the comment with a nod, then scanned the living room, where the pastor of the church and several close family friends had gathered. They were seated on the sofa as well as on some of the chairs that had been moved from around the linen-covered table in the adjoining dining room.
The women from Sandra’s Bible study and Dana had arrived early this morning and prepared the food, which would be set out as a buffet. Before leaving for the service, they’d stacked blue paper plates, white napkins and plasticware at one edge of the rectangular table, and placed a bouquet of spring flowers in the center.
Sam greeted Dana with a hug. “I’m glad you’re here. Sandra and I wanted to talk to you as well as to Kieran. As soon as Rosie is sound asleep, we can go into the kitchen, where it’ll be more private.”
“Of course.” Dana had no idea what they intended to say, but she was glad to be included in what seemed like a family discussion. She shot a glance at Kieran. Their gazes locked, their sympathies clearly united.
Moments later, Sandra entered the living room, her eyes dry, yet still red-rimmed. “Rosie’s finally taking a nap.”
Sam nodded, then lifted his right hand, directing them to the doorway that led to the kitchen. “Shall we?”
When they entered the small, cozy kitchen, the counters lined with cakes and platters of cookies, memories slammed into Dana, causing her to pause in the middle of the room. One mental snapshot after another struck, the first one reminding her of the cold, rainy night last winter when she’d joined Sam, Sandra and Zach to play cards. The memories of times spent in this very room clicked in her mind as if she were watching the scenes on an old nickelodeon—the morning she’d helped Sandra bake cakes for the church bazaar, the afternoon she’d washed a bushel of apples that had come from trees in the family orchard, then learned how to make and can applesauce.
This particular kitchen, with its light green walls, white Formica countertops and floral printed café curtains, was also where Dana had last seen Zach alive and well. Sandra had invited her to dinner just three days before the accident. They’d had pot roast, carrots, mashed potatoes and gravy...
Dana shook off the memories before she fell apart and cried for all she’d lost. She’d loved her visits to the Leaning L, but now that Zach was gone, she might never be invited back.
Sandra, always the hostess, asked, “Would anyone like coffee?”
“Let me serve it for you,” Dana said.
Normally, Zach’s mom would have declined the help, but this wasn’t a normal day. She took a seat at the antique oak table, practically collapsing in her chair.
Dana placed cream and sugar on the table, then filled several mugs with hot coffee and passed them out to Sam, Sandra, Zach and the pastor of the Oakdale Community Church, who’d been asked to join them in the kitchen. Since Dana preferred tea, she passed on having anything at all to drink.
“Last night,” Sam began, “we... That is, me and...my wife...” His voice wobbled and cracked. He cleared his throat, paused a beat, then looked to the minister.
Pastor Mark nodded, then pushed his mug aside. “Sam and Sandra read over Zach’s will last night, and they have a concern as well as a heartfelt request.”
Dana still had no clue where this conversation was heading, but it was obviously in a direction the older couple needed their minister’s help expressing.
Pastor Mark Wilder, who’d served his congregation for the last thirty years, scooted back his chair and got to his feet as if he was preparing for a sermon. “Sam and Sandra believe that Zach’s wishes should be followed, but they also know he hadn’t expected to die so suddenly or so young. And their biggest concern is for little Rosabelle.”
Dana had no doubt about that. The couple adored their precious granddaughter.
“As you know,” the pastor continued, “Rosie and Zach have been living with Sam and Sandra for her entire life. So the Leaning L is the only home she’s ever known.”
Where was he going with this? Dana assumed Rosie would stay with her grandparents. After all, she’d just lost her father. Who else would take her? Where else would she live?
Oh, no. Surely her mother hadn’t resurfaced. From what Zach had told Dana, her pregnancy had been unexpected and unwanted. She’d planned to give her baby up for adoption, but Zach had refused to sign the paperwork, insisting that he wanted sole custody of their child. The woman had agreed and then walked away without a backward glance the moment she’d been discharged from the hospital.
Dana stole a glance at Kieran. The expression of concern he’d been wearing moments earlier had morphed into one that almost appeared panicked.
It wasn’t until Pastor Mark completed his speech that Dana realized why.
“Zach gave custody of his daughter to Kieran.”
Kieran hadn’t been sure the Lawsons had even known about the existence of Zach’s will, but he had. He’d also been well aware of Zach’s wishes when it came to who would raise Rosabelle. He just hadn’t planned to bring it up, especially now.
When Zach had first mentioned his visit to the attorney and had asked Kieran to be Rosie’s guardian if the unthinkable should happen, Kieran had laughed. Sure, he’d been honored to be chosen, but he’d known there had to be someone much better qualified than him to finish raising Zach’s daughter.
What did Kieran know about kids—or parenting?
He didn’t have any insecurity about his competence to do anything else. As one of the legitimate offspring of Gerald Robinson, aka Jerome Fortune Robinson, he was certainly capable of taking care of her financially. He was a millionaire many times over and a damn good computer analyst. He was also good at making and investing money. But he was a man who knew his strengths, and parenting was not one of them. Hell, he certainly hadn’t had the perfect example of either a mother or father while he grew up. And he’d told Zach as much.
But Zach had disagreed. “If something ever happens to me,” he’d said, “there’s no one else I’d trust to take care of my daughter.”
Kieran would have mentioned Rosie’s biological mother, but the flighty brunette was completely out of the picture. She’d gladly signed over full custody of the newborn to Zach and had never looked back.
“It’s just a formality,” Zach had said. “We’ll both be dancing at Rosie’s wedding.”
At the time, Kieran had believed that was probably true, so he’d reluctantly agreed. But obviously neither of them had foreseen the accident that would change everything.
Kieran, who actually liked having Rosie refer to him as her uncle and had no problem assuming that easy role, blew out a ragged sigh as he looked at the people around the room. “I knew about Zach’s will, but neither of us expected him to die so soon.”
“Sandra and Sam are hoping that you will hold off on exercising your right to custody,” Pastor Mark said. “At least while Rosie is so young, and the loss of her father is so recent.”
Kieran hadn’t
