Chapter 17: Chapter Seventeen

“I think Becky worded this perfectly.” Ainsley shook her head as Silver stopped chewing her nails and glanced up from the notes on the press release Becky had put out the other day. She didn’t look convinced.

Which was why Ainsley was at Silver’s house. On a Saturday.

She didn’t mind, she’d wanted to go over everything herself, along with the transcripts from the briefing, so she could have answers for the reporters still emailing and calling Silver every hour. Being able to bring Sawyer was a plus. They still didn’t know many people in the area and a few hours work before a dinner invite was more than welcome. If only the work was leading anywhere besides Silver becoming more stressed.

No matter how often both Ainsley and Becky assured her everything would be fine, she kept fussing over every word, every opinion piece by the media, and asking how the public was reacting. A simple retweet shouldn’t have caused this much drama, but with nothing confirmed regarding the possible sale of the team, and the players on their best behavior since pranks had gotten a few of them suspended, there wasn’t much else to report.

Which was normal. And happened to every team.

Had happened to the Cobras before.

But the team’s future hadn’t been uncertain then. Back at the office people constantly told Ainsley Silver wasn’t usually like this. Sure, she was high maintenance, but she’d never obsessed over minute details to this extent. More than one coworker had offered to bring her coffee, or run an errand for Ainsley if she needed a break.

Ainsley had a feeling her coworkers were afraid she’d quit. Which was reassuring, since it meant they didn’t know her employment options were limited. Or why. But they didn’t need to worry, she absolutely loved her job and Silver was the best boss she’d ever had.

Still, there was no reason to let her keep going over these papers. They had all the information they needed and it was clear Becky knew what she was doing.

“Don’t give me that look, I know.” Silver shook her head and smiled ruefully. “And you’re right. This was handled well. The public is already getting bored. We can relax until the next bit of insanity.”

“Can you though?” Ainsley grinned at Silver’s shrug. Little running feet drew her attention as Silver’s daughter, Amia, came into the room with Sawyer’s new Cobras hat in her mouth. Sawyer chased her, pretending to run while going very slowly.

“Mama!” Amia shoved the hat at Silver, then hid behind her mother’s chair. “Boy. Bat!”

“Hat!” Sawyer burst out laughing as he leaned against Ainsley’s chair, his hair all rumpled and his eyes shining. “She keeps calling me boy. But I almost got her saying ‘hat’.”

“She’ll get there. I’m happy you’re having fun.” Ainsley looked up at her son, feeling a little twinge in her heart at the way his eyes lit up when Amia started running again, looking back to make sure he’d follow. She hadn’t been sure he’d enjoy himself with only a toddler here, but he’d warmed up to Amia immediately when she took his hand without hesitation and led him to her toys.

He’d make an awesome big brother.

Shortly after his birth, she and Isaac had discussed having more kids, but two years passed and they hadn’t gotten a chance to try again. And then it was too late. She felt guilty sometimes, being grateful that she only had Sawyer to take care of, but he’d never really asked about siblings and they’d built a nice little life together.

If she met the right man, she might consider another child, and yet… After what she’d been through, how could she trust any man that much?

“They’re too cute.” Silver bit her bottom lip as Landon came down the stairs, grabbing Amia and sitting her on his shoulder, while crouching down to speak to Sawyer. “Damn…I never get tired of seeing him hold her. He’s an amazing father. Dean too. They just…”

Shaking her head, Ainsley cut off the apology she knew was coming. “I’m happy you have two amazing men in your life. And that Amia has such wonderful fathers. Sawyer had a great one. Yes, he lost him too soon, but we’re still a great team, just the two of us.”

“You don’t have to be. Maybe—”

The doorbell rang.

Silver looked damn guilty all of a sudden. As though she’d done something she knew she shouldn’t have.

Oh…God no. Ainsley frowned. “Silver, tell me you didn’t—”

“I didn’t! I swear!” Silver hopped off her chair and rushed toward the door. “Dean invited Lorenzo over so we could meet his daughters and see if we might consider having one babysit sometime.”

