That all felt like another lifetime now.
She swallowed hard. “Yes, he loves music.”
Adam studied her face. Was he thinking back to the same things she was? Had he remembered their previous encounter as fondly as she had, or had she been nothing more to him than a pleasant diversion he’d forgotten about since? Still, he’d immediately recognized her face and knew her name on the beach this morning. She supposed there was some gratification in that.
But it was getting late. Looking down at Simon, she jostled him gently. “Come on, honey, let’s go back to the cabin. You need to get to bed so you can rest for tomorrow.”
“I don’t want to go yet. I want to hear the music,” Simon roused enough to respond, a hint of whine in his protest. As well-behaved as he generally was, he could be a pill when he was tired, which he certainly was now. She hoped he wasn’t about to show one of his rare flashes of five-year-old temper here in front of...well, in front of everyone.
Adam motioned toward the lodges. “As it happens, I’m headed that way myself. How about a lift, buddy? You can ride on my shoulders if you like.”
Distracted and intrigued, Simon lifted his head to peer at Adam. “I’d be really high up, wouldn’t I?”
Adam smiled faintly. “Yes, you would. You’d be able to see a long way.”
Simon promptly climbed onto the bench and held up his arms. Joanna felt a ripple of dismay at the sight of her son reaching out to the man he didn’t know was his father. And something else...maybe a little possessiveness? Or was it fear of something she couldn’t quite define?
Adam crouched in front of the bench while Simon climbed on, then straightened with the boy high on his shoulders.
Giving her a slightly crooked smile, Adam asked, “Ready, JoJo?”
From his lofty perch, Simon giggled drowsily. “That’s a funny name for her. Aunt Maddie usually calls my mom Jo, but sometimes she calls her Joey.”
Joanna fell into step beside them. “Not if she wants me to respond.”
“Maybe I should call you Dr. JoJo.”
She lifted an eyebrow. “Not if you want me to respond.”
“Oh, I absolutely want you to respond,” he said lightly.
Something about his tone made her miss a step on the pebbled pathway. She pulled herself together sharply with an admonition that she had to keep her wits about her this week. She couldn’t think clearly if she allowed herself to be dazzled again by infatuation—or whatever it was she had once felt for Adam, if only for a weekend.
It didn’t help to see him with her—their—son on his shoulders, both laughing when Adam bobbed and weaved to give Simon a more entertaining ride. Her fingernails dug painfully into her palms. As appealing a picture as they made, what would be the consequences of bringing this man—this virtual stranger, really—into their lives?
Adam glanced down at her, and whatever he saw in her expression made him stop smiling. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Just tired.” More tired than she’d realized, apparently, she decided, considering the dramatic turn her thoughts had taken. She’d be able to think straight tomorrow, after she’d had a chance to rest and process this change in their circumstances a bit more.
They’d arrived at their building, so she reached up to help Simon down, too vividly aware of each time she brushed against Adam in doing so. “Good night, Adam. Thank you again for inviting us to dinner.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow, Mr. Adam?” Simon asked hopefully.
Adam ruffled his hair. “Sure, buddy. See you tomorrow.”
He turned his head to look at Joanna then. “I’ll see you tomorrow, too.”
She nodded in resignation, knowing they still had a lot to talk about. “Simon leaves for his field trip at one.”
“Right. I’ll find you.”
Was that a promise...or a warning? She was too exhausted to decide.
* * *
MADDIE WAS GRATIFIED to see her sister’s number on her caller ID Tuesday morning. She’d been on pins and needles wondering how everything was going between Joanna and Adam. It had been all she could do not to hop on a plane yesterday after Joanna’s frantic call, but she’d forced herself to take some time to make responsible arrangements for her work obligations. Still, family came first. As she’d learned during the past six years, a family didn’t have to be perfect, just mutually supportive.
“Jo? Is everything okay?”