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“Are you a professional?” Jace asked her skeptically.
The girl grinned, skated back from the wall and spun in a hard fast circle that turned her into a blur. She skated back and held out her hand. “What do you think?”
“You’ll do,” Jace said.
Clark shook his head. “Geez, my kid is a smart-ass.”
Merry stepped onto the ice and sailed forward. “Don’t act innocent, I’m sure he didn’t come by that gift naturally.”
“Are you calling me sarcastic?” He sounded outraged, but she had to turn around to be sure.
“Maybe a little—ooof.” Merry caught herself before she fell, glaring when Clark laughed.
“That’s called karma for being sassy,” he said, catching up.
“You’re the sassy one. What’s gotten into you today?”
Clark took her hand and they skated forward. “You. Isn’t that enough?”
“Hey, I love flattery, but I don’t think it’s that I said yes to skating that has you all light-hearted and sunny. Even on your best day, you’re mildly broody.”
“Damn, you’re saying I’m a lot of fun to be around, then?”
“I like all your quirks, including your seriousness.”
“Today’s just been a good day. Jace looks like he’s having a good time,” he said, nodding toward his son, who was working on his glide. “I’m here with the most amazing woman I’ve ever met and I can’t believe you love me as much as I do you.”
Merry skated closer, dropping his hand so she could slide her arm around his waist. “But I do. I want to build something with you, partners on equal ground, so that maybe someday you’ll be making us matching rocking chairs like the ones you built for my parents.”
Clark held her to him and murmured, “I want that too.”
“Excuse me!” Another teenager waved at them. “You need to keep skating!”
“Sorry!” Merry called, taking Clark’s hand again. “Anything else happen today?”
“Yeah, it was strange. We bumped into Patrice and her daughter at the donut shop.”
“With Jace? Did he recognize her?”
Clark shook his head. “We never had any pictures printed and everything digital I deleted a long time ago, so he doesn’t know what she looked like.”
“What did she say?”
“We both stared at each other with identical expressions of horror and then I just kind of threw out that I pulled her out of a ditch. He chatted with her, because that’s just how he is. That kid will get a job dealing with the public, I swear. He even invited her and her daughter to join us, but she said they were going back to their place. After that, she thanked us and left.”
Merry frowned. “I can’t understand not wanting to be a part of her child’s life. I know she signed over rights, but she is missing out on so much.”
“I asked her why she left and she didn’t give me details, but maybe she isn’t the narcissistic monster I’ve painted her to be. I’m not excusing her behavior, but people aren’t black and white, good or bad. Sometimes they make poor choices because it’s what’s best for everyone involved or maybe just for them, but either way, I hope Patrice finds a way to heal.”
“Did you think about telling Jace the truth?” she asked.
“No. It’s not what she wants and there is no reason to put him through an emotional upheaval for someone who doesn’t want to be involved in his life. She gave me a letter for him and when he is ready, I’ll give it to him. If he wants to find her and try to connect with her, I’ll support him, because his happiness has always come first.”
“You’re an amazing father, Clark. I know that because I was raised by one.”
Jace skated toward them, the instructor skating along next to him.
“Look at you go,” Merry cried, holding her free hand out to him.