“Which you knew before you asked me here.” Ainsley mumbled to herself, keeping her voice low as she heard Silver greeting Mr. Keane and his daughters. Or was it supposed to be ‘Lorenzo’ here? This wasn’t work-related, not anymore, but separating the two was dangerous.

Then don’t. Treat him like you would when seeing him in the hall at the office. Nothing has changed.

But as he stepped into the dining room, she met his eyes and her heart did a stupid little stutter, ignoring every red flag her mind waved.

She inhaled slowly, standing to greet him. “Hi.”

“Hi.” His lips curved slightly as he looked over the table, covered with paperwork. “I hope you’re being paid overtime?”

“Of course. Though that wasn’t necessary since I’m getting an amazing meal out of it.” Ainsley relaxed as Dean stepped out of the kitchen, drawing Lorenzo—Keane’s—attention with a handshake and a quick hug. She began organizing the files on the table to put them away, pausing as Silver returned, Keane’s daughters a step behind.

Keane’s expression warmed as one of his daughters pulled out a chair for the other. He watched their silent exchange before the one with tired eyes and pale skin finally sat. Then he moved to stand behind the girl, one hand on her shoulder, his arm around her twin’s. “Dean, Mrs. Bower, Ms. Lalonde, these are my daughters, Mackenzie and Madison. Mackenzie is the one who’d like to be considered for babysitting.”

Standing by his side, Mackenzie wrinkled her nose. “Thanks, Dad, but I could’ve handled that myself.” She shot Silver a charming smile and held out her hand. “Mrs. Bower, I’ve heard so much about all the work you do with the team. And I looked up the movies you were in and the modeling you did? Goals! If you ever need someone to watch your baby while you take a break from your epic life, I hope you’ll consider giving me a call.”

“Please, call me Silver.” Silver smiled at Mackenzie as she shook her hand, then winced at a scream, followed by a giggle, coming from the living room. “Maybe you want to meet our sweet daughter and see how you get along before you make that offer.”

With a soft laugh, Dean pulled Silver to his side and pressed his lips to her hair. “Amia’s showing off for her new friend. And I’m sure Landon isn’t setting a good example. Maybe Mackenzie could introduce them to a quiet game?”

“Absolutely!” Mackenzie started toward the living room, then hesitated, biting her bottom lip as she looked back at her sister. “Maddy—”

“Go, I’ll be there in a minute. I just need something to drink.” Madison frowned at her sister until the other girl left, following Silver. Then she sighed and shook her head, glancing up at her father. “She’s gonna be impossible while I’m in the hospital.”

Nodding slowly, Keane rubbed his lips with his hand. “She loves kids, so this will be good for her.” Keane stroked Madison’s hair. “If you get too tired, just let me know. We won’t stay long.”

“I’m fine. Really.” Madison whispered thanks when Dean brought her a tall glass of ice water. “I’m gonna go chill with the kids. Do grownup stuff, Dad. And stop worrying.”

Picking up her glass with a shaky hand, Madison made her way to the living room slowly. Keane stared after her, everything in his expression showing how hard it was for him not to follow. Ainsley wanted to hug him and tell him everything would be all right, but how many times had he heard that already? And she didn’t know him well enough to offer that kind of comfort.

But she had to say something. Had to let him know she was here if he needed her.

“You’ve raised two very strong young women, Mr. Keane.” Ainsley met his dark, troubled eyes, her throat tight. “I’m happy I got to meet them.”

“I am as well.” Keane took the seat next to her, drawing in a rough breath before meeting her gaze, his lips curving slightly. “You’re not still on the clock, are you?”

Cheeks heating, Ainsley glanced over to where Dean had been standing, but the man had disappeared into the kitchen without a word.

Leaving her alone with Keane.

You’re a guest here. So is he. It’s not a big deal. Chill.

“No, the weekend has officially begun.” She let out a light laugh as he arched a brow and glanced at the boxes of paperwork that had been set off to the side of the dining room. “As you can tell.”

“Well, hopefully the remainder of the weekend will be more relaxed.” He folded his hands on the table, not looking much different than he did at board meetings. Aside from being dressed casually in light beige pants and a pale blue shirt rolled halfway up his forearms.

