“Who’s the woman?” he asked.
“Edie Reynolds.”
The name slammed into him with all the force the bullet had used. Edie Reynolds? The woman he’d known all of his life and thought of as a member of the family? Her sons—Gage and Quinn… The four of them had been inseparable.
“Your brothers,” his mother said, just in case he hadn’t figured it out. “Actually, your half brothers. I never told you before because Edie didn’t want her boys to know. Don’t forget she was passing them off as Ralph’s children. You knew your biological father had abandoned us and that was all that mattered.”
He was having trouble absorbing all this. “What changed?”
“Gage found out the truth, so I knew it was time to tell you who your father really was and that your two best friends were really your half brothers.”
Chapter Twelve
Kevin sat up well past midnight. His mother had long since gone to bed, although he doubted she would get much sleep. Telling him would have upset her almost as much as hearing the news had bothered him.
He tried to convince himself that nothing much had changed. He was who he had always been. His biological father was the same bastard he’d been two hours ago. Yet everything felt different. Gage and Quinn were his half brothers. They always had been. Why hadn’t he seen it?
A soft creaking on the stairs broke into his thoughts. He turned toward the doorway and saw Haley tiptoe into the kitchen.
He took in her mussed hair and wide eyes. At least she’d stopped to pull on jeans and a T-shirt. He didn’t think he could have resisted her in one of her sexy pj outfits. Despite the confusion he felt about a lot of things, he still wanted her.
“Couldn’t sleep?” he asked.
She took the seat next to his and shrugged. “I was worried about you. I heard you go downstairs, and then your parents came home. I thought maybe you were talking about whatever your mom had to tell you and when you didn’t come up to bed, I wondered if you were okay.”
Her pale face was beautiful, her expression so damned earnest that it made him ache inside. Haley didn’t have the life experience of a gnat, but still she worried about him and wanted to help.
“I’m fine,” he said, taking her hand in his. “Confused, but fine.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“Sure.” He didn’t mind her knowing. He’d already told her the worst about his past and had yet to shake her good opinion of him.
“My mom wanted to talk about the guy who got her pregnant with Nash and me. It seems he was more of a jerk than I’d realized.”
He outlined what his mother had said, explaining how Edie Reynolds had been the one responsible for bringing his teenage mother to Possum Landing and helping her start over.
“I’ve known Gage and Quinn all my life,” he said. “We played together, fought together, grew up and never guessed we were brothers.”
“You must be happy having them as a part of your family.”
“Why do you say that?”
She smiled. “Because family is so important. More is always better. Having people around who care about you and want you to do well. I would think that after being good friends all your lives, you would be happy to know there was an even deeper connection.”
“Do you ever not see the bright side of things? I swear you could look at a pile of trash on the highway and claim it was modern art.”
Her mouth trembled at the corners. “Is that bad?”
“No.” He squeezed her fingers. “It’s exactly as it should be.”
He didn’t want to figure out the reasons why, but he liked Haley seeing the world as a good and honest place. Maybe her thinking the best of people allowed him to believe that she saw the best in him. Maybe it wasn’t all a crock.
“What happens now?” Haley asked.
“I’m going to talk to Gage tomorrow, and his mother. I guess I should get in touch with Nash, too.”
She leaned toward him. “Are you sad about your dad? About what he did?”
He shrugged. “I made peace with what he did a long time ago. As far as I’m concerned, he was simply the DNA provider. When Nash and I were young, we didn’t think much about having a dad. By the time my mom met Howard, we were old enough to appreciate having another guy in the house. He’s the only father either of us has ever known. He’s a great guy. He was always there for me when I was screwing up.”
The grandfather clock in the living room chimed the hour. Kevin released Haley’s hand. “It’s late. We should be in bed.”
Her eyes widened but before she could say anything, he shook his head. “Alone, Haley. You’re going to your room and I’m going to mine.”
“I knew that.”
“Right.”
He rose and pulled her to her feet. When she was standing, he kissed her. “For a good girl, you’re sure doing your best to lead me down the path of being bad.”
“For a reformed bad boy, you’re certainly resisting.”
He kissed her again, enjoying both the taste of her and the fire that flared to life in his groin. Wanting her felt good, even though he knew he wasn’t going to have her.
They walked to the stairs together, then he followed her up to the landing. Once there, he gave her a push in the right direction and watched as she entered the guest room. He thought about following her inside and what would happen. Funny that as much as he wanted to make love with her, he also enjoyed just being with her. Haley might be ten kinds of trouble, but she was also one of the best things that had ever happened to him. In a short period of time, she’d become a part of his world and he didn’t want to think about how much he was going to miss her when it came time to let her go.
“What do you think about all this?” Kevin asked Gage the following morning. Edie and Vivian were still talking in the living room while he and Gage had gone out onto the porch.
“It took some getting used to,” Gage admitted. He leaned one foot against the railing. “You always had an idea of who your real father was, but until a few weeks ago, I’d never heard of Earl Haynes.”
