by Anna Adams
Zach laughed. “Don’t worry. You won’t come across us in the wanted posters behind my desk. But Helene’s husband Nash and his family own half of East Tennessee. We Calverts are content to settle here on Bardill’s Ridge, most of us. I didn’t want more than that.”
“Ever? You were homesick in Chicago, but you never said you were biding your time to escape the Navy and go home.”
“I loved my job.” His mouth quirked in a…familiar expression. Half the charm of this big, powerful man had been his ability to laugh at himself. “I just wish I could remember loving to fly.”
“Is sheriffing as exciting as being a pilot?”
“Not until the bank robbery.” Changing the subject, he opened the back seat. “You should probably wake Evan. I’ll carry him, but I don’t want to startle him.”
She wanted more details. Her son would be spending a lot of time with his father the sheriff, but Zach, who’d told her more about himself than she’d expected, seemed to be setting boundaries where his job was concerned.
She leaned across the back seat, pulling Evan into her arms as Zach popped the trunk.
“Mom, are we home?”
“We’re in Tennessee.”
“I didn’t dream about my daddy?”
His plaintive question put a lump in the back of her throat. “Your father’s real.” Backing awkwardly out of the car, she met Zach’s warm gaze. She couldn’t hold back a grin. The three of them together like this made her happy, even if her place in Bardill’s Ridge was only temporary.
The Dogwood’s front doors burst open. Olivia jumped, and Evan spun, tossing his longish hair in her face. A woman hurried down the sidewalk, her face strained with worry.
More gray streaked her dark chignon than had shown in the picture in Zach’s apartment, but she was Zach’s mother. Olivia’s pulse strummed a nervous beat. Meeting Beth Calvert would have meant everything to her six years ago. The other woman shot into Zach’s open arms, speaking in a Southern voice so distraught Olivia couldn’t understand her.
“Who’s Helene, Mom?” Evan asked.
“Helene?” Had he heard her talk with Zach?
“She said Helene. And James—that’s Grampa?” Evan kicked to be let down. “Is my grampa here?” he demanded.
Olivia rubbed her mouth, feeling almost sick. Her father must have given the press conference after all.
“It’s all right, Mom.” Zach hugged Beth. “We expected him to do it. Look who I’ve brought.”
Beth Calvert turned to Evan. Her face, a softened version of Zach’s, crumpled, awash with tears.
“Oh,” Olivia said, taken aback.
“Evan?” Beth added about three lilting, Tennesseean syllables to his name. “My grandbaby?”
Zach held out his hand to Evan. “This is your grandma Beth.”
Their son hung back. Zach shifted his gaze to Olivia’s. She smiled an apology at his mother. “He might be a little shy.”
“It’s okay,” Beth said. “We have plenty of time now.”
“My mother, Beth Calvert. Mom, this is Olivia Kendall.”
Moving to shake Beth’s hand, Olivia accidentally dragged Evan along because he’d clenched his fingers in the hem of her shirt.
“Nice to meet you, Mrs. Calvert.” Olivia hugged her timid child. “This is Evan.”
Happiness and anguish mixed in Beth’s mobile features as she dropped to her knees on the cold, hard cement. She tucked her hands behind her back, but beamed with genuine affection at her newfound grandson.
Olivia restrained a strong urge to hug Zach’s mom, herself. Beth had come prepared to love Evan. Surely the rest of Zach’s family would feel the same.
“We finally get to meet.” Beth lifted her hands to Evan’s face, but then dropped them just before she touched him. “Do you know how much you look like your daddy?”
Evan opened a smidgeon of space between himself and Olivia’s thigh, leaning around Beth to silently quiz his father.
“We have all kinds of pictures,” Zach said. “I’ll show them to you tomorrow.”
“Okay.” Evan drew out his assent, still holding on to Olivia’s blouse. He might have craved a father, but grandmothers seemed to be more iffy.
“Speaking of photos.” Beth stood to give Evan all the room he needed. Her glance at Olivia expressed more conditional approval. “I was telling Zach that some people might be on the way down here to take a few pictures.”