Which revealed a tattoo of two baby handprints with one of his daughters’ names under each of them. Her breath caught and she reached out to touch it. Stopped herself, heat spilling down the back of her neck as she pulled her hand back.

Keane’s brow furrowed. He glanced down at his arm, then held it out so she could get a better look. “I’d never planned to get a tattoo, but after Madison and Mackenzie were born, that changed. They were born early and there were a few weeks when it was touch and go. The doctors weren’t sure they’d both survive.” He traced the tiny palms of the tattoos with a finger, his eyes distant. “I might have gotten these anyway, but at the time I was terrified. They were so fragile and I knew in a moment I could lose them. This was my way of making sure part of them was always with me.”

“I know what you mean.” Ainsley lifted the edge of her short sleeve, mauve blouse to show him the delicate outline of a heart she’d gotten with Sawyer’s name in cursive. “I got this after Sawyer’s father died. For both of us, because he’d always wanted to get one with our son’s name, but kept putting it off. This was my first step in healing. Accepting what I’d lost while being so grateful for whatever time I had left. And never putting off what was precious to me until a day that might never come.”

The way Keane’s gaze settled on her shoulder was like a gentle touch, and her skin heated, almost as though he was tracing the tattoo the same way he had his own. For a long time, they were silent, but it wasn’t awkward. They’d shared something and were taking the time to let their own words and thoughts sink in.

“I’m gonna get you!”

“No you won’t! You’re the evil queen and I’m the dragon who protects the princess!”

“Up! Up!”

“Hold on tight, Princess!”

Ainsley grinned at the sound of the children playing. Sawyer hadn’t pretended to be a dragon for years, but he’d been obsessed with the mystical creatures from the time he was able to talk until he got ‘too old’ for the stuffed animals that had once filled every shelf in his room. He still read books with dragons, but they were serious now.

Yet…he still wouldn’t tell his friends at school what books he liked. He pretended to only read comics. Play video games. He’d gotten wrapped up in being into ‘manly’ things.

Something about Mackenzie playing along must have made him relax enough to just be a kid and have fun. She really was good with kids.

“I hope you don’t mind me asking, but is Mackenzie interested in babysitting more often? I have a neighbor who’s wonderful with Sawyer, but she’s an older woman and they pretty much take care of one another.” Ainsley hesitated, not sure if Keane would think badly of her for leaving her son with someone who couldn’t always keep up with him, but he simply gestured for her to go on. “If Mackenzie could pick him up after school a few days a week and bring him out…maybe to the park or other places he might enjoy, I think that would be good for him. Especially when I work late.”

“I think she’d enjoy that. Madison could spend time with him as well. Maybe not right away…” He let out a slow breath. “Not for months. But Mackenzie will need to keep busy. Even once she starts school I’m afraid she might isolate herself. She’s not the type to hang out a lot, she only does it for her sister. Though lately…”

She waited, loving how they were connecting as parents, but knowing he might feel this conversation was getting too personal.

But he shook his head and continued. “I’m sure it’s nothing, but she’s been going out a lot. And is vague about where. I discussed getting her to babysit with Dean because I was afraid she’d shut herself away with her sister until Madison was fully healed. Instead…I’m not sure what’s going on with her. I trust her, but at the same time…”

Ainsley reached out and put her hand over Keane’s.

There was no mind-numbing spark, no butterflies, none of the things she’d been so afraid of. Just a warmth. A steadiness. A man she respected, who she wanted to know better, needing to hear what she had to say.

“At the same time you know it might not be your daughter making choices. It might be her pain.” Ainsley looked down at their hands as Keane turned his in hers, holding it gently. “She may make some bad choices over the next few months.”

He let out a quiet laugh and shook his head. “That’s not what I wanted to hear.”

“But what you needed to.”

“True.” He drew away just as Dean came into the room carrying a tray of roast beef. The way he moved wasn’t like he was trying to hide anything, and Dean didn’t even seem to notice.

