Kane shifted uncomfortably as they sang Happy Birthday to Andrew, who beamed at them with a dimpled grin. As soon as the song was over, Kane slipped away, preferring to sit by himself rather than stand in line with Megan for a piece of cake.
After giving Andrew a big birthday hug, Megan picked up two slices of cake. On her way to Kane, she saw Patricia standing alone at the picnic table and approached her, forcing down the sudden knot of nervousness forming in her throat.
“Patricia?”
The older woman turned and saw Megan. Undisguised hostility flared in her pale blue eyes. “I don’t believe we have anything to say to one another.” She continued to cover salads with plastic wrap.
Megan wasn’t discouraged. “Maybe you don’t think so, but I’d like to thank you for giving Andrew such a special birthday party.”
Patricia straightened and leveled her gaze at Megan. “He’s my grandchild,” she said in a low voice. “My only grandchild, and I’d do anything to be sure he has everything he might want or need.”
Megan’s fingers clenched on the paper plates in her hands as she attempted to keep her rising ire at bay. “Kane is a good father, and Andrew certainly doesn’t lack for anything.”
Patricia slanted a cold glare in Kane’s direction. “Except maybe his rea/ mother.” She obviously placed the blame on her son-in-law’s shoulders.
Megan managed to maintain her composure by sheer force of will. Anger wouldn’t bridge the chasm between families, just inflate it. “Patricia, I’m sorry about the loss of your daughter, but I’d like to think we could be friends. Especially since I’ll be part of the family.”
“Part of the family?” She looked down her nose at Megan. “If you think you can replace Cathy-”
“I’m not trying to replace her,” she cut in, appalled that anyone would think that was her intent. And then she caught a brief glimpse of sadness and pain in Patricia’s eyes and knew Patricia wasn’t ready to give up her daughter’s memory to a stranger, felt threatened that Andrew would forget any wispy recollection he might have of his real mother as a result of Kane marrying her.
Megan’s heart went out to Patricia, and she searched for a way to offer her a little peace of mind. “I care for Andrew a great deal, and although I would like to be his mother in an emotional way, he will never forget who his real mother is.”
“I’ll be sure of that,” Patricia said coldly. Picking up the potato salad, she marched past Megan with her head held high.
Feeling mild defeat, Megan headed to Kane, grateful that a shade tree had kept him from witnessing her exchange with Patricia. No sense upsetting both parties, she thought wryly.
“I brought you a piece of cake,” she said, bribing him with a slice.
He took a plate and picked at the butter-cream frosting with his fork. “Don’t you think we’ve overstayed our welcome?”
After my run-in with Patricia, definitely, she mused. But she couldn’t let one unpleasant encounter deter her from her goal. “Nope. Andrew’s opening his presents as we speak. Or should I say tearing into them.” She glanced at her watch. “Another hour ought to do it.”
Kane groaned. “I could be home in an hour if I walked.”
“Megan!” Andrew shouted, barreling toward them with the book she’d written for him in his hands. “I love my new book about the tooth fairy.”
She smiled. “I’m glad. Maybe we can get your dad to read it to you,” she said, remembering Kane’s tale about his tooth fairy blunder, the basis of the book.
The pure panic reflected in Kane’s face puzzled her, as did his paling complexion. “I, uh, I don’t think-”
“Dad says I’m too old to have books read to me,” Andrew cut in, hanging his head and scuffing his sneaker in the grass. “But every once in a while he lets me read one to him, just to make sure I’m keeping up on my reading level.”
Just like he insisted on Andrew having a tutor who made sure he brushed up on his reading skills. Megan wondered why Kane thought it so important, but she knew now was not the time to press the issue. “Then you can read the story to both of us.”
“Okay.” Seemingly content with that idea, Andrew grinned and glanced at Kane. “So, are you having fun, Dad?” His voice rose a level, and he clutched the book to his chest, waiting for his dad’s approval.
Kane hesitated, looking beyond his son to all the people who should have been friends but were merely acquaintances. Megan nudged Kane in the side with her elbow. Hard.
After shooting her a quick, disgruntled look, Kane smiled at Andrew, obeying Megan’s silent prompting. “Yeah, sport, I’m having a great time.”
“Married? Are you out of your mind?”
Megan cringed and pulled the receiver away from her ear as her best friend’s high-pitched voice traveled over the phone lines. “I’m perfectly sane, Judi.”
“Cripes, Megan, you hardly know this guy.”
Megan wrapped the phone cord around her wrist and leaned against the kitchen wall. She’d thought she’d known Phillip, and look where that had gotten her. “Kane’s a good man, and you know how I feel about Andrew.”
“Yeah, I do,” Judi said, her voice soft with understanding.
She explained what had happened with Mrs. Henderson, and how Kane’s in-laws wouldn’t hesitate to file for custody after they’d been caught in such a compromising position. “I…I love Kane,” she admitted, “and I know he at least cares for me. He’s giving me the opportunity to raise a child I love with all my heart.”
“Megan,” Judi said, sounding exasperated. “This just isn’t like you to do something so…”
“Spontaneous?”
“Crazy was the word I was looking for.”
Megan laughed. “I’m not crazy. For once in my life I finally feel like I’ve found a place I belong. I love it here in Linden. No crowds, no hassles, just the kind of simple life-style I’ve always yearned for. And now I’ll have a family, too.”
“Then I’m happy for you, but I’m going to miss you,” Judi said, her sentiment genuine. “What do you want me to do with your stuff?”
She was going to miss Judi, too. They’d shared so much, but she was confident a strong friendship like theirs would remain constant. “You can keep all the furniture in the apartment.” Most of it had been hers, from her marriage to Phillip. Furniture and fixtures that had no sentimental value. She much preferred Kane’s handcrafted things and down-home furnishings. “If you don’t mind, could you ship my personal items and writing supplies overnight air?”
“No problem. I’ll have them out by tomorrow.”
They spent another half hour on the phone, talking about the past and what the future might hold for both of them. Tears filled Megan’s eyes when it came time for them to hang up.
“Megan, be sure that this is what you truly want,” Judi said, always the friend who tried to protect Megan from heartbreak.
Megan smiled while wiping a sentimental tear from her cheek. Judi had nothing to worry about “I’ve never been so sure of anything in all my life.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
“BY THE power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife.” Judge Griffen smiled at the small gathering of people in his private chambers. “You may kiss your bride.”
Kane turned and looked at the woman standing by his side. His wife. The title sent a warmth rippling through him, filling him with a possessiveness he hadn’t expected. The sensation wasn’t all that unpleasant.
Dressed in a simple cream suit, her auburn hair swept into a fancy twist at the back of her head, Megan exemplified a bride in every sense of the word. She looked radiant and beautiful. Joy shone in her drown-in-them-forever blue eyes, and a deeper emotion he didn’t take time to analyze. A pink blush colored her cheeks. In her right hand she clutched the small bouquet of flowers Andy had insisted he buy for her. The pale pink baby roses and tiny white flowers trembled with every breath she took.