Kevin studied the man he’d known all his life. Last night Gage had been a good friend, but now he was his brother. The information made him realize that he and Gage were about the same height, with similar coloring. In fact all four of them were tall, with dark hair, dark eyes. Gage’s khaki sheriff’s uniform emphasized broad shoulders similar to Kevin’s. Hell, the proof had been there all along. None of them had ever thought to look for it.
“What happens now?” Kevin asked. “Did you tell Quinn?”
“I have a message out for him to call me. It could be weeks before I hear back from him. You getting in touch with Nash?”
“Yeah.”
Gage looked out toward the yard. “Kari and I are heading to California. From what I could find out, Earl Haynes has several sons living out there. I guess they’re our half brothers.”
Kevin hadn’t thought of other family, but it made sense. “Want some company?”
His friend grinned. “Sure thing. As long as you don’t mind the mushy stuff. Kari and I are still at the crazy-in-love stage.”
“I won’t watch.”
Kevin meant the comment as a joke, but as he spoke the words he realized something inside his chest ached. Gage was engaged and while he was happy for his friend, he also felt a little envious.
No way, Kevin thought, shaking off the feeling. He wasn’t the kind of guy who wanted to get tied down. He’d considered it once and it had been a disaster. Long-term relationships weren’t for him.
“Are you going to warn the California Haynes family that we’re coming?” Kevin asked.
“I haven’t decided. I don’t know what kind of reception we’ll get there. Maybe I’ll try to contact them through email. I was thinking we’d head out at the end of next month. I can get some time off then.”
Kevin had more than enough vacation time due him. “That works for me.”
The fr
ont door opened and his mother walked out. “Are you two about finished?”
Kevin and Gage looked at each other, then nodded. “I’ll be in touch,” Kevin said. They shook hands.
Gage studied him. “I can’t help thinking we should have known.”
“Me, too.”
“We know now.”
Kevin nodded. He thought about what Haley had said about being happy to have more relatives. At the time he hadn’t understood, but now he did. He was glad to know that Gage and Quinn were members of his family.
“Are you all right?” his mother asked as they drove back to the house. “I know this has been a lot to take in.”
“It’s been a lot easier for me than for Gage. I’ve always known about my biological father.”
“At least he has Kari to help him. You know they’re engaged.”
“I heard.”
Kevin figured his mother was trying to be subtle, but he could see her coming a mile down the road. He braced himself for the inevitable questions.
“Haley seems very nice,” she said right on cue.
“She is.”
Vivian glanced at him and smiled. “Want to talk about it? It wouldn’t kill you to tell me what’s going on between the two of you.”
“If I had a clue, I’d tell you everything.” At least that was honest. He sighed. “Haley’s very special, but she’s not like anyone I’ve ever met. She’s lived a sheltered life and until now, she hasn’t seen much of the world.”
“Are you concerned that the two of you are too different in that respect?”
“It’s crossed my mind.”
“Is it possible that you’re thinking of settling down?”
Trust his mom to cut right to the chase. He opened his mouth to give his standard response, which was that he would get married when hell froze over, then reconsidered. There was no way that he and Haley could ever have anything permanent. He was a hundred percent the wrong man for her. But was she the right woman for him?
“I can’t say how things are going with the two of us,” he told his mother.
She smiled. “Can’t or won’t say?”
“You make me crazy.”
She laughed. “I know. It’s one of my favorite ways to spend an afternoon—paying you back for all the gray hairs I’m going to get.”
Haley paced through the empty house. Kevin and his mother had left to visit with Edie and Gage Reynolds, and Howard was at work. She was alone and she knew exactly what she should be doing. The thing was, she didn’t want to.
“He’s my father,” she whispered as she paused by the phone in the kitchen. “I shouldn’t be afraid to call him.”
She wasn’t…not exactly.
She reached for the phone, then dropped her hand to her side. “This is stupid,” she muttered, and picked up the receiver.
The connection went through quickly and before she was ready, she head a familiar voice say, “Pastor Foster’s office. This is Marie.”
Haley sucked in a breath and did her best to ignore the sudden burning in her eyes. “Hi, Marie.”
The woman on the phone gasped. “Haley? Is that you? Child, we’ve all be frantic with worry. Where are you? Are you all right?”
“I’m fine.” Haley pulled out a kitchen chair and sank onto the seat. “I’ve left my dad a few messages saying everything was okay.”
“Even so. Oh, Haley, he’s going to be so happy to hear from you. Hold on one second. Don’t you go anywhere.”
There was a brief silence, then she heard her father’s deep voice. “Haley? Is that really you?”
Tears filled her eyes. “Yes, Daddy. I wanted to let you know that I’m alive and well. I’m sorry I worried you.”
He sighed. “Worry doesn’t begin to describe it.”
He hadn’t said anything mean or judgmental, but still she felt guilty. “I just needed to get away for a while so I could think things through.”
“Where are you? When are you coming home? You should be here, Haley, with the people who love you.”
“I can’t,” she said as the tears spilled down her cheeks. “Not yet, Daddy. Things happened.”
