by Susan Meier
“Can we do it again?”
Only half listening, Kate said, “What? Have another party?”
“Have my friends come to Daddy’s to swim.”
Pulling milk from the refrigerator, Kate remembered her feelings from the night before. The tightness in her chest over the sweetness of Max’s feelings for Trisha and Trisha’s feelings for him. But the reminder of their bad marriage had brought the balance back. And it always would. There was no way she’d ever want to get involved with Max Montgomery again. She didn’t have to worry about being attracted to him. He could be the best-looking, nicest guy in the world and she would resist him.
And Max clearly enjoyed being a hands-on dad. If he wanted to see Trisha and be a part of the real dad experience, maybe it was time they introduced him to playdates? Besides, having lots of kids around was much better than being alone with each other and Trisha.
“A playdate at the pool might be a good idea. But we’ll have to ask him.”
Kate’s mom strolled into the kitchen. “Ask who what?”
“I want my friends to come to Dad’s pool.”
“Your friends were at your dad’s pool yesterday.”
Trisha grinned. “We liked it.”
Kate’s mom laughed, really laughed, for the first time since her husband’s stroke.
“You sound better this morning.”
“I feel better.” Bev crossed to the coffeepot. “We had a good time yesterday.”
Even as she said the words, Kate’s father came into the kitchen, leaning heavily on his walker. “Good morning.”
“Dad!”
“Grandpa!”
He took a seat at the table beside Trisha as if it were perfectly normal for him to be there. Bev set a cup of coffee in front of him.
“So where’s my oatmeal?”
Trisha gasped as if his request shocked her. Kate laughed. Obviously some kind of compromise had been struck the day before. He was dressed and coming to the kitchen for his breakfast—his wish—and eating oatmeal without complaint, which was her mom’s wish.
“Coming right up, Dad.”
The meal that followed was probably the happiest Kate and Trisha had spent with her parents since their arrival. When they had finished eating, her dad pushed away from the table and invited Trisha to come into the family room and watch cartoons with him.
She happily slid off her chair and followed him out of the kitchen.
Kate faced her mom. “I don’t know what agreement you two came to yesterday, but Dad looks great.”
Bev began loading the dishwasher. “Seeing your dad at the pool yesterday, dressed in warm clothes, sitting on a chair while the rest of us were enjoying ourselves, I recognized how foolish I’d been.” She sighed. “I was afraid, but dressing him in blue jeans and a work shirt weren’t really helping. Neither was forcing him to stay in bed.”
“That’s great.”
“Yes. Melanie—” she said, referring to the therapist “—is going to be thrilled.”
Kate laughed just as the phone rang. She walked to the old-fashioned white wall phone near the door and answered. “Hello.”
“Hey, Kate. It’s me.”
Max.
Just hearing his voice caused her chest to tighten, her heart to thrum. But she quickly remembered the night she’d left him and brought herself back to sanity.
“What’s up, Max?”
“I’m not going to be able to see Trisha today.”
She walked over to the sink as her mom left the room, motioning with her hand that Kate should start the dishwasher when her conversation was over.
“That might be a good thing. She’s going to ask you to host a playdate at your pool.”
She could hear the wince in his voice as he said, “Is it anything like her birthday party?”
“It’s exactly like her birthday party, except without the presents and grilling.”
“I suppose we can handle it.”
Her eyebrows rose in surprise at how easily he’d accepted that, even though it was clear he didn’t want to. “She’ll be thrilled.”
“Good, because I need to ask a favor.”
Of course. He needed a favor. That was why he’d been so accommodating.
“Annette just reminded me that I have a ribbon-cutting on Friday.”
Her hand stopped halfway to the faucet. Not just a favor, but a public event. “Oh.”
“I know you hate them. But I’d love for Trisha to be there.” He paused, then added, “My mom will also be there.”
“Oh.”
He laughed. “I know you and my mom weren’t the best of friends, but she’s changed.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Without Dad, our lives are very different. Plus, this would be a great time for my mom to meet Trisha.”
Old feelings sprang to life. Not the pressure to be perfect or even the hours of smiling when she wanted to run, but the heart squeeze that always accompanied his cajoling. Charming Max. Getting her to do something she didn’t want to do.
“But I’ll also understand if you don’t want to go. I know the social aspect of my job wasn’t one of your favorite parts of our marriage. I also recognize it might be better for my mom to meet Trisha under more private circumstances.”
She swallowed the lump in her throat. He was backing down? That had to be at least the fourth time he could have cajoled, but he hadn’t. And this was the second time he’d given her a way out. “How about if I think about it?”
“We have a few days. And my plans don’t have to be set in stone. You can decide the time we leave—as long as we get there by two.”
“Where’s there?”
“North Point.”
“New York?”
“Yes.”
“So we’ll be flying?”
“Yes.” He paused. “Look, maybe this was a bad idea. Maybe what we should do is forget about the ribbon-cutting and set up a swim time for Saturday. You call the kids and I’ll invite my mom. That way Trisha can meet her second grandma in a less stressful environment.”
