“We had the best time,” he said. “The Mountaineers won and the manager got mad at the umpire and got thrown out of the game.”
“That can’t be good,” she replied, releasing her son. She looked over his head toward Ethan. “Sounds like everything went well.”
He nodded, determined not to react to her in a T-shirt and shorts. Nothing about the clothes was special-it was the woman inside the clothes that made him take notice.
Her legs were long and toned, the skin smooth. Her bare feet made her look vulnerable. His instinctive reaction was to protect. Then he had to remind himself that Liz was the bad guy here, which made him uncomfortable.
“I’m gonna tell Melissa and Abby about the game,” Tyler announced and ran inside. The screen door slammed behind him.
“I’m glad you had a good time,” she said.
Ethan let his anger take over. “There shouldn’t be anything to be glad about. I shouldn’t have to get to know my son. I should be a part of his life. You didn’t have the right, Liz. You didn’t just screw with my life, you screwed with Tyler’s.”
She didn’t say anything for a long moment, then she reached behind her and picked up a letter. The envelope was smudged and had the look of paper that had been handled a thousand times. She held it out to him.
He didn’t want to take it. Because in that second, looking into her eyes, he knew she’d been telling the truth. That five years ago she had tried to tell him about Tyler.
His fingers closed over the envelope. The date on the postmark confirmed her story, as did the handwritten address. The writing wasn’t his-he could see that immediately. But it was close enough that someone else could be fooled. After all, it wouldn’t have occurred to Liz that someone was trying to mislead her.
He pulled out the single sheet of paper. The message was brutally clear. “I know about the kid you claim is mine. What we had ended years ago. I have my own family now. My own responsibilities. I don’t want anything to do with him or you. Stay away from me and from Fool’s Gold.”
The letter didn’t excuse her running away and not telling him about her pregnancy, but it explained a lot. Suddenly his anger wasn’t as hot or bright as it had been. He was the one left feeling played by a woman who had claimed to love him.
Rayanne had known, he thought, shaking his head. She’d known for months, had gone into labor knowing he had another child out there and hadn’t said a word. She’d kept the truth to herself, even as she died in his arms.
While theirs might not have been a love match, he’d thought he’d known her. Had understood her. But he’d been wrong. She hadn’t been willing to take a chance that he might want Liz’s child more than he wanted hers. He knew Rayanne well enough to believe that.
The deception changed everything, he thought grimly, although he couldn’t say how. It wasn’t just the act of omission-she’d deliberately lied to Liz. What if Tyler had needed him? Liz would never have contacted him. Not after reading those words.
“I’m sorry,” Liz murmured.
He returned his attention to her, saw the sympathy in her green eyes. “What have you got to be sorry about?”
“You were married to her. She’s gone. You can’t ask her why she did it or know if she ever regretted what she did.”
He already knew the answer to both. The only real question was how he could have been so wrong about the woman he’d married.
He put the letter back in the envelope and handed both to her. “I guess I owe you an apology.”
“I’ll remind you of that the next time you’re mad at me. I expect that to be in about fifteen seconds.” She gave him a slow smile. “You’ve become emotionally volatile in my absence. It’s a little surprising.”
“Maybe I’m exploring my feminine side.”
“Maybe you need medication.”
He leaned against the railing. “You really did try to tell me about Tyler.”
She nodded.
There were still the first six years of Tyler’s life to deal with, but that was for another time. A few words on a page had changed everything.
“Can we start over?” he asked.
Her expression turned wary. “While I appreciate the offer and don’t mean to sound ungracious, it’s really just a matter of time until you’re pissed at me again.”
“Don’t you want to take advantage of my good mood?”
She grimaced. “No, thanks.”
“You should. Have dinner with me. We can talk logistics.”
She shook her head. “Thanks, but I’m not ready to be exposed to the questionable society of this town. Eating out, with you, in a restaurant, isn’t my idea of a good time.”
“At my place. Tomorrow night.”
“You cook?”
“I have many talents.”
A light wash of color stained her cheeks. “Yes, well, I have three minors I have to worry about. Melissa is fourteen and plenty old enough to be left on her own, but under the circumstances, I’m not sure I want to leave her in charge. She’s had enough responsibility for a while.”
“My mom can come over and watch them.”
Liz winced. “I’m sure she’s a lovely woman, but I’m not up to another encounter with the soul that is your mother.”
“Then I’ll ask one of my sisters.”
Liz considered that. “If Montana will stay with the kids, I’ll go. I ran into her today and she doesn’t hate me. In your family, that’s practically a miracle. Of course she doesn’t know about Tyler and it’s possible finding out will change everything, but a girl can dream.”
“Montana it is,” he agreed. “She’ll be here at six tomorrow.”
“How do you know she doesn’t have plans?”
“I don’t, but she owes me.”
“Typical male.”
He grinned. “Is that a yes?” he asked, although he already knew the answer.
She sighed. “Yes.”
LIZ HAD ALMOST TWENTY-FOUR hours to regret her decision and she did her best to make use of the time.
Dinner with Ethan? What had she been thinking? More alone time so he could yell at her again? Not her smartest move. But now, as she got ready to walk over to his place, she knew she wasn’t going to back out. She and Ethan had too much they had to talk about-mostly practicalities when it came to him getting to know Tyler. With a little luck, and proof that she had tried to contact him five years before, they might be able to have a normal, regular conversation. Like adults.
Maybe.
Montana arrived right on time, as bubbly and gushing as she had been the day before.
“I brought books for you to sign,” Ethan’s sister spoke as she entered the house. “Not tonight. I’ll just leave them and you can get to them when it’s convenient. And Pia told me I’m not supposed to bug you about the book festival, but offering my babysitting services in exchange for you coming to the festival isn’t exactly the same as bugging, right?”
Liz couldn’t help laughing. “Do you drink a lot of coffee?”
Montana grinned. “I get that question all the time.” She glanced around, as if checking to see if they were alone, then lowered her voice. “I heard about Tyler and that you tried to tell Ethan before. That Rayanne kept it from him. I know we’re not supposed to say anything bad about someone who’s dead, but I’m not even surprised she did that.”
Liz wanted to ask her why, but the three kids came down the stairs just then.
Introductions were made, the pizza ordered and rules for the evening established. Liz made sure her cell number was written down. She’d already talked to Melissa about Montana coming over to watch the younger kids and the teen had agreed she was happy not to have to take on more responsibility. Just before she left, Liz checked to make sure the pizza money was on the dining room table.
But the two twenties she’d left were gone.
“Did somebody take the pizza money?” she yelled toward the living room.