He sighed. “I know all about ‘things.’ Allan told me everything.”
Somehow she doubted that.
“You need to understand,” her father continued. “Everyone gets last-minute jitters. I was surprised when Allan admitted to them, but his honesty impressed me. We’ve had a lot of talks and his mind is clear. He loves you and very much wants to marry you.”
Somehow that didn’t make Haley feel any better. If she hadn’t already figured out that she’d never been in love with Allan her lack of relief would have been a big clue. She didn’t want to know that he was now willing to marry her. She didn’t want anything to do with him.
“The problem is a lot bigger than last-minute jitters,” she said. “I don’t love him, Daddy. I went out with him because it’s what everyone wanted. I think I got engaged for the same reason. He’s a very nice man but he’s not the one for me.”
He wasn’t Kevin, she realized. Kevin who made her heart beat faster just by walking in the room. Kevin who treated her as if she were the most precious woman in the world. Kevin who made her laugh and listened to her opinion and believed she could do anything she wanted.
“You don’t know what you’re saying,” her father told her. “Haley, you’ve never been very good at making your own choices. Hold on a minute.”
Outrage erupted inside of her but before she could vent, there was a click and the sound of a voice she didn’t want to hear.
“Hello, Haley.”
This is why she hadn’t wanted to talk to her father. He loved her, but he didn’t listen. He’d never listened. “Allan.”
Her ex-fiancé cleared his throat. “I know you’re angry with me. No bride wants to hear her prospective bridegroom is having second thoughts. Although I would think you would appreciate my honesty.”
Haley frowned. Allan was saying almost the same thing her father had. It was creepy.
“I do appreciate your honesty,” she said. “As I hope you’ll appreciate mine. Being away has allowed me to think about my life, what I want and what I don’t want. I don’t want to be engaged to you anymore.”
“Haley, you’re not being reasonable. Of course you want to punish me, but don’t you think you’re taking this a little too far?”
She could hear the temper in his voice. “I’m not trying to do anything but tell you our relationship is over.”
“Where are you?”
“Why does that matter?”
“Because you don’t know what you’re saying. Tell me where you are and I’ll come get you and take you home. I made a mistake and I’m sorry. You need to forgive me so we can go on with our lives.”
“Why won’t you listen to me? There is no ‘us,’ no ‘we.’”
“But you love me. We belong together.”
She held the phone out in front of her and stared at it. Was there some kind of technical malfunction that prevented her words from getting through?
“I don’t love you,” she said slowly and clearly. “I don’t believe you love me.”
“We have a wedding in less than two weeks. Are you telling me you want to break things off now?”
“Yes, I am.” She closed her eyes. “Allan, we both got caught up in what other people thought. I’m not sure we ever saw each other for who we are. I accept my share of the blame for that. I never did a good job of going against other’s expectations. But that’s changing. I want my life back. I want to make my own choices. I want to be in love the way my parents were and I know I could never love you like that. I’m sorry. I hope you can find someone to make you really happy.”
She opened her eyes and hung up the phone. As she turned, she saw Kevin standing in the doorway.
He shrugged when she looked at him. “My mom had to go to the grocery store, so she dropped me off first.” His dark eyes softened with concern. “Allan?”
She nodded.
“You okay?”
She nodded again, but she was lying. Talking to her ex-fiancé had shaken her and the only place she wanted to be was in Kevin’s arms.
“How did your parents love each other?” he asked.
“With their whole hearts. My father never remarried because he couldn’t find someone else to love as much and anything less wasn’t worth having. I don’t think Allan understands that we never cared about each other. I shouldn’t have let myself be swayed by what other people think. I shouldn’t have ever dated him, let alone gotten engaged.”
“You figured it out in time.”
She nodded. “So, how was your morning?”
“Better than yours. Gage and I talked about the next step. We’re going to California in a few weeks to find the rest of the Haynes clan. It turns out there are several other brothers.”
He looked both happy and nervous about the prospect. Haley wasn’t sure who moved first, but suddenly he was holding her and she was hugging him as hard as she could. Everything might be spinning out of control but with Kevin nearby she felt as if she could withstand even a tornado.
“It’s all right,” he murmured, kissing her cheek, then her nose.
She tried to smile but couldn’t. “I wish we were still on the road,” she told him. “I wish it was just the two of us and that we never had to come back to the real world.”
“I wish that, too.”
Her heart swelled. “Really?” He nodded.
The phone rang. He gave her a quick kiss on the mouth, then reached past her to grab it. “Hello?”
Haley walked to the cupboard for a glass, but an odd premonition made her turn around. Kevin stood listening. His face was unreadable but she knew something was wrong.
“Yes, this is the Harmon residence,” he said coolly. “Yes. She’s here.”
He covered the mouthpiece with his hand and looked at her. “It’s Allan.”
She shouldn’t have been surprised. The church had caller ID. Obviously Vivian and Howard didn’t have their calls blocked.
She moved next to Kevin and took the phone from him. “There’s no point to this, Allan,” she said.
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