“And have her miss seeing her dad cut a ribbon on a building he built?” It was one of those damned-if-you-do, damned-if-you-don’t situations. She wanted Trisha to know her dad, everything about him and be proud of him, but her memories of that part of their life were hideous.
“Actually, I was hoping Trisha could cut the ribbon.”
She squeezed her eyes shut. Trisha would squeal with delight over that. Her mom might be a skittish publicity hater, but Trisha lived for attention.
“She’d love that.”
After a few seconds of quiet, Max said, “You know she’s my only heir.”
“I suspected as much.”
“With Chance out of the picture, someday the company will be hers.”
“You’re not planning on having any other kids?”
He laughed. “I’m forty-two and I already told you I haven’t had a real love interest in my life since you.”
Her heart stumbled at that. Yes, he had told her that. But then he’d touched her and she’d melted and then gotten angry and sort of forgotten that he’d said it.
“I think the odds are Trisha will be an only child. And though seven’s a bit young to be learning about the family business, I don’t think she’s too young to begin seeing her roots, the people she comes from.”
Neither did Kate. She’d had seven years of having Trisha to herself. Seven years of being away from Max and his very public life. If he could be patient and accommodating, then she should be too.
“Okay. We’ll go. What time do we need to be at the airstrip?”
“If you get there at eleven, we can have lunch on the plane.”
“Sounds good.”
“Okay. We’ll see you then.”
Kate hung up the phone, but paused before going to the dishwasher. Trisha might enjoy the ribbon-cutting festivities, but Kate’s stomach plummeted. Still, she didn’t have to be part of the ceremony. She did
n’t have to pose for pictures. She didn’t have to talk to the press. She simply had to figure out how to stay out of the limelight without looking obvious.
In the end, she dressed in jeans and a T-shirt. New jeans and a good T-shirt, but informal clothes all the same. Clothes that would quickly tell Max that she hadn’t come to be a part of things. Conversely, she dressed Trisha in a pretty pink sundress and put her sable-colored locks in two fat pigtails adorned with big pink bows. Sunday best. Clothes that would look good in photographs.
They arrived at the airstrip at exactly eleven, just in time to see Max’s mom, Gwen, climbing out of a black limo. Wearing a slim black pantsuit that accented her perfectly coiffed white hair and still-trim figure, Gwen was the picture of a wealthy family matriarch.
She sucked in a breath and turned to Trisha. “That’s Daddy’s mom. Your other grandma.”
Trisha glanced at the limo. “Her hair is white.”
Kate opened her car door. “She’s not like my mom. She doesn’t dye her hair.”
Outside in the hot August sun, she opened the door to the backseat and helped Trisha out. A slight breeze blew dust across the tarmac. A bigger-than-she’d-expected blue jet sat at the ready, entrance open and rolling stairway awaiting them.
She drew in a fortifying breath. “Let’s go.”
As they walked in the direction of the jet, Max slid his arm across his mother’s shoulders and turned her to face them. She couldn’t hear what he said, but from the smile that came to Gwen’s lips, she guessed he’d told her the pretty little girl in pink was her granddaughter.
She walked over to meet them. “So this is Trisha.”
“Hi, other grandma.”
Gwen pressed her hand to her chest and laughed. “Isn’t that sweet!” She caught Kate’s gaze. “She’s adorable.”
“Thanks. But I think Max’s good genes had a lot to do with that.”
Gwen laughed again as she stooped down to take in the little girl before her. “You are precious.”
Trish grinned toothlessly.
“And toothless!” She tweaked her cheek. “I hope the tooth fairy paid you handsomely for those two teeth.”
“Twenty bucks,” Trish proudly announced.
“Good.” Gwen rose and caught Trisha’s hand. “Because front teeth are always worth more.”
With that they walked toward the stairway leading into the plane, Kate following a few steps behind them. They stopped in front of Max who reached down and hoisted Trisha up into his arms. “You’re all dressed up.”
“So are you.”
“Nah. Daddy wears suits all the time. Do you know where we’re going?”
She nodded and pointed behind her. “In a plane.”
“We’re going to New York to officially open a building Daddy’s company built. If you’re good, we’re going to let you cut the ribbon.”
Not as impressed as she should have been, Trisha shrugged.
Max laughed. “I think I’m learning a very important lesson about parenting. Kids keep you humble.”
“Oh, they definitely do,” Gwen said and started over to the steps. “Come on, little one. You and I are going to think of a better name for me than other grandma.”
Trisha slid down and scampered to her grandmother.
Max faced Kate. “Thanks for bringing her. We’ll be back around eight.”
Her heart about leaped out of her chest. He thought she was only dropping Trisha off? “Our deal was that you don’t see Trisha without me present. I’m coming with you.”
“Oh!” His face reddened. “Oh. Great. Really. I just thought—” He pointed at her T-shirt and jeans.
“I’ll be in the background. Nobody even needs to know who I am.”
Guilt slashed through him. He remembered her absolute hatred of the public appearances they’d had to do as a married couple, but then he realized that it might not have been the public appearances she hated as much as the “Montgomery happy family appearances.” He didn’t blame her. If she’d thought pretending to be a happy wife was hard, she should have tried being the “blessed” son of a guy who’d done more to tear their family apart than bring it together. Dressing the way she had might as well have been a neon sign that she didn’t want to participate.