Olivia closed her eyes. The sins of the fathers… “I’m sorry. I asked him to cancel the press conference.”
“He did.” Beth looked from her son to Olivia. “At least they said he did on the news, but his butler was taking out the trash when the reporters accosted him. He was so startled he just spilled his guts right there on TV.”
Zach laughed. “The butler did it?”
“On purpose.” Olivia had no doubt. “My father must have told him what to leak.”
“Why would your father expose Evan to the journalists?” Beth shut her mouth as if she hadn’t meant to say that in front of her grandson. “I told myself to be careful.”
“Don’t worry.” Olivia had no illusions about James Kendall in media tycoon mode. “Evan has to know something’s up.”
“What, Mommy?” He tugged her arm. “What’s everyone talking about? Did Grampa’s butler do something bad?”
“He talked to some people about us, and now those people might come down here with their cameras. They might even want you to talk to them, but remember what I told you. No talking to strangers. Don’t even answer when a stranger talks to you.” She leaned down for emphasis. “And don’t talk to anyone who works for Grampa.”
“Not even Ian and Jock?”
“You can talk to them.” Hopefully, they hadn’t sold their souls to the kinds of devils who chased down little boys. “But only Jock and Ian.”
“Not Brian?”
“Brian’s okay. He works for me.”
“I’ll memem—remember.”
She grinned at the mistake he’d made since he’d first learned to talk. “You’re my good guy.” She hugged him close and met a more indulgent gaze from Beth. Olivia didn’t know whether to be self-conscious about having to hold a private conversation with her son in public or apologetic because her father couldn’t get a clue about not trying to control his family’s life. “Dad believes in giving out the story you want before someone digs up the ones you’d rather keep to yourself.”
“The Knoxville stations have already called,” Beth said. “Along with some local paper editors. A couple of them claimed to work for the Kendalls. For you, I mean.” With a shake of her head, Beth turned to Zach. “I don’t know how much you’ve discussed with Olivia, but Helene saw the report, and she thought you should—” Beth interrupted herself to gaze at Evan uncertainly. “She brought someone with her.”
Lily. Olivia’s hand tightened of its own volition on Evan’s shoulder. She glanced up at the moths circling in the streetlights over their heads. It seemed like such a mundane place to fall upon the point of no return.
Lily and Evan, both children, would now be bound to each other forever. Once brother met sister, she and Zach couldn’t part them again.
“Helene’s right.” With a quick survey of the street, Zach yanked the suitcases out of his trunk and steered them all toward the B&B. “We should go inside.”
“I’ll get the other bags.” Olivia released Evan’s hand, expecting he’d wait for her. Instead, he dashed to Zach’s side.
“Leave those, Olivia,” Zach said. “I’ll come back for them.”
“I’m fine.” She hoisted a shoulder bag onto her back and hauled the other two canvas roller bags out of the car. Doing something physical released a little of her disgrace at her father’s behavior.
“Wow, you’re strong.” Zach’s joking voice cut a deeper wedge out of her embarrassment. “I’ll put my money on you if anyone comes over the fence with a camera.”
He took her back to the summer the
y’d shared, teasing in bed and out, trust that had turned out to be more fragile than a cobweb.
Stick with the present. Their son was their only connection now and in the future. “Evan, let’s go inside. Maybe we can ask for a fireplace in our room.”
She ignored Zach’s doubtful look as he turned with Evan and the largest suitcase toward the B&B. Nothing felt normal with Zach. She couldn’t seem to find her place in a present colored vividly by that long-ago summer—but only for her.
Dragging the bags up the uneven sidewalk, she felt as if a billion eyes followed her every move. She had to be imagining it. No one who’d found them would waste time hiding in the shrubbery.
She fumed, adjusting her hands around the heavy handles. Even James Kendall should know better than to set his hounds on his own grandson.
Beth held the door for Zach and Evan and then for Olivia. Olivia smiled a thank-you at the other woman.
“I’m glad you came,” Beth said. “Thank you for finding my son.”
