Their baby was going to know it was loved.

They crossed through the family room and into the kitchen. Music and voices flowed through the open back door and into the kitchen.

“Everyone must be outside.” Nick pushed open the screen door and Raina followed him out onto the back deck. A tiny body bumped into her leg and she looked down to see Jase watching them, his thumb bobbing in his mouth. He took it out only to say, “Hi, Unca Nick.”

“Are you still sucking on that thumb, little man? I thought we had a talk about that. That look is ruining your swag. How are you supposed to impress the lady babies with your thumb in your mouth?”

Raina smacked him in the arm. “Nick! He’s a toddler.”

Nick pretended to jump away from Raina and Jase giggled. “Help me, Jase! Auntie Raina is assaulting me!”

Jase just laughed harder and pointed at Nick. “Get him! Get him!”

Nick shook his head. “My own nephew isn’t even on my side. I guess a pretty face trumps family when you’re three, huh?”

Raina sent him a scathing look and then knelt down next to Jase. “Can I have a high five, Mr. Alexander? I’ve missed having you jump in the pond in my backyard. You and Chris need to come visit me again.”

Jase gave her a high five and then immediately stuck his thumb in his mouth again. He glanced up at Nick, then took it out and slowly put it behind his back.

“That’s better, my man.”

A blur of motion passed by them and then Jase took off running. They watched as Chris ran across the deck and down into the yard with Jase struggling to catch up. Laura’s little girls were already there, blowing bubbles with a long wand. Before long all four kids were chasing and tagging each other.

He turned to look at Raina. “One day ours will be out there, too.”

“I hope,” Raina replied.

He pulled her close and kissed her on the forehead. “It’ll happen. Hopefully tonight.” He leered at her and she poked him in the side.

Ridley appeared at her left side. “I’m so glad you came.”

“Did you think I wouldn’t?”

“It occurred to me,” Ridley admitted.

She looked toward the other end of the porch where Mark and Julia stood with an unfamiliar man. He was older with pale skin and dark hair, silvered at the temples. He turned slightly and she recognized him from the pictures she’d seen.

“There they are!” Julia walked over to them, arms outstretched. Mark trailed behind her with an indulgent smile. She hugged Raina and then kissed Nick on the cheek. “I figured you were on your way.” She turned to Raina with a hesitant smile. “Are you ready to meet your father, honey?”

Raina nodded. Then she changed her mind and shook her head.

“What if he doesn’t like me?”

She didn’t want to care what he thought of her but in that moment, when he was only a few feet away, she was overcome with anxiety.

“Oh, honey,” Julia exclaimed. “Of course he’ll like you.”

Mark put a gentle hand on her shoulder. “As a father of four I feel completely qualified to say you’re the kind of woman any man would be proud to call his daughter.”

Raina let out the breath she was holding. “Thank you. I guess I’d better go meet him then.”

Ridley took her arm and tugged her over to where William stood, looking extremely uncomfortable. Julia, Mark, and Nick all trailed behind. Great, just what I need. An audience, Raina thought.

“William, this is Raina. Raina, William.”

Unsure of what to do, Raina stuck out her hand. He accepted it with a small smile.

“Hello, Raina. It’s nice to finally meet you.”

Raina smiled but didn’t respond. Was that a criticism for refusing to meet with him earlier? He didn’t seem upset when he said it so she just nodded.

“I want to thank you all for inviting me to dinner. You have a lovely home,” William added.

“Thank you so much. We’re happy to have you here with us.” Julia took control of the conversation and motioned for her father to go inside. “Dinner is ready, everyone.”

The rest of the evening went much the same. Even though dinner was just as lively as the one Julia had hosted at her house, Raina’s eyes kept going to her father seated a few places away. He ate slowly and methodically, one food at a time.

Raina looked down at her own plate in astonishment and noticed she’d just finished her corn salad. She hadn’t met too many other people who liked to eat all of one food before moving on to the next.

She noticed that Ridley made an effort to include their father in the conversation. William was perfectly polite but only spoke when spoken to, and though he seemed perfectly composed, there was something about him that was a little… awkward. He didn’t seem all that comfortable socializing.

Like me, Raina thought. It was odd to see where so many of her own character traits had come from.

After dinner, Ridley shoved a basket at her. “William, why don’t you show Raina the blackberry bushes? She loves them as much as you do. Bring back a lot for me, okay?”

Raina gritted her teeth at her sister but it was too late to get out of it. She glanced behind her at Nick. He nodded slightly as if saying go ahead.

“I remember where it is.” William led the way to the back door. They stepped out into the humid evening air and walked down the deck steps to the backyard. The air was just warm enough to feel like a caress as they walked across the springy green grass. William led the way toward the long wooden fence at the back of the yard.