The woman took her hand and smiled nervously. “Hello, I’m Abigail Bernstein…Peter’s wife,” she said, her voice soft and delicate.
A strange thought crossed Carrie’s mind, and that was she could not imagine Abigail ever at a youth ball game, screaming and cheering. Giving herself a mental shake, she turned her attention back to Peter. “I was serious when I said I only have a few minutes. I’m afraid you’ve interrupted my workday, and I’m paid by the hour.”
Peter nodded and said, “I’m sorry. I thought this might be better than trying to come to your house.”
Visibly startling, she reared back. “You know where I live?”
Shaking his head quickly from side to side, he said, “No, but I did have someone let me know where you are working.”
“I can’t imagine after all these years why you would feel the need to pay someone to find out where I am. Probably a Google search would’ve done the same.” Her stomach began to knot, and she wondered what Peter wanted.
Just as he opened his mouth, her attention was snagged by a large vehicle pulling into the diner parking lot. Her eyes bugged when she realized it was the Sheriff’s SUV, and Colt was climbing from behind the wheel, making his way directly to her. She noted his eyes did a head to toe scan of her, going back up as though he were checking to see how she was. Joe must have called him! She wanted to smile at him, but since Peter had not explained the reason for the impromptu visit, she had no clue what silent message to send to Colt.
“Hey, Carrie,” he said, walking over and casually putting his arm around her shoulders, leaning down to kiss her forehead. “Are you already off work?”
Shaking her head, she said, “No. An old acquaintance came by and wanted to speak to me. I thought it was best to take it outside instead of in the diner.”
Colt’s gaze shot to the window, and she knew it landed on Jack sitting at the counter. He turned, a wide smile on his face that did not reach his eyes and said, “I’m Sheriff Hudson. I’m a good friend of Carrie’s. And you are?”
Peter had always been tall, but he was easily three or four inches shorter than Colt, and Colt outweighed him by quite a few muscles. All this ran through Carrie’s mind, and she wondered how the conversation was going to play out.
Shaking Colt’s hand, Peter said, “Peter Bernstein. This is my wife, Abigail. We came because we had some private business we wanted to talk to Carrie about.”
Carrie smiled at Peter and said, “You can discuss anything you want to in front of Colt.”
Peter’s eyebrows lifted slightly at her calling the sheriff by his first name, but he plunged ahead. “I wanted to talk to you about our son.”
The bottom fell out of her stomach as her worst fears were realized, and if Colt had not put his arm around her, she would have dropped to the pavement.
Colt felt Carrie’s knees buckle, and he tightened his grip around her waist. Uncertain what to do or say, he glanced at her pale face, understanding that all of this was coming as a shock. Her body stiffened in his arms, and she locked her knees in place, straightened her spine, and threw her shoulders back. He felt rage burning through her and wanted to cheer but stood silently, offering his support.
“Our…” she croaked, then cleared her voice and began again. “Our son? I believe the correct terminology would be my son, considering that you were no more than a sperm donor.”
Peter’s lips tightened as he sucked in a quick breath. “Carrie, I’d like to help out.”
“Help out?” she asked, her voice abnormally high. “The last time I laid eyes on you was when I was pregnant. You told me to get an abortion because your parents would never allow their son to have a baby with a girl who had no family connections.”
Colt’s fingers flexed as anger curled through him. Abigail gasped as though that news surprised her, and Colt observed Carrie shifting her gaze to the other woman.
“I can only assume since you are married to Peter, you must fit the profile of what his parents considered to be acceptable. I congratulate you on that because I certainly didn’t. My parents didn’t have a lot of money, but what we did have was love. I was seventeen years old, refused to have an abortion, and thank God I had parents that made sure that my pregnancy went well. I had money for doctor’s appointments, and my mom held my hand when I pushed out my child.”