Olivia’s tongue tied itself in a knot. Beth’s smile, full of love for her own son, connected one mom to another. One generation to another. Olivia, only child of an only child of a family rich in everything except normal attachments, eased in a breath and finally produced sound. “He’s Evan’s dad. I had to find him.”
Approval warmed Beth’s smile. She took one of the bags from Olivia’s hand and nodded for her to follow Zach and Evan, her simple gesture allying them all in this predicament. It was the connection Olivia had dreamed of sharing with her dad.
“HERE’S YOUR ROOM KEY, Olivia. I’ll take Evan to the kitchen, Zach. You help Olivia carry their things up to the rooms.”
Meaning, she’d occupy Evan while he talked with Helene and Lily. “Thanks, Mom.” He looped an arm around her shoulder. “I appreciate your help.”
“No problem. I want to get to know this boy.”
Evan peered up at her. “Are you really my grandma?”
“I sure am, buddy.” Shifting away from Zach with a heartening glance she hugged Evan as if it never occurred to her he’d have to get used to her. Smart woman.
“I never had a grandma before.”
“I never had a grandson, but I think you and I will get along.
“Do you have a puppy?”
“I have a great big old cat.” She patted his head. “And I bet I can find milk and cookies for you in your aunt Eliza’s kitchen. How’s that for a start?”
“Well, I like puppies.” Evan slid his hand into hers as Zach watched, bewildered. “But I like choplit chip cookies, too.”
“Choplit chip? They’re Aunt Eliza’s specialty.”
“See ya, Mom.” He waved over his shoulder, and Olivia waved back.
“Bye.” She sounded stunned. Still holding her bag, she started toward the stairs. “Your mom is a pied piper.”
“The cookies help.” He glanced at the closed study door where Lily and Helene waited. “Imagine what she could have done if she’d actually had a dog.”
“It’d be the heck with a mom and dad.”
“Yeah.” He followed her up the stairs, reaching around her to take the suitcase. “Will you give me that?”
“I’m no weakling.”
“I’ve noticed.” She seemed to understand he was complimenting more than her ability to move luggage. In silence they trooped to the room she’d had on her previous visit.
Olivia opened the door, but waited while he preceded her. “Thanks,” she said, reaching immediately for the zipper on the first bag as he set it down. She always had to be doing something.
“I have to go back down,” he said.
“I know.” She stilled, her sudden cessation of movement as powerful as a stop in a loud conversation. “I just don’t know what I’m supposed to do.”
“Come on down in a few minutes. We’ll see how things go.” If Helene was in a territorial mood, he’d give her time to cool off before he introduced Olivia and Evan.
“All right. I was going to offer to explain for you since you don’t remember, but that’s a hideous idea.”
“Probably.” He smiled to show her he was teasing. “I should go. I don’t know what she told Lily about waiting for me to talk to them.”
“You’re right.” Anxiety painted a storm in her gray eyes. “Good luck. It went well with Evan. Maybe Lily will be glad of a brother, too.”
“I hope so.” More than he’d ever hoped for anything in his entire life.
He left her, taking the worry in her gaze with him. She was capable of taking care of herself, but he didn’t want Helene messing with her.
He hurried down the stairs with no idea of what he should say. As soon as he opened the study door, Lily leaped off the fat, chintz couch.
“Daddy!”
“Hey.” Catching her in midair, he scooped her into his arms. “How ya doing, doodle-bug?”
“I’m up late. Mommy says I have to go home soon, but we wanted to see you.” She twisted to examine her mother. “Why did we have to see Daddy tonight, Mommy?”
Helene looked frozen into her armchair. Too worried to rage. Compassion replaced his wariness toward her.
“I have to tell you something, Lily.” He set her down. “And Mommy wanted to tell you tonight. It’s big news.”
“What?”
He walked her back to the couch and sat down beside her. “Helene,” he said. “Thanks for bringing her.”
“She wanted to listen to the radio.”
“Mommy made me practice.” Lily pointed to Eliza’s piano.
