Page 30 of The Rancher's Secret Son

“Sure. I will,” Nick answered. “I’ll let my siblings know about him as soon as I get home. I’m going to let Karen’s parents know too. Mom is probably already on the phone talking to Madison.”

“She won’t talk to any of the family until she’s talked to me again.” They stopped beside Nick’s car and his father looked up at him. “Just think about what I said. It would help your political chances to be married with a family.”

“I will.” Nick climbed behind the wheel. “Night, Dad. I’ll be in touch.”

“Thanks for the iPad. This is an exciting night in our lives. We have a grandson. That’s marvelous, Nick. I’m looking forward to meeting him and his mother.”

Nodding, Nick felt a pang. He had gotten his life into a muddle, cutting Claire out of it, then losing Karen and the baby. And now it was even more mixed-up.

He drove to his Dallas home and went inside. He called Wyatt first, telling him about Cody and sending a picture. He did the same with Madison and then Tony.

Feeling Karen’s parents should know, he called and talked to her dad briefly. To his relief, her father seemed happy for Nick to have a child. He realized a lot of despair over his loss was fading.

Then he called Claire. She was putting Cody to bed, but Nick got to talk to him for ten minutes. Just hearing his voice nearly brought tears to his eyes; he missed his son so much already. He could hardly wait till Tuesday. Claire promised to call Nick after she was finished with Cody.

He wondered what she thought. She kept everything bottled up and put a barrier between them. He understood why she did, and he knew he should, too, for the same reasons.

Was the career he had planned really better than having Claire’s love and Cody in his life?

Somehow over the weekend, politics had lost a bit of its luster.

Giving up political office was a thought that had never crossed his mind before, and he couldn’t imagine changing his whole way of life and giving up his ranch to move to Houston. He would never be happy. That thought was followed by memories of this weekend, which had been one of the happiest times of his life. How much would becoming a father change his life? And change his feelings for Claire?

He got out his iPad and looked at all of Cody’s pictures again. He’d already received text messages from his siblings, congratulating him and telling him how much Cody looked like Nick and like the Milans, and responding to his invitation to meet Claire and Cody.

By consensus it’d be Saturday night when he’d host the party at his Dallas home. He could hardly wait.

* * *

Tuesday Nick went to the airport to meet Claire and Cody. He had taken little time off for two years and his office was accustomed to being able to get in contact with him during all hours. That was going to have to change and it would be a big adjustment in his life.

He was eager to see them, surprised how the anticipation had kept him awake all night. They’d been in his thoughts constantly from yesterday until now. His life had not been empty—or, at least, he hadn’t thought it was—but excitement gripped him now as he watched the plane land. It was an excitement he hadn’t ever felt. Not even with his late wife. In his own way, he’d loved Karen, but he realized now that what they’d had was more like a marriage of convenience. She had done what she wanted and he had been free to pursue his career for hours on end. Setting those thoughts aside to be examined at a later time, he focused on Claire and their son.

When they emerged from the plane, his heart skipped a beat as he looked at Claire. Wearing a black knee-length coat with a thick fur collar and cuffs, black slacks and black heels, she looked like a model. A cold December wind blew, causing her hair to swirl across her cheek. She still could set his pulse racing and capture his attention far too easily for his own good. Cody was almost bouncing with each step and Nick suspected the boy was wound up with excitement. Wearing a bright blue parka and khakis, he held his tiger under one arm and the monkey under the other.

Nick walked out to meet them and picked up Cody and gave him a hug. “I’m so glad to see you,” he said, carrying him and smiling at him. Cody grinned in return, wrapping one thin arm around Nick’s shoulder.

“I’ve been counting the minutes,” Nick said lightly.

“So has he. The plane was as big a hit as the limo,” she said, smiling up at Nick. “He’s so excited. This is all new to him. We don’t travel. That’s one thing about the real estate business—it’s better business if I stay home.”

“That I know. You look great, Claire.”

“Thanks. Grandma said to thank you again. She really appreciated your call and asking her yourself to come with us. Thanks also from me.”

“I’d be happy to have her here to meet my family.”

“I take it your dad adjusted.”

Laughing, Nick nodded. “I took a lesson from you and put Cody’s picture in front of him as I told him. My parents are overcome with delight at being grandparents. To them, Cody looks just like me at that age and they are ecstatic. I haven’t seen them like this many times in my life. They can’t wait to meet you, too.”

She nodded but her smile never reached her eyes. He knew she was worried and wished there was something he could do to alleviate her concern.

“They can’t wait to see Cody. If it’s acceptable with you, we’ll stop by for just a few minutes. I promise we won’t stay.”

“That’s fine. We’re here for your family to get to know Cody, so see any of them you want. They’re his grandparents, Nick.”

“Thanks,” he said, wondering how she truly felt toward all of them. “They’re all happy to learn about Cody and they all think he looks like me, which of course, I like to hear.” When they climbed into the limo, they both focused on Cody, who seemed as interested in the interior as he’d been on the first ride.

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