right on giving counsel. “Girls that age break up with their boyfriends all the time. If Valerie thinks it was time for Elliott to hit the road, then I’m sure it was. Yeah, I will. But I don’t think she’s going to call me. Bye, Aunt Camille.”
His expression taut with displeasure, he ended the connection and addressed her. “Sorry about that. I’d had about ten messages from them today. I really needed to call my aunt and uncle back.”
Although very open about many aspects of his life, Joe had said very little about his family. She was glad he’d brought it up. “You’re close to them?”
For a second, Joe hesitated. His expression became even more circumspect. “They became my guardians when my mom and dad were killed in a train derailment while on vacation in Spain.”
Hannah knew how hard it had been, losing her mom just two years ago. It had to have been much tougher for him to lose both parents at once. “How old were you?” she asked sympathetically.
“Nine.” He looked over at Isabella, and she leaned toward him, indicating she wanted to go to him for a while. “I lived with my aunt and uncle and their three kids for about a year, and then I went to a boarding school after that.” He held out his arms to the baby.
“Was going away to school a tradition in your family?” she asked, handing Isabella to him.
He propped Isabella against his shoulder, so she could look out at the other patrons in the small homey restaurant. She rested her cheek against his shirt, wreathed one arm about his neck and clutched his sleeve with her other hand.
“I’m the only one who went.” Joe surveyed Hannah while he cuddled Isabella close, the tenderness of the gesture bringing a lump to Hannah’s throat. “But it was a good experience,” he continued matter-of-factly. “It made me independent at an early age.”
Independent, or unable to settle down? Hannah wondered. Trying not to think how sad that was, she mixed formula in the baby bottle, capped it with the nipple and shook it vigorously.
Joe leaned back, allowing the waitress to put the menus in front of them. “Anyway, yesterday the family discovered that Valerie dropped out of summer classes and moved out of her college dorm without discussing it with them first.”
“Why would she do that?” Ready to feed the baby, Hannah held out her arms.
Joe slid Isabella into her embrace. “Apparently, she and her boyfriend broke up. She decided she could no longer be on the same campus as he was—they were both in summer school at a private liberal arts college just outside Austin. She contacted the registrar, told them she was quitting the university and took off.”
She situated Isabella with the bottle. Again the baby faced away from her, as was her preference while she fed. “And no one told her parents?”
The waitress appeared with two cups of green tea. “Valerie told her student advisor she was going to do that.”
“But she didn’t.” Hannah pointed to what she wanted on the menu.
Joe placed his order, then continued catching her up. “Valerie told them about the breakup—she didn’t tell them about the dropping-out-of-school part. So when my aunt and uncle flew down from their summer place in Aspen yesterday to check on Valerie and found out what happened, they were livid. They found her staying with one of her girlfriends in San Antonio and demanded she meet with them immediately. She said no and took off again to parts unknown.”
Joe exhaled in frustration. “Ten minutes after the conversation with my aunt—who can be a little, uh, shall we say controlling—Valerie withdrew enough cash from her ATM to last her a while. Anyway, that’s why they were so desperate to talk to me last night and why I went down to the lobby to return their call. They thought she might try to stay with me, since I’ve been living in Texas temporarily.”
Isabella finished her bottle. Hannah sat her up on her lap, facing Joe. “Only you’re not in Texas right now.”
“But Valerie doesn’t know that, since I didn’t tell the family I would be over here with you.” He paused, explaining, “When they need me, they contact me by e-mail…or cell. Other than that, we don’t communicate a lot.”
Isabella burped softly, a bubble of milk covered her lower lip. Joe leaned over and dabbed it with a cloth napkin.
Hannah smiled at the display of tenderness. He was a natural, when it came to kids. “Are you and Valerie close?” she asked curiously.
Again, that self-protective expression. “Let’s just say we have similar standings in the family,” Joe remarked quietly.
Similar standings? What did that mean? And why did she see a flash of sorrow in his eyes just now?
“Anyway, I’m sure she’s fine.” Joe’s emotions were veiled again. “My cousin will turn up—but not until she is ready.”
Joe spent the rest of the meal regaling her with tales of his exploits in China and Taiwan. Just hearing about his experiences thrilled Hannah, and it was with great reluctance that they returned to their suite.
Hannah stood slightly to the side as Joe unlocked the door with the electronic key card. “Thank you for a wonderful dinner.”
He held the door for her, his tall body radiating warmth and strength. “Thanks for the company.” He stepped back to let her pass, then followed her inside. He shut the door behind them, the action cloaking them in the intimacy of shared space.
He smiled. “I can’t remember when I’ve had two such charming dinner companions.” Coming near once more, Joe tucked his index finger into Isabella’s fist. Isabella looked up at him with the solemn expression Hannah was beginning to love so much.
Regretting the fact that their time together was about to end, Hannah asked him wistfully, “Do you think she’ll ever smile?”
Joe nodded, as certain as Hannah was unsure. “She will when she’s sure she’s here to stay. That this isn’t all some wonderful dream she’s having.”
His affection for her child kindled feelings in Hannah—for him. She kicked off her shoes and sank down onto the edge of the bed, with Isabella still in her arms. “She is wonderful, isn’t she?”
Joe sat down next to Hannah and smoothed a hand through Isabella’s soft hair. “And then some.”
For a moment they reveled in the wonder of the child they had both come to know.
They studied one another. Hannah couldn’t be sure, but she thought—hoped—Joe was fighting a desire to take her in his arms and kiss her. The same way she was fighting not to kiss him.
Working hard to keep her feelings in check, she turned her glance to the suitcases that still had to be packed. “And tomorrow we go back to Texas.” To real life. Away from the fantasy and wonder of this magical time in Taiwan…
Joe caught her hand in his. “I thought you’d be happier about that.”
She looked down at their entwined palms. It was a friendly gesture. Nothing more. Yet his touch felt so good…so right. “I’m worried about my dad,” she admitted.
He squeezed her hand