Helene shrugged. “It was all I could think of.”
“Eliza would have given you a coloring book or something.”
“I didn’t think to ask.” She’d resented his family since the day she’d left him for Nash. As if they’d pushed her out. Maybe she was embarrassed. Who knew?
“Lily.” Just as with Evan, he didn’t know how to go on. The direct way had worked before. “How would you like to have a brother?”
“Daddy!” Lily bounced to her feet on the cushion, and Helene reached for her automatically.
“It’s okay,” he said. Eliza’s chintz was childproof.
“Mommy said I couldn’t have any bruvers, but I can if you have one for me.” Lily bounced again, and he caught her, pulling her onto his lap. “Daddy, did you get married?”
His four-year-old daughter saw things James Kendall’s way. He felt so much guilt that he could believe he deserved Lily’s question and Kendall’s judgment.
OLIVIA DRAGGED OUT the process of unpacking, not quite sure how long Zach needed to explain to Lily and Helene. She put away Evan’s things in the room adjoining hers, setting a much-mended tyrannosaurus on his pillow. On her way back through her own room, she passed a mirror on the dresser and had to go back. Falling asleep on the jet had made a rat’s nest of her hair.
Oh, great. She’d met Zach’s mother looking like this. Surely Evan or Zach might have mentioned she had a strong case of flat head going on. If either of them had noticed.
She brushed her hair and then her teeth and decided twenty minutes was long enough. She didn’t have to interrupt Zach and Helene and Lily, but she’d like to make sure Evan was getting along all right with Beth. She left the room, turning back to lock the door behind her.
“I’ve always wanted to meet the ghost who haunted my marriage.”
Olivia whirled, already on the defensive. Tall, blond and furious, Helene looked ready for battle. Except for sadness in her gaze that locked Olivia’s irritated response inside her—where it belonged. This woman was not her enemy.
“You must be Helene.” Offering to shake hands might be a mistake, but she stood her ground.
“You finally found Zach.”
“I never looked for him. I thought he was dead.” Olivia faced the other woman, straight on. “And he didn’t remember me.”
“So he claimed, but I knew someone was between us.”
Once she would have liked to believe she’d stay in
his heart, but from the maturity she’d gained in the past six years, it didn’t seem likely. “He married you. He must have loved you.”
“He married me for the same reason he would have asked you to marry him. I was pregnant.” Her short laughter sounded as if it hurt. “Zach was busy for a few months, wasn’t he?”
Olivia tried to swallow a sour taste in her mouth. Bitterness must be catchy. “I loved him, Helene. Back then.” She wouldn’t have married Zach if she couldn’t be sure he loved her, too. Not even for Evan. “But I didn’t exist for him by the time he met you. I don’t know why you’re angry.”
“We could never say whether his memory loss came from emotional trauma or his physical injuries.”
“You were one of his nurses. I forgot.”
“He told you?”
Olivia shrugged. “I investigated him before I came here.”
“Him or us?” Her voice was sharp as a knife.
“Him. All I know about you is that you divorced him.”
“Well, he may have blocked all the memories that make him feel he did something wrong.”
Olivia stared at Helene. Zach hadn’t put it that way.
Helene went on. “Which means he probably still felt something for you on a subconscious level, even if it was a reluctance to betray you. I always knew something kept him from wanting me.” Her mouth twisted. “Which means I and my daughter never stood a chance of creating a family with him.”
Did she really believe that? Her side of the story didn’t jibe with Zach’s. “If he’d loved me, he would have remembered me. I wasn’t part of his problem. We parted on good terms.”
“In these cases the good gets swept out with the bad. You’re here now, aren’t you? He asked you to come back with him.”
“He didn’t ask me. We came because of my father’s plans.”
“He told me.”
Olivia nodded. “So you know I’m here for Evan. I couldn’t just turn him over to someone he didn’t know, even though Zach’s his father. You have Lily. You must understand.”
“I’m not in the mood to understand anything tonight. You prove all my worst fears about my marriage were correct.”