He nodded curtly and opened the door, but paused on the threshold to glance at her. “Be sure about your decision, Megan,” he said in a flat tone. “Divorce isn’t something I’ll consider in the future.”
He walked into the house, leaving her feeling cold and lonely but not regretting her resolution to remain in Linden as Kane’s wife and Andrew’s new mother. Life and time, she’d learned, had a way of working out all the rough spots.
“I can’t believe you talked me into this,” Kane muttered as they walked up the cobblestone walkway to the Lindens’ elegant two-story Victorian home.
Megan smothered a smile. Kane would never admit it, but she knew he was nervous about attending the annual birthday party the Lindens threw in Andrew’s honor, especially since the Lindens didn’t know they were coming.
“If we’re going to be a family, we need to start acting like one.” Switching Andrew’s birthday present to her other arm, she hooked her hand through Kane’s elbow and gave him a light squeeze that did nothing to ease his rigid posture. “So smile and try to make the best of it.”
He glowered at her, trying to hide the dread in his gaze. It seemed to increase the closer they came to the Lindens’ front door. “Kinda hard to do when I’d rather be anywhere but here.”
She didn’t doubt that, but if Kane didn’t already realize it, she was relentless when it came to something she believed in. And more than anything, she wanted Kane and the Lindens to put the past aside and reconcile. “Look how happy you’ve made Andrew.”
Kane’s expression softened as he watched Andrew skip ahead of them. Since learning that morning before going to school that his father and Megan planned to get married, he’d been blissfully happy. After a boisterous “Yippee!”, he’d skipped around the living room proclaiming, “This is the best birthday present ever!”
Megan’s heart swelled at the memory, and at the warm way Kane had smiled at her. And for one perfect moment, she believed he truly could love her.
“Hurry up, Megan and Dad!” Andrew waited at the double oak doors with etched glass insets, fidgeting impatiently.
Megan grinned. “Don’t worry, the party can’t start without you.”
As soon as they climbed the porch stairs, Andrew flung open the front door without knocking and rushed inside. “Guess what, everyone!” he shouted gleefully.
As they stepped in, Megan kept a firm hold on Kane’s arm so he couldn’t retreat at the last moment. The house was packed with adults and children. Balloons and streamers decorated the entryway, and in the adjoining living room a clown was busy entertaining the kids with magic tricks.
Patricia Linden smiled at her grandson, unaware of the extra guests who’d arrived. “What is it, Andrew?” she asked, fussing unnecessarily with the collar of his shirt.
Excitement wreathed Andrew’s face. “Megan and my dad are getting married!”
Megan cringed, and the muscles in Kane’s forearm twitched, the only indication of his unease. Andrew’s broadcast caused a hush to fall over the general area. The adults standing nearby stopped their conversations to stare. They didn’t seem surprised, merely curious, which confirmed Kane’s claim that Mrs. Henderson would spread the news.
Patricia straightened and finally looked beyond Andrew. Her mouth pursed into a thin line of displeasure. “So we’ve heard.”
Smiling despite the uncomfortable atmosphere, Megan moved forward, propelling a stiff and reluctant Kane with her. She figured the only way she’d beat Patricia at her own game was to overwhelm her with kindness. Since Kane wasn’t inclined to be hospitable, it would be up to her to extend the first greeting.
“Hello, Patricia” She gave the other woman Andrew’s present, a subtle gesture to let her know they planned to stay for the festivities. “What a lovely home you have.”
“Thank you,” she said stiffly, then turned and headed into the next room, calling over her shoulder, “Come along, Andrew, your guests are waiting.”
Nobody went out of their way to welcome them. She saw Harold, and although he gave her a slight smile and a nod of acknowledgment, he made no move to approach them, nor did Kane make any attempt to be friendly, either. It was as if Patricia had set the precedence for her guest’s behavior around her and Kane.
Frustrated with everyone’s attitude, Megan left Kane talking to Gus-a foreman at the sawmill and apparently the only one brave enough to risk Patricia’s wrath-and went in search of something to drink. Stubborn people, she thought, wondering what it would take to get the town to accept Kane.
A lavish catered dinner of salads, chicken and ribs covered a long picnic table in the landscaped back yard. She poured herself a cup of punch from a large cooler, took a sip and watched Andrew and his friends take turns hitting a piñata filled with treats.
“This is a first,” a throaty female voice said.
Megan turned to see Joyce, who must have just arrived. Megan counted the young woman as an ally admist all the discord, despite her penchant for spreading rumors. “What’s a first?”
“Kane coming to Andrew’s party.” Joyce dipped a carrot stick into ranch dressing and crunch into the vegetable. “You must be quite an influence.”
It had been like pulling teeth. “He wanted to be here,” she said, taking another sip of punch while making a mental note to talk to Kane about Joyce not tutoring Andrew once they were married.
“Umm.” Joyce dipped her carrot again, a sly smile lifting her lips. “I hear congratulations are in order.”
Had Mrs. Henderson posted the news of their pending nuptuals in the Daily Register? “Yes, thank you. Kane and I are getting married tomorrow.”
Corey, Andrew’s best friend, split open the piñata, and the kids squealed in delight. Candy dropped to the ground, and they scrambled after it. Megan smiled at the scene, thinking next year they’d have Andrew’s birthday party at their house, and the Lindens would attend. Willingly, she hoped.
“I don’t know how you did it, but it looks like you landed quite a catch,” Joyce said, interrupting Megan’s thoughts.
“Yes, I did,” she said, meaning it. Over Joyce’s shoulder, Megan watched Kane walk toward them, looking cool and standoffish. How did he expect to win over these people when his body language said back off? He stopped next to her, and she offered him a smile he didn’t return.
“Hello, Joyce,” he said brusquely.
“Hi, Kane,” she said, ducking her head guiltily. She waved at a young blond man across the yard and started to back away, seemingly anxious to go. “Well, good luck to the both of you.”
Kane frowned after her. “What was that all about?”
Megan finished her punch and tossed the paper cup into the trash. “Joyce just wanted to offer her congratulations.”
A tight smile creased his lips. “How… sweet.”
Tired of his unreceptive behavior, she gave him a pointed look. “You know, Kane, if you insist on keeping everyone at a distance, they’re going to have nothing to go on but their own speculation.” She leaned close and pressed a hand to his chest, deliberately giving everyone watching them the impression that they were intimate. His heartbeat quickened beneath her palm, granting her a small measure of feminine satisfaction. “I know you’re not the man they think you are, but you have to make the effort to prove it to them.”
He covered her hand with his, stroking the sensitive skin connecting each of her fingers. Instant heat spiraled through her body, contradicting the chilling intensity of his gaze. “I don’t need to prove anything to anyone.”
Of course he didn’t, she thought unkindly. His bitterness about the past got in the way of his pride. With a sigh, she let the subject drop.
Patricia announced it was time to cut the cake, then open presents. Megan dragged Kane to a crowd of people gathered around Andrew. They wove their way to the table so they could stand next to the birthday boy. All eyes were on them.