Her gaze moved back to Peter, and she continued, “You, on the other hand, were not there for any of that. I know we were young, but you were twenty years old, and I was almost eighteen. Things could have gotten very ugly for you, but I didn’t want that. We didn’t have to get married, but you could certainly have helped out then and in the past eleven years that my son has been with me.”
Peter nodded, his head jerking, and said, “You’re right. I was young, but I should’ve stood up to my father and done what was right. But I didn’t. I’ve had to live with that, and I’m sorry.”
Colt’s profession called for him to read people, and what he read from Peter was only half-truths. There was some reason why Peter decided now was the time to make an approach, but he would bet his paycheck it had nothing to do with guilt. Deciding to wade in, he asked, “I’m curious as to why you’re making the approach all these years later. What is it exactly that you want to do?”
“I would like to make sure that our…um…her…son is taken care of,” Peter said, looking at Carrie. “I know you’ve managed for all these years, but I’d like to set up a bank account for him and make sure that I assist with child support payments.”
Colt felt Carrie’s body jerk again, and he tightened his grip on her. Her arms crossed in front of her, probably both in defense and to hold herself back from doing something she might regret, like slap Peter.
“Child support? You want to start giving us money? Guilt money, I presume?” Snorting, she said, “There’s no way this idea came from you after all these years, so what’s really behind this?”
“Don’t be obstinate, Carrie,” Peter bit out. “You work in a diner. You can probably hardly afford to pay for anything, and I have the ability to do so—”
Carrie leaned forward, her face twisted in anger, and said, “You sanctimonious prick. Don’t you dare act like I haven’t been able to provide for my son!”
Abigail stepped forward, placing her hand on Peter’s arm, and said quietly, “Peter.” She then looked over at Carrie and said, “I’m sorry. I don’t think any of this is coming out right. It’s true that you and Peter were very young when your son was conceived, and I completely agree that he did not handle things well. Or appropriately at all. I think what Peter is trying to say, though, is that he would like to help now. I know it’s late. I know it’s twelve years too late. He would still like to help.”
Carrie’s arms tightened about her waist even more, and Colt gently reached around further so that he could link his fingers with hers that were at her side.
Wading in again, Colt said, “Peter Bernstein. That name rings a bell. If I’m not mistaken, you’re in the running for Maryland State Senate, aren’t you?
Peter appeared surprised, and Colt knew that a man like Peter would assume a small county sheriff was little more than a bumpkin. “I assume that has something to do with your sudden desire to make monetary restitution to Ms. Beaumont.”
Now, Peter’s eyes flashed, his breath leaving in a rush, but he did not deny anything.
Nodding slowly, Carrie said, “Oh, I see. You’re running for a state office, and you’re terrified that someone will dig up that you fathered a child twelve years ago. Or maybe you were afraid that I would see your name in the paper, and I would cause a stink.”
The blush on Abigail’s face deepened, and Colt knew that he and Carrie had hit the nail on the head.
“Peter,” she said through pinched lips, “you can be assured that there have been times I thought of you over the years. When I battled morning sickness to go to work. When I was in labor for over twenty hours. Every time my son got sick. But through it all, I reali
zed that I was his mom, and I was giving everything I could, mostly love. And what I got out of it is an amazing child who is the heart and soul of my very being. We do not need your money. We do not want your money. You may go on about your life, as you have, and we will stay out of it and ask that you do the same.”
Abigail tugged on her husband’s sleeve and said, “Peter, I think we need to leave.”
Peter swallowed deeply, then asked, “Does he ever wonder? Does he ever ask?”
“A smart eleven-year-old boy could hardly not know that his father’s never been around,” she quipped. “But I have always been honest with him. I told him that we were very young, but that his father did not want to be with me, nor did he want to have anything to do with him.”
Colt watched as Carrie’s words slashed across Peter’s face. But she was not finished.
“My son’s life has been filled with good men that he could use as examples. My father, my boss, friends, his coaches, and Colt.”
