“Have you—did you . . . How is she?”

“She’s waiting for me.” The glow slipped over Ray’s face and into his eyes. “And she’s never been what you could call the waiting type.”

“I miss her, so much.”

“I know. So do I. She’d be flattered, and annoyed, too, that under it all you’ve never been willing to settle for less than the kind of woman she was.”

Staggered, because it was true, and a secret that he’d kept carefully locked up, Phillip stared. “It’s not that, not altogether that.”

“Part of that, then.” Ray nodded. “You have to find your own, Phil. And make your own. You’re getting there. You did a fine job with Seth today. So did she,” he said, glancing up at the light shining through Sybill’s bedroom window. “You make a fine team, even when you’re pulling in different directions. That’s because you both care, more than you might understand.”

“Did you know he was your grandson?”

“No. Not at first.” He sighed now. “When Gloria found me she hit me with all of it at once. I never knew about her, and there she was, shouting, swearing, accusing, demanding. Couldn’t calm her down or make sense of it. Next thing I knew she’d gone to the dean with that story about how I’d molested her. She’s a troubled young woman.”

“She’s a bitch.”

Ray only moved his shoulders. “If I’d known about her sooner . . . well, that’s done. I couldn’t save Gloria, but I could save Seth. One look at him and I knew. So I paid her. Maybe that was wrong, but the boy needed me. It took me weeks to track down Barbara. All I wanted from her was confirmation. I wrote to her, three times. Even called Paris, but she wouldn’t speak to me. I was still working on that when I had the accident. Stupid,” he admitted. “I let Gloria upset me. I was angry with her, myself, everything, worried about Seth, about how the three of you would take it when I explained it all. Driving too fast, not paying attention. Well.”

“We would have stood with you.”

“I know that. I let myself forget it, and that was stupid, too. Stella was gone, the three of you had your own lives, and I let myself brood, and forget. You’re standing with Seth now, and that’s more important.”

“We’re nearly there. With Sybill adding her voice, the permanent guardianship’s a given.”

“She’s adding more than her voice, and she’ll add more yet. She’s stronger than she gives herself credit for. Than anyone gives her credit for.”

In a swift change of mood, Ray clucked his tongue, shook his head. “I guess you’re going up there.”

“That’s the plan.”

“Never quite lost that unfortunate skill. Maybe this time that’s a good thing. That girl could use some surprises in her life.” Ray winked again. “Watch your step.”

“You’re not going to come up, are you?”

“No.” Ray slapped Phillip’s shoulder and let out a hearty laugh. “Some things a father just doesn’t need to see.”