But this was a whole different scene. Marianne Haggerty rushed to the front door when she heard them pulling up, drying her hands on a dish towel that she immediately flung over her shoulder. She was a short, round woman with steel-gray hair and a beautiful complexion. Her smile was effervescent and she had the most wonderful, engaging dimples. Right behind her was a tall, handsome man, Paul’s height, with Paul’s sandy-colored hair, strung with gray.
Marianne gave Paul a peck on the cheek and then quickly focused on the baby, reaching for him. “Oh my God,” she whispered. “Matt’s baby, how luscious. Oh, Vanessa—it’s so wonderful to finally meet you! Matt was so precious to us—we loved him so. Can I hold him? Please?”
“Of course,” Vanni said with a smile, handing him over.
Like grandparents, Marianne and Stan were focused on the baby, smiling and cooing and snuggling, almost ignoring Paul and Vanni. And then, surprisingly, Marianne began to tear up. Then weep. Stan put a strong arm around her shoulders, holding her and the baby against his big chest, murmuring to her, “All right, honey. Don’t get started…” And then his eyes welled and a tear ran down his weathered cheek and they were wiping at each other’s cheeks while cuddling the baby.
“Okay, you two,” Paul said. “Let’s not get going. Don’t upset Vanni.”
“I’m sorry,” Marianne said immediately. She looked at Vanessa with wet eyes. “You’ll just never know how grateful I am for this chance to see him, to hold him. We loved Matt so much. I always felt that he was one of my boys.”
“Mom, if you don’t get under control, I’ll take the baby,” Paul threatened.
Vanni laid a hand on his arm and shook her head at him, a small smile playing on her lips. This was good for her—Carol and Lance didn’t get choked up like this. There was no question in her mind that the Rutledges loved their grandson, but their restraint was sometimes hard to endure, especially during those times she was feeling emotional.
“Beer,” Paul said. “We need beer. And control.”
Stan let go with a hearty though shaky laugh. “Great recipe for control,” he said. “Beer. Come on, come on in.” He reached for Vanni’s hand and pulled her into the house, wiping clumsily at his cheeks.
She was led through the foyer, past a gorgeous and huge great room with a beautiful marble fireplace, past a large dining room and huge kitchen, out onto a redwood deck that was furnished with handsome wicker patio furniture that would be as much at home in a living room as outdoors.
“This is an amazing house,” Vanni said.
“We’ll give you the tour later if you want one,” Stan said. “A builder’s house has to be a good house—people look at that. It’s way more than we need, for sure, but Marianne wants room for the family. What can I get everyone?”
“I’d love a beer,” Vanni said, sitting in one of the chairs outside.
Marianne followed, still clutching the baby possessively, holding him against her. “Sure, sweetie,” she said to her husband without ever taking her eyes off the baby. She migrated to a chair near Vanessa while Paul went with his dad to get beer. “He’s so beautiful,” she said. “So sweet. Is he a good baby?”
“He is,” Vanni said. “Sleeps through the night and is hardly ever in a bad mood. But of course he gets a lot of attention, so I’m sure when he’s older, I’ll be in for it.”
“No, you can’t give a baby too much attention.”
“Paul tells me you have five grandchildren.”
“Yes,” she said. “Three boys, two girls. They’re brilliant, each one. Oh, I could eat this little one up!” Marianne turned her eyes toward Vanni and said softly, “I’m so sorry for your loss, Vanessa. We miss him, too.”
“Thank you. I remember your card and flowers.”
“It was so wonderful for Paul to be with you when this one was born. He talks about it.”
She laughed. “Does he tell you about how hard he tried to get out of it?” she asked just as Paul came back onto the deck to hand her a beer. He stood behind her chair and that hand was again on her shoulder.
“He doesn’t admit to that, but it doesn’t surprise me,” his mother said.
Vanni reached up to caress the hand that possessed her. And it wasn’t until that moment that Marianne’s expression changed and she exchanged looks with her husband.
“Yes, Mom,” Paul said. “Once I told Vanni what wonderful grandparents you two are, she agreed to marry me. She even agreed to more children. So you see—I’m not going to die a lonely old man after all.” Vanni looked up at him and saw that his smile was soft.