“Yeah, sure,” Davey said, then tickled him some more.
Kevin turned to Sam. “You okay? Davey’s just teasing, but if you think it’s too much roughhousing, I can call a halt to it.”
“Absolutely not,” Sam said. “It’s wonderful. This is the first time I’ve heard a real laugh from Bobby since, well, since he lost his mom and dad. I was afraid there’d been too many changes for him to handle. I was thinking about talking to Will, after Carrie mentioned he’s a shrink. I thought he could help me figure out what to do to make this transition easier on him.” He gestured toward the pile of laughing boys, which now included Henry and even the toddler. “Look at them.”
Kevin shrugged. “Looks normal to me.”
Sam couldn’t seem to stop the smile spreading across his face. “I know.”
Kevin gave him a slap on the back. “I’m no expert, but it looks to me as if you’re doing just fine.”
“Maybe you could mention that to your niece.”
Kevin gave him a sly look. “Does her approval matter to you?”
Sam laughed. “Not the way you mean. I just don’t want her reporting me to child protective services.”
Just then he heard a shocked gasp behind him and turned to see Carrie, her complexion suddenly pale.
“I would never report you and risk having Bobby sent into foster care,” she said. “Not unless you did something totally outrageous or dangerous. How could you say such a thing?”
“Well, it certainly doesn’t seem as if you’re very impressed with my parenting skills,” Sam said, already regretting a comment he’d meant mostly in jest.
“Maybe you two should work this out on the patio,” Kevin suggested, casting a pointed look toward the suddenly silent boys who’d turned to see why voices were raised. “I’ll tell Shanna she’ll have to hold dinner a few minutes.”
“But it’s ready now,” Carrie protested. “She sent me to tell you. Besides, I have nothing to say to him.”
Her uncle had the nerve to smile at her petulant tone. He was a braver man than Sam. Sam could feel the anger radiating from her.
“I disagree, and this conversation takes precedence,” Kevin insisted. “Go, settle this and get back in before dinner gets cold so my wife doesn’t lose patience with all of us.”
He turned to address the kids as he picked up the baby. “Hands washed and in the dining room. Davey, you show Bobby where to go. And make sure Johnny washes up, too.”
Shoulders stiff, Carrie led the way past Sam, opened a pair of French doors and walked onto a flagstone patio. Keeping her back to him, she folded her arms across her chest.
Taking a deep breath, Sam walked up beside her. “Which one of us should go first? Kevin didn’t mention that.”
“You started it,” she muttered.
She glanced his way and gave him a hurt look. To Sam’s dismay there were tears in her eyes.
“What would make you think I’d turn you in to child protective services?” she asked.
“Isn’t that what people are supposed to do when they think a parent’s being negligent?” Sam responded. “You’ve made it pretty clear that you think I’m inept. I can’t even argue with your perception. I’m floundering, no question about it.”
She flushed, then sighed heavily. “And I should be cutting you a whole lot of slack under the circumstances. It’s not as if I have tons of parental experience myself.”
“But you’re great with kids,” Sam said. “Everyone I’ve run across says so. You have no idea how I envy that. I never expected to be a dad.”
“You didn’t want children?” she said, looking genuinely shocked.
“I never thought much about it. My parents weren’t the best examples, so I figured I should avoid following in their footsteps. My sister always said she wasn’t cut out for motherhood for the same reason, but then Laurel met Robert and he was solid and steady and completely unflappable—perfect dad material. He convinced her they could be great parents, and together, they really were. Bobby’s a great kid, and I know it’s because they knew what they were doing, unlike me.”
“You can be a great dad, too,” Carrie said with feeling. “I’m so sorry if the things I said made you feel inadequate, or should I say more inadequate than you were already feeling. I tend to open my mouth without thinking, especially when a child is involved.”
“That’s my point,” Sam said. “You could tell right away that Bobby was in the hands of someone who didn’t know what they were doing. And you cared enough to say something.”