I watched Keenan’s eyes flicker with uncertainty and knew he struggled with the curiosity of his newfound grandparents and the need to protect his daughter.”

“I guess that will be all right,” he answered slowly.

“She should be waking from her nap now,” Sheldon offered. Keenan merely lifted his chin and Sheldon took off for the stairs. I couldn’t stand the heat, so I followed behind her under the guise of assistance.

“Do you think we made a mistake?”

Kennedy was up and playing with her toys so Sheldon took her into the bathroom to clean her up.

“I don’t know,” she finally answered. “It’s hard to tell. I believe Wendy and Daniel mean well, and it would be nice for Kennedy to have another strong parental influence. My parents can be so cold.”

“Mommy, we’re going somewhere?” She finished washing her face and hands and tackled her bed hair.

“We’re going downstairs so you can meet two very important people.”

“Oh… Who?”

Sheldon froze mid brush and turned to me for help. “It’s a surprise,” I answered. Sheldon nodded her agreement with my answer and resumed fixing her hair. When she was done, she cleaned up the bathroom and gave Kennedy a once over.

“All right, Ken Doll. Let’s go get ‘em.”

“Barbie’s suck. Ninjas rule.” She took off for the stairs giggling with glee.

“Kennedy Sophia, don’t you dare say that word again and don’t even think about running down those stairs.” She halted with one foot over the top step at the sound of her mother’s tone.

“But daddy said it,” she exclaimed with wide eyes.

“Snitch!” Keenan yelled up the stairs. Kennedy slapped her hands over her mouth and giggled. Sheldon then led her downstairs hand in hand to meet her great grandparents.

* * *

Kennedy hit it off with Wendy and Daniel immediately. She asked endless questions, showed them her ninja turtle action figures, and even demanded her great grandfather show her a trick. He didn’t know any so after fumbling, he told her a joke instead that Kennedy alone found hilarious.

Sheldon and I decided to cook spaghetti for dinner when the hour grew late, leaving Keiran and Keenan alone with their grandparents. For the last few hours, Keiran had been sneaking glances and communicating that he’d want answers later. Other than that, he ignored me and answered his grandparent’s questions.

“So boys,” Daniel began as we sat down to eat, “John told me you two played basketball. What were your positions again?”

“Point guard.”

“Power forward.”

“And Keiran, you were team captain of your high school and college teams? Impressive.” Keiran nodded and shrugged as if it were no big deal.

“He was more than that,” Keenan boasted. “He was invited to one of the best training camps in the country. The NBA and NCAA sponsor these camps as a way to get an early look at playing potential.”

“It seemed more for showmanship,” Keiran remarked with disinterest.

Keenan, however, was more than animated for the two of them. “He even played with Sean Ramers at the camp.” Keiran’s gaze shot up from his plate while my hand, lifting a fork full of food, froze midway.

“I’m sorry. Did you say Sean Ramers?”

“Yeah. He’s a recent NFL draft pick.”

“But wasn’t this camp for basketball players?”

“He played basketball and football in high school because he couldn’t choose between the sports. When he went to Nebraska, he decided on football. It was a real loss to basketball.”

“And you said Keiran knew him?”

Keenan, unfortunately, caught on to the shift in the air and promptly clamped his mouth shut. It was too late anyway. I heard what I needed to hear.

“You have got to be kidding me.” I pushed back my chair and stood up from the table.

Keiran caught my arm, restraining me. “Where are you going?”

“Away from you.” I snatched my arm away from him and headed for the front door. He called my name, but I only walked faster while I dug his spare car key from my back pocket. When I opened the front door and noticed the Mercedes blocking in Keiran’s car, a growl ripped through me.

“Lake!” The sound of him calling my name with such authority only fueled my anger. I turned back to face him.

“You manipulative bastard! You staged the entire thing, didn’t you?”

“It’s not what you think. I only did it to keep you safe.”