Tony’s brow wrinkled. “I never called him that.”
“You didn’t have to. Plenty of other people have. This is his chance for a fresh start. I won’t let you ruin it for him.” She clasped her hands together to stop the shaking.
“Hang on. We’re on the same side here.” Tony took her hand in one of his. Heat shot through her body. His fingers brushed her ear as he tucked a strand of hair behind it. “I want what’s best for Levi, too.”
Her heart rate escalated. He was still holding her hand and his face was inches from hers. And he was staring at her lips. She swallowed. Jerking her hand away, she stepped back. What would he say if she told him what was best for Levi was to have a father around? To have him around? The problem was, she wasn’t convinced yet.
Tony’s eyes dropped and he stepped away from her. “Is Levi here voluntarily, or was it court ordered?”
Sabrina bit her bottom lip. How much could she reveal to him? “Neither, actually. Levi got into some fights at school. After his second suspension, he had to see the school therapist, who decided he was angry at the world because his father wasn’t around and that he was emotionally disturbed. They recommended he be placed into a special class where he wouldn’t be able to harm other students.”
Tony let out a whistle. “I’ve seen some kids who are in those classes. Levi doesn’t strike me as that type.”
She blinked back the tears welling up in her eyes. Levi counted on her and she’d let him down. A ragged breath tore through her. “I thought I was doing what was best for Levi. So I signed the papers.”
“Let me guess.” Tony sat on the edge of the desk. “Things got worse.”
“Much worse. He started skipping school. I had to take him to the bus stop just to make sure he went. Then he started running away from school.”
“But not home?”
Sabrina shook her head. “No. He always came home.”
He reached out to squeeze her hand again. “Did you ever find out what was really bothering him?”
“Yes. I should’ve seen it sooner. I should’ve had more faith in my son.” Emotion bubbled in her chest until it threatened to strangle her.
Tony pulled her close and hugged her. “Levi doesn’t blame you.”
How did Tony pinpoint her deepest fear? She allowed herself to relax on his shoulder, inhaling the scent of him. Was this what it felt like to have support? She could get used to this. “How do you know?”
“Because he came home.” Tony held her face in his hands and wiped the dampness from the corners of her eyes with his thumbs. “And now you need a second opinion to get him back into a regular classroom.”
She nodded. “Levi has a temper. If one of the boys in there baits him, he’s liable to get into another fight. What will happen then?”
“Dr. Moore is one of the best I’ve ever seen. I even worked with him a few times in San Antonio. He can tell the difference between a kid with an emotional disability and one that’s just trying to survive a bad situation. Don’t worry.”
Never had words comforted her so much. Throwing her arms around Tony’s neck, she kissed his cheek. His arms tightened around her and pressed her body to his. She could feel his heart beating against her chest and she jumped back in alarm. What was she doing? “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to do that.”
He held her gaze for several seconds. “Did you love him?”
She frowned. “Of course I love my son.”
“Levi’s father. Did you love him?”
Her heart stuttered. At least she could answer this question honestly. “With all my heart.”
Pain flashed in his eyes and he stood suddenly. “So you didn’t run off with him in an attempt to forget about me?”
He was jealous. She twisted her engagement ring. Getting over him had been an impossible task. “What do you care? I was just another notch in your belt. I’m sure it didn’t take you long to get over me.”
Tony’s jaw clinched. “Yeah. It was so easy to get over you that I’ve never had more than one date with another woman. I’m too busy comparing them to you.”
What was he saying? That he still loved her? She sucked her breath in. “You were the one that left. Not me.”
“You’re never going to forgive me for that, are you?” His voice was low. “That’s okay. I’ve never forgiven myself, either.”
The silence in the room pressed on her. She needed to change the subject before she blurted out the truth. “You’ve done okay. I mean, you’re a police officer now. An upstanding member of your community. You should be proud of how far you’ve come.”
Her words broke the mood. He nodded. “I love my job. I may not prevent drugs from getting on the streets, but I’ll never stop trying.”
Sabrina read between the lines. Every drug dealer he put away was one step closer to avenging his mother’s death. Did he still blame himself?
“I almost forgot. I got something for you.”
She frowned. “What?”
“I didn’t know if I’d see you today, so I left it in my truck. Be right back.”
Tony opened the door and returned a few minutes later, putting a shoebox on her desk. “I felt really bad about ruining your shoes.”
She blushed. “You didn’t have to do that.”
He shrugged. “Don’t even think about telling me to return them, because I can’t. They were on clearance and I already lost the receipt. If you don’t want them, give them to someone who needs them.”
She tapped her fingers on the top of the box before letting her curiosity get the best of her. Inside was a pair of slip-on sneakers. They were a style and brand that many of the nurses she’d worked with over the years wore, ones she’d never been able to afford. If she hadn’t really needed them, she’d probably have thrown them at him.
“Are they okay? I did an internet search to find out the best shoes for nurses.”
“I’m not a nurse.” She put the lid on and slid the box toward him.
Tony smiled slightly. Just enough to deepen that dimple. “You will be.”