Colt was proud as fuck of Carrie’s backbone, but those words nearly dropped him to his knees. Peter shoved his hands in his pocket, and Colt thought he looked like a little boy himself.
“I didn’t mean for this to be a payoff to keep you quiet, Carrie,” Peter said. “Yes, you’re right. My father wanted to know if there were any skeletons in my closet. I told him about you and the baby. He wasn’t happy, as you can imagine, and wanted to know if I’d paid you off or provided any money at all. He was also not very happy when I said that I had not.”
“So you decided to come down, offer me money, and that way if the press gets hold of this, I’m simply a girl from your past that you provided for.”
“Carrie, I need to make this right.”
She opened her mouth, but Colt jumped in. Looking down at her, he said, “Babe, take some time. Think about it.” Looking at Peter, he said, “The two of you ambushed Carrie today at work, and that was not cool and not fair. You need to back off, give me your contact information, and if she wants to talk to you, she will.”
He was glad that Carrie remained quiet and Peter pulled out a business card from his pocket and handed it to Colt.
Abigail’s eyes spoke volumes as she said, “I’m very sorry. It was nice to meet you, and I’m truly, very sorry.”
She turned to leave, but Peter glanced through the window of the diner and asked, “Is that him?”
Colt felt Carrie’s body begin to shake, and he stated, “I think that’s all for now.” Without giving Peter a second look, he turned Carrie, and with his arms firmly banded around her guided her toward the diner door.
14
Carrie’s mind was reeling as she allowed Colt to lead her inside. Seeing Jack sitting at the counter staring at her, his gaze intense, her feet stumbled. Barely whispering, she said, “What do I say to him?”
Colt leaned down and whispered, “Carrie, you’ve got this. You’ve always been honest, and he’s now surrounded by people who love him.”
Grateful that the restaurant was almost empty, she realized that Colt was right. George was sitting at the counter next to her mom and Jack. BettyJo and Brenda were right next to them, along with Joe and Mavis.
She glanced toward her mom, seeing fire coming from her eyes. She sucked in a fortifying breath, knowing that she needed to deal with her mom’s anger toward Peter, but first and foremost was Jack. His face registered a bit of fear as he asked, “Mom, who was that man?”
Plastering what she hoped was a convincing smile on her face, she said, “He was someone I knew a long time ago. We can talk about him later, but right now, let’s get George back home.”
Her normally obedient son dug his heels in and asked, “How long ago did you know him, Mom?”
Pressing her lips together, she said, “Jack, honey, please, let’s—”
“Did him coming to see you have anything to do with me?”
Carrie walked toward Jack, stopping just in front of him, and looked down at his face. At almost eleven years old, he hovered in between childhood and manhood. At that moment, when he looked up at her, his chin quivered, and she hated that, knowing that he did not want to show emotion in front of everybody.
“Mom,” he insisted, “you’ve always said that you’ll be honest with me.”
She nodded and felt Colt behind her, his strong hands on her shoulders, letting her know that he was supporting her however she wanted to play this.
“That man was your father, Jack. Everything I told you was true. We were very young, and we did not get married, but we cared a great deal for each other at the time. Unfortunately, when I found out that I was pregnant with you, he was not ready to accept the responsibility of fatherhood. That was his choice. My choice was to become the mom of the greatest kid in the world.”
At that, Jack’s lips twitched, and he breathed through his nose for a moment. She could tell he was gaining control of himself, and she smiled.
“What did he want?”
“He and his wife wanted to come by and see if I needed financial help with you.” Her mother let out a snort, and she shot her a silencing look before turning her attention back to Jack. “At this time, I told him that I did not, but Colt has his phone number in case I change my mind.”
Jack’s eyes jumped up to Colt before going back to his mom. “He was right here. Did he want to meet me?”
Swallowing, she said carefully, “He didn’t specifically ask for a meeting, but then, I’m sure he realized that to just show up was not the smartest thing he should have done.”
