to take care of all of you from now on. And I’m glad you brought this up because there is something I very much wanted to discuss with you and Travis both.”

            Cammie’s eyes widened and even Travis looked surprised. But then a guarded look entered Travis’s gaze, as if he feared the worst.

            “I like Eve very much and I want her to stay with me. Forever,” he said, not mincing his words.

            He wanted Eve to hear him say it when it wasn’t just the two of them and it could be thought he was speaking in the heat of the moment and saying things he didn’t really mean. By declaring his intentions in front of her brother and sister, she would realize, hopefully, that he was utterly serious and committed to making this work.

            “But I want you both to stay as well. I want us to be a . . . family,” he said, gauging their reaction to his statement.

            Travis looked surprised—and relieved. Cammie looked delighted.

            “Do you mean that?” Travis asked hoarsely. “You want us all to stay with you?”

            “Yes, I do,” Donovan said quietly. “I know I’m not your real father, but I’d very much like to be a father to both of you. I’d be proud to call you my own and I’d always love and protect you.”

            “I don’t like my real daddy,” Cammie said sadly. “He scares me. He’s not a good person, Van. I want you to be my daddy.”

            Donovan’s heart melted a little more and if he hadn’t already been solidly in love with the little girl, that would have sealed his fate.

            “You don’t have to worry about your real father anymore, Cammie. I’m going to take care of you and your brother and Eve. I want us to be a family. A real family. And what you don’t realize is that I have a very large family and they’ll all love you too. You’ll have grandparents. Lots of uncles and aunts and cousins. I’ve already told you about Charlotte. She’s your age. And there are more babies on the way,” he added with a smile. “My brothers Sam and Garrett are both expecting a new baby early next year.”

            “I love babies!” Cammie exclaimed, clapping her hands together in delight.

            Donovan turned his gaze on Eve, who’d remained silent through it all.

            “And what about you, Eve?” he asked softly. “What do you want?”

            At once, Travis and Cammie both turned pleading gazes on Eve as if they were afraid she would put a crashing halt to everything. It was manipulative for Donovan to have broached the subject with Travis and Cammie present, but he wasn’t trying to manipulate her emotions at all. He only wanted her to know that he was utterly sincere. He hoped she knew him well enough or at least had discerned enough about his character to know that he wouldn’t bring Travis and Cammie into it unless he was absolutely serious. He wouldn’t risk hurting them if he wasn’t certain of his feelings and intentions.

            “I want you to be happy, Evie,” Travis said in a quiet, grave voice. “You’ve given up so much for me and Cammie. He hurt you. I know that. I also know what he tried to do to you. And I know how much you’ve risked to get me and Cammie away from him. So if this is what you want, you have my blessing. I don’t want you to give up your life because of me and Cammie.”