Dream Wedding(92)

“Is that what you did?” he asked, then wondered if the question was inappropriate. But, he reminded himself, she’d been the one who had told him she was adopted.

“I didn’t make up stories because I didn’t have anything to remind me of my birth parents. Sasha will have photos, and you’ll talk about them. I don’t think she’s going to have memories, though. She’s pretty young.” She shifted in her chair and tucked her hair behind her ears. “I grew up knowing I’d been adopted, just as Sasha is going to know she lost her parents. I was always grateful that the Wright family had wanted me in their life. Sasha is going to be pleased to have her uncle Ryan to look after her.”

He didn’t know about the latter, but he nodded as if he did.

“You don’t believe me,” she said.

Her perception startled him. “I didn’t know you were a mind reader as well as being a genius when it came to kids.”

“I’m not, but it’s obvious you’re uncomfortable with Sasha. You’re feeling out of place, so the rest of it makes sense. It’s going to be okay, Ryan. In time you’ll be as thrilled to have her around as she is to have you around. Sometimes the family we have to earn can mean more than the family we’re given.” A warm glow filled her eyes. “My sister and my aunt are all I have left of my family and both are precious to me. Chloe, my sister, has always been there, but Aunt Charity is a relatively new addition. I treasure her all the more for being an unexpected bonus in my life.” She flashed him another smile. “You’re going to have to trust me on this.”

“I guess you’re right.”

Her gaze dropped from him to his desk. “I see you have a lot of work to do, so I’ll leave you to it. Thanks for taking the time to talk with me.”

“You’re welcome.”

She rose to her feet and quickly walked out of the room. Ryan stared after her until the door closed and he was again alone, then he turned his chair and stared out at the unfamiliar view of manicured lawn and trimmed hedges.

He’d never met anyone like Cassie. There were some who would say that her views of family were old-fashioned. Actually, he would be one of the first people in line to say that, but he was starting to wonder if maybe he was the one out of step. Just because everyone he knew, including himself, was driven by career rather than a personal life didn’t mean it was right.

He grimaced. “Who are you trying to kid?” he asked aloud. Yeah, family had its place, but everyone knew that getting ahead was the most important thing in the world. His own mother had spent her life dedicated to that philosophy.

He remembered all the times after he’d finally found success, when he’d wanted to give his mother something nice. Even though both of her sons had been secure in their careers and anxious for her to take it easy, she’d insisted on working two jobs, taking cash from her employers instead of vacation time. She’d always turned down their offers of nice clothes or a better house, urging them instead to invest the money. She’d been poor and hard-working for too long to believe it was okay to accept a “freebie” from anyone…even her children.

Now, when he thought about those years, he felt sad. She’d died without ever once taking time for herself, or time to enjoy all she’d earned. Her entire life had been a quest to have enough, and once she had enough, to have more.

Somewhere between her world and Cassie’s lay what was normal. At least in his opinion. But for now, he was weeks behind on his work and with full-time help to take care of Sasha, his days could finally return to something close to productive.

* * *

CALLIE AND JAKE moved closer to the crib. “What do you think is in there?” Callie asked, her little pink nose all wrinkled and her white whiskers quivering.

“I don’t know,” Jake answered as he put first one paw up on the edge of the mattress, then the other as he tried to see. “It makes a lot of noise and it smells funny. I’m scared.”

The calico cat and the marmalade cat looked at each other. Something strange was going on in their house and they weren’t sure they liked it.

Cassie stopped reading aloud and pointed to the pictures in the children’s storybook. “Can you see the kitties?” she asked Sasha.

The toddler cuddled against her as they moved back and forth in the rocking chair in Sasha’s room.

“Cat!” Sasha announced proudly as she pointed to the color drawing of the two cats cautiously investigating the new crib in their home.

“That’s right. Two cats. The calico one is Callie. She’s a girl cat. The orange cat is Jake. He’s her brother.”