“Sounds like he’s done a lot of not-smart things, Mom.”
“I think you’re probably right, Jack, but right now he’s willing to accept some responsibilities.”
“Are you gonna take his money?”
“No, I don’t want to take his money. But Colt has advised that I should think about that. It might be wise to have him put some money in a bank account for you and then you would have it when you’re older. It could help pay for college or something like that.”
“I don’t want his money,” Jack said. “If he doesn’t want to have anything to do with me, then I don’t want his money.”
“Jack,” Colt said, gaining Jack’s eyes up to his. “This is pretty heavy on you and your mom right now. Why don’t we step back? Let’s get George home and settled. Your grandma can come with us, and the only thing you have to worry about right now is to just keep being the great kid that you are.”
Carrie sucked in her lips as she watched Jack’s thoughts churning behind his eyes. After a moment, he settled his gaze back on her. “Are you okay, Mom? I know that had to be pretty upsetting.”
The fact that he was worried about her hit her right in the heart, and she reached forward, pulling him into a hug. “I’ve had eleven years of being the mom to the greatest kid in the world. How could I not be okay?”
He looked up at her and said, “Well, that’s pretty cool because for eleven years I’ve had the greatest mom in the world.”
She heard a sob but could not tell if it came from her mom, BettyJo, or Mavis. As she felt a tear roll down her cheek, she realized it had come from her.
That evening, Carrie sat on her front porch alone, her mind in turmoil, and her body exhausted. After the scene at the diner, Joe and Mavis boxed up food for her to take with her, and she loaded up Jack and George into her car and drove home with her mom and Colt following in their vehicles.
Once home, they helped to get George settled and made sure he had food from Joe’s Place in his refrigerator. Jack had proudly carried George’s box of baseball cards to him, excited as George praised him effusively for making sure they were safe.
Colt had come in with them, and she could tell he was trying to keep a pulse on her as well as Jack. He finally needed to go back to work, and as glad as she was that he had had her back, she was relieved when he left, feeling overwhelmed with the events of the day.
Her mom had been attentive to both she and Jack, but when they had a moment alone,
her mom had bit out, “I can’t believe he had the nerve to show up after all this time.”
“I know, Mom,” she agreed, “I was so dumbstruck.”
“That’s part of what makes me so angry, that he just ambushed you without warning. Always so selfish! Just like when he was younger…didn’t think our family was good enough or had enough money.”
She squeezed her mom’s hand and kissed her cheek as she walked her out to the car. “I love you, Mom. We’ll be fine, we always are.” The two women hugged, and she watched her mom back out of the driveway, waving until she could not see her vehicle anymore.
Going inside the house, she noted Jack sitting on the couch, staring at the blank television. "You know, you’ll enjoy the show much more if you actually turned the TV on,” she said, hoping to draw a smile from him.
“I know you’re worried about me, Mom,” Jack said, his gaze once more penetrating. “But this really isn’t about me.”
Uncertain of his meaning, she sat down on the sofa, twisted to the side, and tucked one leg up under her ass. With her arm on the back of the sofa, she propped her head on her hand and said, “What are you thinking, Bud?”
“You know my friend, Shelley? The one you met at church when you picked me up?”
Nodding, she said, “Yeah. What about her?”
“She was in my class two years ago, and she would get really upset. I found out that her mom and dad got a divorce. Her dad just left, Mom. Can you believe that?”
“I’m sure that was hard on her," she said, observing him carefully.
“I heard her crying one day at school, and she said that after her dad left, he never came around again. I mean, think about it. Her dad had a daughter, and he was around her every day from the time she was born until she was almost nine years old. Then he moved out and doesn’t see her anymore. My friend Colby’s parents got divorced, but they’re both in town, and he bounces between them. That kind of sucks, but he knows both of his parents still love him. But Shelby, it’s like her father had her for nine years and then just walked away.”
Our Time (Baytown Boys Book 11) Page 11