Page 15 of The Rancher's Secret Son

“Yes, except for one surprise,” Claire replied, dreading breaking the news because it would forever change their lives, but putting off talking about it wouldn’t change anything. “Grandma, the buyer’s attorney was Nick Milan.”

“Oh, my word,” Verna said, putting down her needle. “I’m sure that was a surprise. Does he have children now?”

“No, he doesn’t. His pregnant wife was killed two years ago in a car crash.”

“Oh, no,” Verna said, shaking her head. “He lost his wife and unborn baby? He’s single and doesn’t have any family?” Her empathy shone in her eyes.

“That’s right.” Claire took a deep breath and let the words flow. “Grandma, I had to tell him about Cody.”

“Claire,” she said, looking stricken. Tears filled her eyes and though she didn’t say anything for a moment, Claire could feel her grandmother’s concern wrap around her. Finally she gathered herself and added, “I’m sure he’ll be here soon to meet Cody.”

“That’s right. He’s flying in Friday to meet his son and take us out to dinner. You’re invited for dinner too. He’ll be here for the weekend and leave Sunday.”

“No, that should be just you and Cody. I’ll call my sister. Becky will pick me up.” She paused a moment, emotion choking off her words. “Claire, I—”

She could see the tears in her grandmother’s eyes and knew exactly how she felt. She was worried for Claire, worried how things would fall once Nick met his son. Claire felt it, too. But she needed to reassure her grandmother, not bask in her self-pity. “We’ll work things out, so please don’t worry about it. Nick is a nice person.”

“I’ll try not to, but I can’t keep from worrying and I know you’re worried. Go ahead and tell Grandpa tomorrow when you see him. It’ll give him something to think about and pray over.”

“I’ll tell him if the opportunity arises. If he’s with his cronies, I’ll do it another day.”

Her grandmother nodded. “I suppose Nick was terribly shocked. I know you felt you had to tell him. Was he angry you hadn’t told him earlier?”

“Yes, he was at first, but it didn’t last,” Claire answered.

“He may want Cody the majority of the time.”

“I don’t think that will happen. We’ll just work out a way to share Cody. I think Nick will be a good dad.”

Her grandmother started crying and Claire, hurting for her, crossed the room to hug her. “Don’t cry. We don’t know how much we’ll see of Nick and he has clearly said he will not take Cody from me.”

“We can’t fight the Milans. They’re powerful people.”

“We won’t have to,” Claire said, hoping her words proved true. “Please don’t cry,” Claire repeated, taking her grandmother in her arms again and noticing how much more frail and thin she was.

Her grandmother wiped her eyes as she sat back. “I’m all right and don’t you worry. We’ll just take each day as it comes. I’ll pray for the best.”

Claire nodded. “We all will. I wanted to tell you before I tell Cody. I expect him to be very happy about the news because he’ll never think of the downside to this. I know he’ll be eager and excited,” she said, hoping that’s what Cody would feel.

* * *

Claire took the day off Friday. Her grandmother had already gone for the weekend. During the afternoon Claire sat with Cody on her lap.

“Cody, I want to tell you something.” His big blue eyes looked up at her and she smiled, hugging him lightly. He wore a superhero T-shirt, jeans and his tennis shoes, and she knew he wanted to run and play. “I saw your daddy this weekend. Here is a picture of me with him. His name is Nicholas Milan.”

“He’s my daddy?”

“Yes. And he is coming to see you tonight.”

“This is my daddy and he’s coming here?” Cody asked, grinning, his eyes sparkling and looking as if he had just been given a trip to Disneyland. From that moment on until it was time for Nick’s arrival, Cody was giddy with excitement.

She gave Cody new Legos and left him building while she got dressed, thinking that one plus to Cody’s exhilaration was she didn’t have time to grow steadily more nervous about seeing Nick.

Finally, she made one last check of herself, her gaze roaming over her black hair, which fell to her shoulders. She wore a dark red cotton dress with a V neckline, a straight skirt that ended at her knees and matching high-heeled shoes. In spite of butterflies in her stomach, icy hands and a sense of dread, she felt a streak of excitement to see Nick again. An excitement she tried to ignore.

When the bell rang, she hurried to open the door, aware of Cody following her instructions and waiting in the family room. Her heartbeat spiked as she looked into Nick’s blue eyes. His smile quickened her breathing. In his navy suit and matching tie, he was handsome. Too handsome, too irresistible. Taking another deep breath, she opened the storm door. “Come in, Nick. Cody is excited and there’s no calming him.”

“I’m excited, too,” Nick said, his gaze sweeping over her. “You look beautiful, Claire,” he said, his voice taking on a husky note. He glanced over her head. “Where’s your grandmother?”

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