The confidence in his words shook her. Her coworkers in Houston had warned her that nursing school would be too hard, too long, and too expensive, and the chances of her making it through the program were slim. Her father thought she should be happy as a medical assistant and spend more time on the farm. It seemed no one really thought she could do it. Except Tony.
CHAPTER EIGHT
SABRINA MANAGED TO avoid Tony for the rest of the day. She breathed a sigh of relief when Karen told her he wouldn’t be in on Friday. Being around him was too unsettling. Every time she saw him, she came closer to telling him about Levi.
She and Levi were both looking forward to the weekend. Weekends off were a luxury she’d never had before. Since Levi was three years old, she’d juggled two jobs, and tried to fit in all the prerequisite college courses for the nursing program while taking care of him. The few days she had off, she was too exhausted to do anything.
Levi was looking forward to Bradley’s birthday party. It was all he’d talked about for the past week. After work on Friday, they’d driven to Lampasas and he’d spent an hour walking through Walmart trying to find the perfect gift. He’d wrapped and rewrapped the present at least five times.
Saturday morning, Levi bounced up and down in the seat next to Sabrina. “How many kids do you think will be there?”
“I don’t know. Ten? And put your seat belt on.” Levi had never been to a birthday party before. He’d been invited to some in Houston, but her budget had been stretched so tight she couldn’t afford a gift. And her son wasn’t going to a party without being able to take a gift.
Their destination was on the outskirts of town. It was still hard to believe the town had a regional park, complete with picnic tables, barbecue grills a
nd a playground. The only playground in town when she was growing up had been the one at the school.
Levi barely waited for her to stop the car before opening the door and jumping out. “Bye, Mom!”
She waited until she saw Marissa greet Levi and wave to her before heading home. As she exited the park, she glanced into the back seat and moaned. Circling back, she pulled into a parking space next to the playground and reached into the backseat for the neatly wrapped present.
Marissa met her halfway across the park and gave her a hug. “Sabrina! I’m glad you changed your mind and decided to stay!”
She glanced down at her cutoff shorts and wrinkled T-shirt. “I’m not staying. Levi forgot Bradley’s present in the car. I’m helping Dad fix some fences this afternoon.”
“You can spare a few minutes to meet some of my friends.” Marissa pulled Sabrina toward the picnic table.
“Ladies, I want y’all to meet one of my oldest and dearest friends. Actually, I guess I should say reintroduce, since most of y’all probably know her already.” Marissa pointed out the women. “Adalie Conradt, Carol Martin, do y’all remember Sabrina from high school?”
Her Texas drawl dripped with feigned innocence. Marissa knew very well that Adalie had been in Sabrina’s class and they’d once been good friends. The other woman, Carol, was a classmate of Marissa’s.
“And this is Mary Kay Blodgett. She moved here about three years ago. She teaches fifth grade now that Mrs. Graham is retired.”
“Nice to meet you.” Sabrina nodded at the pudgy brunette. “How do you like teaching in Salt Creek?”
“It took some getting used to. In Austin, there were four classes for each level and I had to coordinate everything with the other teachers in my grade. But I love being the only fifth grade teacher.”
Sabrina nodded. Levi’s old school had been like that. “How many kids are in a class here?”
“Last year I had fifteen kids.” Mary Kay smiled.
Out of the corner of her eye, Sabrina noticed Carol and Adalie whispering. She shifted her weight. She could imagine what they were talking about.
When Tony was accused of a string of robberies, his refusal to give an alibi all but guaranteed a conviction. So she’d come forward and admitted they’d been together the entire night.
In some places, people might not have batted an eye. But in Salt Creek, when the valedictorian and president of the National Honor Society confessed to being involved in a tryst with a rebellious boy who’d already caused a heap of trouble, well...people talked about it for weeks. She suddenly found herself the topic of town.
Adalie had been one of the first ones to jump on the “How could you ruin your life over a boy like that?” bandwagon. She leaned over and whispered, “I’m so sorry. I’ve felt horrible all these years for the way I acted in high school. Can you forgive me?”
Sabrina couldn’t tell if Adalie was sincere or not. No matter. If she was restarting her life, might as well give everyone a fresh slate. Even friends who had turned their backs on her. “It’s okay. It’s water under the bridge now.”
Mary Kay waved at Adalie to get her attention. She pointed across the park to a group of about ten teenage boys. They sat still, listening intently to a dark-haired man. Mary Kay was almost drooling. “Who is that man? Is he new in town?”
Sabrina followed her gaze to the other side of the park. He was turned away from her, but she knew who it was. His denim jeans hugged his thighs and there was no mistaking his curly black hair or the way his shirt stretched across his broad back, hinting at supple muscles underneath.
Adalie gave Sabrina a sideways glance. “Yes, that’s Tony Montoya. Sabrina used to date him.”
“You did?” The chunky brunette sauntered closer. “Are you friends? Could you introduce me?”
Sabrina pressed her lips together. “It was a long time ago. I wouldn’t feel comfortable saying anything to him.”
Adalie waited for Mary Kay to drift away. She leaned close to Sabrina. “Did you read the article about him in the paper? He really turned his life around.”
Yes, he did. But why did he have to leave her behind to do it?
