to write checks, and doesn’t he know Benjamin Waterston? That guy is worth like a billion dollars. Old Hollywood money and new Hollywood power. His Malibu estate is outrageous. Maybe he’d rent it out for the right price.”
Arnie smiled. With Stan enthusiastically on board, maybe his crazy plan wasn’t so farfetched.
Ned gave a throaty chuckle and winked. “You ask very smart questions. You’ve picked me clean, Summer!”
She shrugged. “I went with human resources management for the business degree I’m working on. To see the whole picture, questions must be asked.”
“Did you find out all you need to know?”
“For now,” she replied. “Do you have any questions for me?”
He answered quickly with a direct question. “Do you love my son? The big, goofy one.”
It was Ari’s tummy time. She was demonstrating her push-up mastery and turned her head to look at Pop Pop.
Summer chuckled. “Even she can’t believe you asked such a silly question.”
“Is it silly?” he asked. “Some will say he put you through hell. He certainly feels the heavy weight of responsibility. I’m jumping ahead in the story, and I’m sorry for the rush, but I need to know how this ends.”
Her answer was honest. “I don’t know how it ends, Ned.”
“But do you love him?”
“I loved him then, I love him now, and I’ll love him with my last breath. That doesn’t mean we get a happy fairy-tale ending.”
“Are you worried about the money?”
She blew out a breath and pursed her lips. “It’s not the money, not really. It’s more. His life is just so damn big, and I don’t know where I fit. The money just amplifies the enormity of it all.”
“Fair enough. You make a valid point. You didn’t know any of this a year ago.”
“Can I ask you a question? The same one?”
Ned looked surprised. “Does he love you? My god, Summer. I was there when the whole story came out and witnessed his immediate reaction. He was wounded in his soul. He’d been looking for you. Finding out about the baby was more than his heart or conscience could take.”
“I knew he’d come,” she whispered.
“Did you? For real? Or are you just trying to be nice to an old man.”
She snorted. “You are nowhere near old man status, and yes, I mean it. I knew he’d come. Eventually. The crapshoot was whether it happened now or at the end of days.”
“Everything happens for a reason, Summer. Sometimes, we don’t see it when we’re in the thick of it, but the reason is still there.”
“Not all reasons are good, though.” She squeezed his hand. “Losing the love of your life, well, for that there’s never going to be a good enough reason.”
“I’ll amend my statement to include the caveat that some reasons are more difficult and challenging than others.”
Ari cooed and pushed herself up as far as her little arms would allow.
Ned looked her in the eyes. “Child of destiny.” He nodded at the baby. “She’s everything.”
Summer scooted closer and hugged Ned’s arm. She put her head on his shoulder. “I love her so much it’s scary.”
He patted her hands where they wrapped around his arm. “Fight for the family you want, Summer. Fight like the whole world depends on it.”
After a pleasant morning spent with Ari’s doting Pop Pop, her serenity was shattered when the first of several visitors came calling. Summer felt like a royal consort upon a gilded throne—on display as the troops marched by.
Dottie was first. She’d missed out yesterday on meeting Arianne and came through the door ready for baby cuddles. In a hilarious maneuver worthy of the indomitable lady, she came prepared to prove her grandmother credentials with a slide show from her son and his husband. They made a video testimonial with gushing accolades for Dottie’s hands-on grandparenting and shared a slew of happy, smiling photos showing the doting grandmother and her two grandsons.
“I’m available for babysitting. Just give me a call, and I’ll clear my schedule.”
Arnie’s bewilderment earlier over Dottie’s daily email reminded Summer she was standing before a master instigator of shenanigans. Earning the plucky lady’s admiration and respect wouldn’t be easy, but she had a few rascally maneuvers up her sleeve.
“Do you know CPR?” she asked.
Dottie snorted. “Of course.”
“Infant and child CPR? There’s a difference, you know, between the adult protocol and kids.”
A laugh snort threatened to erupt from Summer’s mouth when Dottie pulled out her wallet and produced not one but two Red Cross CPR cards.
“I’m recertified annually for work. Adults,” she pointed out.