He’d certainly had some examples of loving relationships in his immediate life, like his grandparents and Mitch and Tina. Bill and Mimi were more than grandparents, they were the parents he’d never had. As he’d intimated to Shallie, his own mother was nothing to him. Yeah, he could understand that after her husband’s death, she might’ve given up, lost her mind, grown completely irresponsible—but didn’t she have him to live for?

He had no idea where she was or what she’d done with her life and had never really cared, partly because his grandparents had written her off. About all he knew right now was that her name was Julie. There were no photographs of her in the house, not even a wedding picture of her and Toby.

As Shallie had said, his situation wasn’t all that different from hers.

It occurred to him, for the first time, that he, like Shallie, could engage Eddie’s services. Maybe he should try to learn more, find out where Julie was, who she’d become. No question, Shallie’s determination to track down her own mother inspired him. And he felt encouraged by Carly’s example in searching for her dad. Besides, whatever he learned about Julie, it wasn’t as though he’d have to act on it.

And while he was considering the subject of missing parents… He could turn out to be Carly’s dad—and the truth was, he hoped he would. Having her nearby, staying with Tina and Mitch, had given him an opportunity to know her and, more than that, to like her. At some point soon, he, Eli and J.P would have to pursue DNA testing. More than ever, he’d begun to crave that particular truth.

He felt he’d made two decisions that could be important to his life. He’d talk to Eddie about finding Julie, and he’d pursue the father issue. There was one more decision, but it wasn’t strictly his. It was time he pursued a future with Shallie.

CHAPTER TWELVE

THE SUNLIGHT WAS coming through narrow slits in the blinds as Carly woke up. She stretched, rotated her shoulders, flexed her hands and feet. Grabbing her cell from the small bedside table, she checked the time—only 6:48. She’d get up and sit outside for a while, do some serious thinking. Pulling on a pair of jeans and one of Susan’s T-shirts (this one read “So many books, so little time”), she tiptoed to the kitchen, but she didn’t need to worry about waking Tina and Mitch. They were already sitting there, drinking coffee and eating toast when they greeted her, and she told them she’d really enjoyed dinner at Cord’s the evening before.