“Up and left us before Joanna turned two,” Robert said matter-of-factly. “Wanted to be an actress more than she wanted to be a mum.”

“And she never came back? Never tried to see her daughter?”

“Not once,” Robert said, shaking his head. “When I was served with the divorce papers a few years later, Moira handed me over all the rights to Joanna. She wanted nothing to do with her. All she wanted was to be free of both of us.”

“I’m sorry. That must have hurt.”

“Yeah, well, that’s what you get for marrying someone so young. I was blind and stupid. What middle-aged bloke wouldn’t want a young thing like Moira pining all over you, but I got Joanna out of the deal, and that’s all that matters.”

“You love her very much, don’t you?”

“Of course I love her. She’s my daughter,” Robert said, lifting his eyes to meet Addison’s. “You know, I tried for years to understand how Moira could do that. How in the hell can any parent walk away from their own flesh and blood, but I eventually came to a conclusion about Moira, and it carried me through.”

“A conclusion? Can I ask what it was?”

Robert scraped the rest of the ice cream from his container, and after enjoying the last little bit, he pulled the spoon from his mouth. “Sorry, but I don’t use that particular word in front of ladies.”

Addison burst out laughing. She wasn’t prepared for the man’s honesty or his sense of humor, but she liked them both...a lot.

Robert’s eyes twinkled. Other than his daughter, he couldn’t remember enjoying anyone’s company as much as he was Addison’s. “You know, I’m glad I remembered you.”

“I was going to ask you about that,” Addison said, walking toward the island. “Pardon me for saying this, but I didn’t think you’d remember me or the ice cream.”

“Don’t forget the lift.”

Addison smiled. “Point taken.”

“Kind of surprised me, too,” Robert said as he slowly stood up. “I woke up hungry, and then I recalled your eyes.”

“My eyes?”

“Yeah, and that made me think of the sky and then the grass, and then pistachio ice cream popped into my head. The next thing I knew I was looking for the lift.”

Addison smiled again. “Well, I’m pleased you remembered about the lift...and about me.”

“So am I,” Robert said, taking his cane from the counter. “Not that I want to impose on you every night, but I like talking to you.”

“The feeling’s mutual.”

“Yeah?”

“Yes.”

“Why in the world would you like talking to an old man like me? You gotta have better things to do with your time.”

Addison paused, trying to find the words. “It’s nice to...to talk to someone who doesn’t...who doesn’t care who I am.”