Mackenzie and Sawyer helped set the table as Dean finished bringing out the feast he’d put together. As the families surrounded the table, the moment she’d had with Keane faded into the background, but she couldn’t forget it, even while she prodded Sawyer to finish the vegetables she’d scooped onto his plate. Landon helped by having Amia watch her son be a ‘good example’. Which prompted Sawyer to eat every single carrot, piece of squash, and even some of the Brussels sprouts. But not all.

She couldn’t blame him for the last. She didn’t like them either.

After supper, the kids played a bit longer, but Madison stayed with the adults, holding her own pretty well in conversations, even when they turned to politics. Keane kept his eye on her the whole time, and smoothly ended the conversation as she started to look drained, claiming he was worn out and needed to head home before asking the twins to get ready to go.

Deciding to follow his lead, Ainsley went and got Sawyer, saying goodbye to Silver and her men before joining Keane and his daughters outside.

Mackenzie accepted the keys tossed to her from her father and ran ahead to start the car, Madison following slowly behind her.

Handing Sawyer the keys, Ainsley met his eyes. “You can unlock the car and put on the music. That’s it.”

“Oh cool!” Sawyer’s eyes lit up as he took the keys like she was handing him the One Ring. He bolted to their small sedan, fumbling with the keys all the way.

Halfway between their cars, Keane turned to her, looking exhausted, but still so strong she admired how well he held things together, despite how terrified he must be. “I enjoyed tonight. Thank you for listening. Again.”

“I’m happy you felt comfortable talking to me.”

“I always do.” He let out a light laugh. “Which is likely an inappropriate thing to say.”

“It isn’t.” She stepped closer to him, glancing over at her car, then his, because she didn’t want any of their children to be confused by their proximity, but she had one last thing to say. “The next few days are going to be rough. If you need…if you need someone there just to listen, please call me.”

Keane lowered his gaze. “Ms. Lalonde—”

“Ainsley. This isn’t about work.”

He inclined his head. “Ainsley, I… I may take you up on that.”

As he headed to his car, squaring his shoulders, then laughing as he shooed Mackenzie out of the driver’s seat, Ainsley smiled. Heading to her own car, she got in, turning down the music and glancing over at her son.

His brow furrowed. “Are you all right, Mom?”

She nodded. “Yes, I just feel sad for Mr. Keane and his daughters. What they’re going through is scary.”

Sawyer leaned over, hugging her tight. “But Madison’s going to be okay, right? That’s what doctors are there for. They know she’s sick, so they have time to make her better. Not like with Daddy?”

She stroked his hair, her heart aching for her little boy, though she liked that he asked about his father more easily now. When he’d started kindergarten and saw the children with their fathers, he’d come home crying. Asked if his father had left like the only other kid in the class who didn’t have one.

After she’d explained, in a way that a five-year-old could understand, he’d gone through a period fearing everyone he loved might get sick. Ainsley so much as catching a cold would make him nervous. They’d spent a long time working past his fears, but he was still very sensitive when anything involving illness or hospitals was brought up.

“What Madison has isn’t at all like what your father did. She’s getting very good care.” She kissed his forehead. “Would you like to put a ‘Get Well’ basket together for her? Something nice, full of treats for her to enjoy while she’s recovering from surgery.”

Giving her a solemn nod, Sawyer sat back in his seat and put his seatbelt on. “She’s going to need that. And lots of candy. Candy always cheers me up.”

“Me too.” She pulled out of Silver’s driveway, heading downtown. “Why don’t we go get some now? We should definitely sample a bit of everything so we know what will be best for her basket.”

“That could take a lot of samples.”

“Not too many.”

“And we should get her some movies.” Sawyer cocked his head, getting more excited about the basket. “And a blanket. And a stuffie to help her sleep.”

They were going to need a very big basket if he kept adding to it, but she was pleased he was focusing on what he could do to make Madison happy, rather than worrying about the surgery. Her little boy had a big heart.

His spending time with Mackenzie while Madison recovered would also be good for both of them. She hadn’t been sure if Lorenzo would welcome the idea, but as much as he tried to separate his professional life from his personal one, he seemed to need a friend.

A role she was more than happy to fill.