Sabrina sank onto the picnic table. The chances of Tony noticing Levi on a crowded playground were slim, but she was going to stick around just to make sure. The more he saw Levi, the more likely he’d recognize the similarities between them. It wouldn’t be hard to put two and two together. Unable to concentrate on the conversation around her, she moved to the edge of the table.
A few minutes later, Tony waved goodbye to the boys and walked down the sidewalk. He was going to pass right by them. Her heart pounded and she held her breath. He was almost past their table when Mary Kay got his attention.
“You’re Tony Montoya, aren’t you? I read about you in the newspaper.” She rushed over to him and touched his arm. “Your grandparents must be so proud.”
Sabrina bit her tongue. There was no reason for her urge to knock Mary Kay’s hand away. She wasn’t jealous. Just disgusted over the way Mary Kay was gushing over him.
Tony shifted uncomfortably. “Thank you. Just doing my job.”
His eyes fell on Sabrina and he made a beeline for her. “Hi.”
She swallowed. “Hi.”
“I was just heading to your house.” His voice slid over her like silk.
“Why?” Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Levi running toward her from across the playground. Her stomach clinched.
Levi’s face was red from playing when he ran up to them. A grin spread across his face. “Tony. What are you doing here?”
“I was just about to ask your mom if you could come with us to Spring Ho next weekend. I’m going to help chaperone some of the boys at the fishing tournament. Do you like to fish?”
“I sure do. I fish at the pond almost every day.”
“The stock pond in the back pasture?” Tony leaned over and whispered, “Don’t eat any of the catfish. They taste like mud.”
Levi laughed. “How do you know?”
Tony gave Sabrina a warm look. “I used to fish there with your mom when we were kids.”
“I didn’t know you knew my mom. What else did y’all do?”
Sabrina’s throat went dry. “Levi, your friends are waiting. You better go play.”
“I forgot my present in the car.”
“I already put it on the table.”
“Thanks.” Levi grinned and ran back to the playground.
Tony watched him run off, a thoughtful look on his face. “He really is a good kid.”
“So can I con you into chaperoning the girls so Levi can go fishing with us?”
“Do you think that’s a good idea? I mean, what if Andrew tries to pick a fight with him again?” What if you spend too much time with Levi and realize he’s your son?
“Andrew won’t do anything as long as I’m around. I’ll take good care of Levi. I promise.”
“You better be careful.” Sabrina eyed him. “The last promise you made to me was broken two weeks later.”
* * *
DIGGING HOLES FOR FENCE posts the old-fashioned way did wonders to work out Sabrina’s frustration. She slammed the post-hole digger into the ground. Her shoulders protested as she yanked the handles apart to scoop the dark earth from the hole. She tried to wipe sweat from her eyes with the back of her arm, but all she accomplished was wiping dirt across her face. Her arm was as wet with sweat as her head.
Farther down the fence line, Dad pounded a metal pole deeper into the ground with a sledgehammer. His shirt was soaked with sweat, too. With one final swing, he nodded at her. “That one ’bout done?”
She checked the depth. “Yes, sir.”
Digging holes and stretching barbed wire in the middle of the afternoon was not for the timid. The high he
at and humidity could dehydrate a person quickly. But fences had to be fixed, especially when the fence was next to a major roadway.
When she was a little girl, one of their cows got out onto the highway in the middle of the night. It was too dark for the semi-truck driver to see it until it was too late. It had left the driver shaken, but thankfully, the cow was the only casualty. Had it been a smaller vehicle, the results could’ve been deadly.
Dad stopped long enough to take a drink from his Thermos. Then he carried a new post to the hole she’d just finished digging. “Dip your handkerchief in the ice chest again. Don’t let it dry out.”
How could it dry out when she was sweating so much? Sabrina opened her mouth to protest but paused. Dad was just trying to take care of her. She untied the handkerchief from around her neck and opened the ice chest sitting on the tailgate of the truck. She dipped the material in the icy water and squeezed it out. Her body temperature seemed to drop five degrees as soon as she placed the cold fabric on her neck, and she splashed some water on her face.
“Good job.” Dad’s breath came in gasps by the time they’d placed the last post. He wiped his face with his own handkerchief. “Now let’s go home and cool off.”
Sabrina tossed the tools in the bed of the truck and they climbed in. As the truck bounced down the rutted road, she pulled the heavy gloves off her hands to examine her blisters.
Dad reached over and ran his thumb over her palms. “You lost your calluses, girl. They’ll be back soon enough.”
“Just what every woman wants. Ripped, calloused hands.” The wound stung and she blew on it. She’d be so sore tomorrow she probably wouldn’t be able to get out of bed, but she wouldn’t trade this day for anything. Just her and her father, working under the hot Texas sun.
Her cell phone rang and she pulled it out of the glove box. Marissa’s number showed on the caller ID. “Hello?”
“Hi, Mom.” Levi shouted over the noise in the background. “Bradley wants to know if I can stay the night with him.”
A few minutes later, she hung up the phone. “Looks like it’s just us tonight, Dad. Levi’s staying over at Bradley’s.”
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