Which was fine.
“You look great.” He let his gaze fall to her jeans and T-shirt and realized she did look great. Girl-next-door pretty. “Annette will be in the audience. You can sit with her.”
Relief flitted across her delicate features. Her lips bowed upward. “You didn’t make that poor girl drive the whole way to New York this morning?”
“Nope.” Grateful that she’d changed the subject, he slid his arm across her shoulders and directed her to the steps. “She and a boatload of staff took another plane yesterday morning. They set up and made all the necessary connections with the local officials. She’ll be eager for the chance to sit in the stands and let somebody else take over.”
Halfway up the stairs, Kate laughed. “It will be nice to see her.”
The sound of her laughter resonated through him. For the first time ever, she seemed comfortable going to one of their family affairs. Of course, she wouldn’t be in front of the cameras. And she wouldn’t be Mrs. Maxwell Montgomery.
Two important points to remember.
The plane took off and Max directed everyone to the dining room. Trisha might not have been impressed with the idea of a ribbon-cutting, but the huge decked-out plane—with an office that doubled as a dining room and a sitting area that looked more like a living room—was an entirely different story. By the time they reached their destination, she was sitting in the copilot’s seat, wearing his hat.
They entered the waiting limo laughing. Trisha had decided her “other grandma” would be Gi Gi, and, since that sounded French, his mother loved it. They arrived an hour before the event. Time enough for Max to give his ex-wife and daughter a tour of the building and meet with the government officials participating in the ceremony. Ten minutes before the speeches and photo ops were to begin, Kate haltingly backed away from Trisha, Max and his mom.
He could see from the expression on her face that she didn’t feel right leaving them and it saddened him to realize she was uncomfortable leaving Trisha with him.
Annette, a short plump brunette, took Kate’s elbow and gave a light tug. “Come on. She’ll be fine. We don’t want to miss getting a good seat.”
Kate took a step then paused. Max slid Trisha’s hand into his mom’s and walked over to her. “Go save a place,” he said to Annette who smiled slightly and walked away.
“I’m not going to hurt her.”
She looked down at her shoes. “I know.”
She said it easily, quickly, totally changing the direction of his thoughts. He was sure he’d have to argue this out. Instead, the ease with which she answered him all but said she trusted him.
Trusted him.
“I’m not going to steal her.”
The absurdity of that made her laugh. Which was exactly what he wanted her to do.
He smiled. “Good.”
“I’m fine, really. I just—” She caught his gaze. “You do realize that I rarely leave her?”
It wasn’t the first time he’d recognized he was dealing with a different person, but it was the first time he noticed how easily they could talk to each other. No yelling. No fighting. No threats. Just honesty.
“I thought you traveled for your job.”
“Not a lot. And when I do she stays with friends.” She made a strangled sound. “All right. The few times I’ve traveled, Mom and Dad came out to Tennessee and stayed with her.”
He chuckled. “So this is more about your inability to let go than about her being with me.”
She shrugged.
He caught her chin and lifted her face. When her pretty green eyes met his, his heart tripped in his chest. He suddenly realized how much this older, wiser, more mature Kate had bent, compromised, given up in the past f
ew weeks to make sure he had a relationship with their daughter. Gratitude swelled in him. All these weeks he’d been taking. It was time to pay that back.
“I’m going to make this work.”
She studied his face for a second, then smiled ruefully. “Look at me. I’m turning all crazy mother on you.”
“You’re a loving mother. Of my child.” The words sang through him, flooding his heart with an emotion so strong he couldn’t even name it. “I appreciate that.”
She blew out a breath, turned and walked down the hall. Out of sight.
He watched her walk away, filled with something that was part pride and part awe. She might not have been the person at fault in their marriage, but she had been young. Too young to handle their problems. This Kate was mature. Strong. Smart. Wonderful.
He would remember to his dying day that he owed her for the way she so easily integrated Trisha into his life.
And he would probably struggle with his attraction to her every bit as long.
* * *
Kate easily found Annette in the back. Out of camera range.
She cringed. Max had probably told his assistant that she hated these family things. Though she appreciated being out of the spotlight, adding that to her fears about leaving Trisha with Max and his mom, she suddenly felt that she was the crazy one. And that was just plain wrong.
Wasn’t it?
Max and his family had always been the ones who were just slightly off center. Not her. She’d been the sane one.
Yet his mom hadn’t said an angry word about her keeping Trisha away from them. And Max was now making promises. Promises she genuinely believed he intended to keep.
She slid onto the folding chair beside Annette. “Thanks.”
Annette smiled. “You’re welcome.”
That was all they got to say before the speeches started. Grateful for the new office complex with a mini-mall in the lobby, the mayor gave a short talk that glowed with praise and gratitude to the Montgomerys for building in his town.
The vice president of operations for Montgomery Development spoke for ten minutes about great things that were about to happen for the city. And then Max rose. He talked for ten minutes about the great people of North Point, then motioned for his mother and Trisha to join him at the podium. Lifting Trisha into his arms, he introduced her as his daughter and talked about her taking over one day.