Chapter 2
Chapter Two
M itch had made coffee, gone for his run, showered, dressed, and finally poured himself a cup of that coffee. Before he’d done all that, he’d done something much more important. He’d given his granddaughter a bottle and changed her. Now he was on the back deck, coffee at hand, journal in his lap, ready to start his day.
Ruthie had gone back to sleep after her bottle, but she’d be up again soon. Kyle could take care of her then. She’d want her daddy. Although she cooed happily whenever Mitch went to get her. She was such an angel.
She’d changed his life, and he didn’t have a single complaint. Everything about her felt like a blessing. Not a feeling he’d had in a very long time.
He took a sip of coffee, then looked at the blank page before him. He wasn’t sure he really needed to keep journaling. Which wasn’t to say that his grief over losing his wife, Jeanie, was completely behind him. It wasn’t. Not by a long shot. But he was definitely in a much different place now than he had been when he’d first met Harper.
Still, he’d come to like the journaling. It was a way to share his innermost thoughts without any fear of judgment or reprisal. The words were just for him. Just a way of thinking on paper, really.
So what was he thinking about this morning?
He smiled and put his pen to paper.
I’m thinking about asking Harper out to dinner. A real date. Just to see what that feels like and how it goes and if it’s actually doable and not incredibly awkward. Which it might be. I haven’t been on a date in so long that I’m not just rusty, I’m…
What was the right word?
He went back to writing. Can you be functionally illiterate in dating? Because that’s what I am. I take some comfort in the fact that Harper will gently let me know if I’m making a mess of things. But how hard can dinner out at a restaurant be? That’s all I’m hoping for. A nice, quiet dinner somewhere where no one knows either one of us.
I don’t think that’s asking too much. It’ll be a good test of how we work as a real couple.
He sat back as those last two words settled over him. A real couple. Was he ready for that? He’d told Harper he wanted to take things slow. But what did that really mean? Maybe he wasn’t ready for a date.
He felt like he was ready just as much as he felt like he wasn’t. He sighed, set down his pen, and picked up his coffee. Moving forward was hard.
No wonder so many people lost inertia at a certain point in their life and stayed stuck in the status quo. That was easy. That required no thinking, no emotions. Just the same old-same old, day in and day out.
He couldn’t live like that. There was no future in remaining stagnant. Not one that was worth living for, anyway. Once again, he returned to the fact that he had Kyle and Ruthie to think about. He and Kyle had talked over dinner last night and Kyle was good with Mitch being interested in Harper. He’d actually been happy for Mitch.
Kyle had been the first one to suggest it, actually. That had surprised Mitch. But so had a lot about Kyle. He wasn’t the same self-centered, broken young man who’d stormed out of the house, mad at Mitch and the world for the loss of his mother.
He’d grown up a lot in the last few years. Mitch was grateful for that. He wished it had happened under easier circumstances, but Kyle had learned a hard lesson in consequences. On the brighter side, he had Ruthie now, so it hadn’t all been bad.
Mitch started writing again. Does looking to adopt a dog together count as a date? For clarity’s sake, we’re not adopting the dog together. I’m adopting the dog. Harper is just going with me. For guidance. I trust her judgment. On a lot of things. I guess this afternoon might be considered a mini-date. If that’s even a thing.
Movement caught his eye. Joyce at the sliding glass door. She raised her brows at him.
He frowned at her to let her know he didn’t understand what she wanted.
She opened the door. “You need anything?”
“What are you doing here? Aren’t you and Beryl filming at Lucas’s today?”
“We are, but I need to get breakfast for you and Kyle first.”
He shook his head. “No, you don’t. We can manage.”
The set of her jaw told him she’d be making breakfast regardless of what he said. He almost laughed.
“I’ve already got my apron on. What would you like?”
“Whatever Kyle wants is fine with me.”
She nodded. “I’ll check with him then.” She slid the door closed.
Joyce was a force of nature. He was lucky to have her. Time to finish up his journaling and get to work. He read over his last couple of paragraphs, then started writing again.
Whatever happens between us, I hope we can maintain our friendship. Not trying to jinx things before they even begin, but I couldn’t stand to lose that connection we have. Harper has become very important to me. She got me back on track with writing. And with life.
He lifted his pen off the paper. Had she gotten him back on track with love, too? He supposed that was something he’d know in time. He closed the journal and carried it into the house with his pen and cup.
Kyle was setting Ruthie up in her swing. She was patting her hands on the little tray in front of her.
Mitch smiled at her. “Morning, Ruthie. And Kyle.”
Kyle laughed. “I see where I rank.”
“I love you both, but she’s cuter.”
Kyle straightened. “She’s cuter than all of us.”
Mitch refilled his cup, glancing over at the stove where Joyce was working. “Eggs and sausage?”
She nodded. “And toast.”
“Sounds good.”
Kyle opened one of the cabinets. “I’ll set the table.”
“I’m going to my office for a few minutes. Yell when it’s ready.” Mitch slipped off to his office, putting his journal away and sitting down to check email.
There was only one in his inbox that gave him pause. The attorney he’d hired to deal with Kyle’s ex, Addison, and the issue of Ruthie’s custody.
The note from the attorney, Peter Looper, was short and sweet. I’d like to schedule a phone call at your earliest convenience.
There was no way it was because he had good news to share. Mitch knew that without hesitation.
He wrote back. Give me a time that works for you, and I’ll make it happen. The sooner the better, as I’ll be out this afternoon. He signed it and hit Send.
The email went off into the ether, taking his good mood with it. Addison must be fighting the custody request. He’d known it was a possibility, but he’d also been hoping that her complete disinterest in Ruthie would work in their favor. Hoping that she’d simply sign the paperwork and let them get on with their lives.
Free of her.
Now it didn’t seem like that was going to happen. He put his hands behind his head and stared up at the ceiling. Well, if Addison wanted a fight, she was going to get one.
He was not going to lose Ruthie. He wasn’t going to put his son through that, either. Whatever it took to secure Ruthie’s future with them, Mitch would do. Whatever amount of time or money.
He had both.
More importantly, they had Ruthie. Addison couldn’t get her hands on the child.
A new thought came into his head. He picked up the phone and dialed the guard gate at the entrance to Hideaway Bay.
“Good morning, this is Jeremiah. How can I help you today?”
“Jeremiah, this is Mitch Ripley.”
“Morning, Mr. Ripley. What can I do for you?”
“I need to add a name to our No Access list.”
“Yes, sir, I can take care of that for you.”
“Great. That name is Addison Keeler. She’s not to be admitted under any circumstances.”
“You got it, Mr. Ripley. I’ll put it on the hot sheet, too, so everyone knows.”
“Thank you. You have a good day.”
“You, too.”
He disconnected the call and sat back. Hideaway Bay was about as safe as a place could be, but he wasn’t taking any chances. From now on, the alarm was getting set when they went to bed.
Maybe he was being paranoid, but he didn’t trust Addison. Not now that she knew Kyle wanted custody.
She was a young woman with a strong desire for fame. That much was obvious from her social media. People like that could be dangerous. She might think this was the opportunity she’d been waiting for. Her big shot to make a name for herself.
He refreshed his email, but nothing new appeared in his inbox. He picked up his cup and went out to breakfast.
The call with Peter couldn’t happen soon enough.