Page 46 of A Return For Ren

“Give me until Monday. I’ll let Zane know before then.”

“Rose loves keeping secrets,” Thomas said. “I think you just took the fun away from her knowing something Poppy doesn’t for long.”

She laughed. “You’ll know for a few days at least.”

Rose and Thomas left and Ren said, “If you’re telling your brother then you can go with me to pick up Max and see my mother again.”

If that wasn’t proof that he was willing to do what it took, she wasn’t sure what was.

15

Take After Him

“Zara,” his mother said when he opened the door to pick his son up. “It’s so good to see you again. Ren didn’t tell me you were coming. I would have made dinner.”

“We just had dinner, Mom,” he said. “We went out since Max was still sleeping.”

“Then I’m glad it worked out as well as it had,” his mother said. “Please come in. Have a seat. Give me your jackets. Can I get you something to drink?”

“Take a deep breath, Mom. We were just going to get Max and go home.”

“We can stay and visit for a few minutes,” Zara said. “I haven’t seen Tess in years. I’m so sorry about Ryan.”

“Thank you, sweetie,” his mother said. “I know Ryan wasn’t the easiest person to get along with, let alone talk to, but he did like you and your family.”

Ren held back the snort on that statement. His father wasn’t rude. He’d never be that way at work, but he wasn’t a warm and loving guy either. Never.

He wasn’t sure he’d ever seen his father be that way toward his mother. More proof was the fact that his mother would still be working at the marina if his father were alive. She was only able to retire now because she owned the business and could make those decisions.

He was damn well going to make sure she got to enjoy the rest of her life now.

If that meant more time with the grandson she didn’t know she had, then he was going to make that happen too.

For once in his life he wasn’t trying to plan it all out, but he knew there was a plan in there somewhere.

“I did enjoy coming here to visit,” Zara said. “It’s been years. You look wonderful.”

“You haven’t changed a bit. Always full of compliments for people,” his mother said. “And Max wants to be picked up.”

He walked over to his son who was on the floor and trying to belly crawl toward them. That was a new move. “Did he just start to do that?”

“I thought he was doing it with you,” his mother said. “He didn’t get far, but he’s trying. He’s gotten up on his knees a few times and rocked but can’t figure out what to do next.”

Ren looked at Zara. “Advice on how to do that?”

She laughed and poked her finger into Max’s belly. “Let him figure it out. He’ll do what feels right to him. I’ve seen some babies never crawl on their hands and knees and just do an army crawl, then start to walk.”

“Seriously?” he asked.

“Yep. It’s more common than you think. Children will figure it out and adapt to what is comfortable to them. And if he doesn’t get on his hands and knees to crawl, don’t panic. If he’s mobile that is what counts. Trust me though, you don’t want to rush it. You’ll get no peace once it happens.”

“Ren always wanted to do everything fast or first,” his mother said. “Even as a kid. It seems Max is going to take after him there.”

Max started to reach for her. “Hey, buddy. I think Daddy wants to hold onto you right now.”

Max started to yell as he stretched to get closer, his body angling. “Take him,” he said. “I’m getting used to this now.”

Zara got Max situated on her lap where she was sitting. “It’s good that Max is so comfortable with other people, Ren. Be happy about that. He’s more outgoing than he was two weeks ago.”