Page 66 of The Saint (Gentlemen Rogues 3)
"You have a photographic memory? I would say that's a pretty big deal. I'll never win an argument again."
"That's not how it works. Not for me anyway. Anything I read, I remember. But I don't always know what I'm looking for, so sometimes I have to reference it and I need a cue."
"That is very handy."
"Yeah, it's great for school."
"It will probably make you a great photographer too."
"Yes."
Lydia's eyes lifted. "Um, you're still going to continue school, aren't you, Kaya?"
Kaya had been very concerned about not going back to her life and school. "I know how important that is to Kaya. I want her to continue, of course."
"Well that's good. I wouldn't want you losing your head over a man, and then forget that you have dreams. It happens to too many women. I believe in you."
"Thanks, Lydia."
"I just want you to be happy. You were always so self-contained, you know?"
"I'm just shy, Lydia. I was happy here."
Lydia reached and patted her arm. "Happy is not the right word, love. You were never really happy. But you were content. And sometimes that's all we can give you. So I'm happy that even for a little while, we made you content."
Kaya's eyes were sad. "I know that you think I was ungrateful, but I know what you did for me. You gave me a home when I didn't have one. I was completely alone, and you made sure that I didn't feel that way. So I am grateful. That's why I always volunteered to watch the kids if you needed. I wanted you to know that what you are doing, it mattered to me."
Lydia's eyes filled with unshed tears. And she flapped her hands, trying to dry them out.
I watched Kaya carefully. This girl had been all alone. Not an ounce of family. She'd found a temporary one here. I could see it. The way she thought she had to pay them back. She wouldn't have to pay me back. That was for sure.
"Oh honey, that makes me really happy to hear that. Sometimes with you kids we never know if we've done the right thing. I suppose that's parenting."
Lydia tucked a lock of blond and gray hair behind her ear before she lifted her gaze to meet mine. "Saint, tell me you're going to let my baby wait a little bit before you start filling her with babies of her own. Our Kaya has her whole life to live. She can't let a man keep her from all of that, you know?"
"Oh, I am, of course. I would never dream of keeping Kaya from all the things she's meant to do."
Lydia laughed. "Oh no, I'm teasing. You look well-to-do. You can certainly find something to kill theboredom."
I coughed a laugh then. "Yes, ma'am."
"Don't you ma'am me."
Kaya just looked like she wanted to crawl inside a hole and die. "All right, Lydia, I think we're going to go. This conversation has taken an awkward enough turn."
Lydia tried to halt her. "Oh no, don't. Michael and I will make dinner tonight. Please, stay till then."
Kaya shook her head. "No, I can't. We can't. I just wanted to see you and tell you the good news."
Lydia watched Kaya carefully. "Are you sure? There's nothing else you needed?"
Kaya shook her head. "No."
Lydia stood then. "Well, I know I'm not your mum, but I hope I helped make a difference for you. Truly, I appreciate that you came all this way just to tell me your news in person."
We stayed for another ten minutes to have our tea, because you could tell that even though Lydia had given a home to so many kids, too many of them didn't come home often enough for her liking. And she was very happy to see Kaya.
When we climbed in the car, I grinned at her. "She was lovely. Why on earth were you trying to avoid talking to her?"
