by Linda Warren
“What do you think?” Erin asked, beaming with excitement.
Angie kissed her cheek. “You did a great job. Now you have to prepare yourself for everyone’s reaction.”
“Don’t worry, Mama. I can handle it.”
“I’m proud of you, peanut,” Hardy told her.
“I wonder if Grandma will read it?” Erin fidgeted in her chair, obviously upset by her grandmother’s absence over the past few days.
Angie wrapped her arms around Erin from behind. “Like we said, it’s going to take a little adjusting for everyone.”
The door opened, and Patsy and Peggy burst in dressed in colorful shorts and tank tops. Their bleached and colored hair stuck out like straw, reminding Hardy of scarecrows.
“Have you seen this?” Patsy slapped the paper on the table.
“Of course, Aunt Patsy. I wrote it,” Erin answered before he or Angie could find their voices.
Patsy pulled Angie aside, but Hardy could still hear them, as could Erin. “Why did you let her do this?”
“Not that I owe you an explanation, but she wanted to. This situation hasn’t been easy for her, and she wanted to express her feelings. I allowed it. Now I’m wondering why you’re running around Horseshoe in your night clothes.”
Patsy blushed, to Hardy’s amazement. “We had a little party for Bighead and his friend last night.”
“And Mama’s worried about me disgracing the family,” Angie scoffed.
“You’re her favorite. She expects better from you.”
“Oh, please.”
Peggy plopped into a chair. “I have a tremendous headache. And, Patsy, you’re making it worse. I told you Angie knew.”
“Mama hasn’t been out of the house and when she reads this, we’ll never get her out of there.” Patsy placed her hands on her hips. “And it’s all your fault.” She glared at Hardy.
Something in him snapped at her rude behavior. “I’d appreciate it if you take your attitude somewhere else. You’re upsetting Erin, and that gets me upset. So if you want to take this outside, you can yell at me all you want. Let’s go.”
“Stop it!” Angie yelled. “Patsy and Peggy, go home. I’ll take care of Erin, and y’all can mind your own business. And, please, don’t come back until you learn some manners.”
Patsy touched her forehead and frowned. “I’m half-asleep and I don’t know what I’m doing.”
“I’ll buy that,” Angie said, taking her sister’s arm and pushing her toward the door.
Patsy ran back and hugged Erin. “I’m sorry, Cupcake.”
Erin didn’t respond. Hardy’s temper rose at what this was doing to his daughter.
Angie quickly got her sisters out of the house and sat down by Erin. “Sweetie, she didn’t mean anything. She just worries about you.”
Erin reached for her crutches and went into the living room. Angie looked at him, and he shrugged. Then they both followed her. Erin sat on the sofa, tears rolling down her cheeks.
Hardy’s heart constricted at the sight. Angie sat on one side of her and he on the other. Angie wrapped her arms around their daughter.
“Hey, hey, what are all the tears about?”
“Everybody hates me.”
Angie kissed Erin’s forehead. “No, they don’t, baby. They love you.”
“Grandma doesn’t. She won’t even come over here anymore. And Grandpa Hollister won’t even speak to me. What did I do wrong?”
Hardy could barely stand it. He wrapped his arms around her, too, trying to give her some comfort. “Listen to me. You’ve done nothing wrong, and I don’t want you to feel that way. Your mother loves you. I love you. So please put a smile on your face or I’m going to start crying, too.”
Erin hiccuped and a giggle bubbled through. Suddenly, she wrapped her little arms around his waist. “I love you, too, Daddy.”
His heart stopped completely. He looked into Angie’s tear-filled eyes and the world tilted. Maybe for the first time in the right direction. He kissed the top of Erin’s head. “No matter what happens today, we’re in this together. I’m always going to be here for you now. Remember that, and don’t let anyone steal your joy at finding your father. Because then I’ll have to beat them to a pulp.”
Erin giggled and wiped away tears.
“You okay?” he asked.
His cell buzzed and he cursed to himself, but he pulled it out and saw it was his secretary. “Work is calling.”
“It’s okay,” Erin said.
He ignored it. His daughter needed him. His cell buzzed again. Wyatt this time. Damn it! He had a trial about to start and had to face his responsibilities to the county. He was the D.A.
“I’ll be back as soon as I can, and I’ll call when I get a break.”
Erin leaned into her mother, and Angie stroked her hair.
He hated to leave, but he had no choice. He reached down and kissed her again. “Call me if you get upset, and I’ll call you back as soon as I get free. I’ll even leave the courtroom if I have to.”
His daughter nodded. He forced himself to walk to his truck and go to his job—the last place he wanted to be.
* * *
ANGIE WRAPPED HER arms around her daughter and just held her. “What would you like for breakfast? How about French toast?”
“I’m not hungry,” Erin mumbled into Angie’s chest. “Aunt AnaMarie always brings me something from the bakery. She didn’t come this morning.”
“You know I’ve been letting you eat a lot of sweets lately because you needed a pick-me-up, but it’s time to get back to eating healthy. Besides, it’s busy at the bakery in the mornings.”
“That’s why AnaMarie comes early.”
“I’m going to fix us the best breakfast ever.” Angie kissed her child and got to her feet, her heart as heavy as it had ever been. In the kitchen she grabbed her phone and called AnaMarie, intending to give her an earful, but her sister breezed in.
Angie laid down her phone. “You just saved your own life. I was thinking of ways to throttle you.”
AnaMarie looked confused. “Why?”
“One little niece is missing her aunt’s attention.”
“Things are crazy this morning. Grandma Ruby is making me nuts.” AnaMarie looked around. “Where’s our baby?”
Angie pointed to the living room.
AnaMarie hurried away with a plateful of cupcakes.
Erin squealed, and the world grew brighter. Angie opened the refrigerator and poured her daughter a glass of milk. This day had to get better. As she sat with Erin, eating chocolate cupcakes with chocolate-cream-cheese icing, which cured just about everything, she thought about Hardy and his job. It took precedence over them—over Erin. It was insane for her to think such a thing. She knew he had a stressful job and he couldn’t just not show up, especially with a trial coming up.
Judge Hollister’s words came back to her. Don’t ruin his life.
* * *
THE REST OF the day went smoothly. Patsy and Peggy came back and apologized profusely until Erin had them eating out of her hand. They would’ve turned cartwheels if she had asked.
Bubba showed up and then her father, but her mother was absent. She was sure Erin noticed it, too.
Mrs. Wimby was the first to knock on the door. She brought Erin’s ball back. Angie had completely forgotten about it. Then Mrs. Satterwhite, Mrs. Hornsby, Mrs. Peabody and every neighbor within a two-block radius came to say how proud they were of Erin and her courage. It gave her daughter a chance to talk about her father. And that made Erin happy. It was a long day with Angie continually going to the door.
Late in the day she answered it one more time and was surprised to see Judge Hollister standing there with his hat in his hand again.
“I know I said some things I shouldn’t have, but I’m known for that. Big mouth and all. I am sincerely sorry I asked you to do such a terrible thing. I hope you can forgive me and allow me to see my granddaughter.”
Staying upset with Judge
Hollister would accomplish nothing, and Erin needed to know her grandfather cared about her.
“Mama, who is it?” Erin called.
She opened the door wider. “It’s your grandfather.”
“Oh.” Erin’s eyes rounded in disbelief.
Judge Hollister stared at her. “It’s nice to meet you, Erin.” He walked into the room.
“It’s nice to meet you, too.” Erin said what was expected of her, but she fidgeted. A sign she was nervous.
Judge Hollister glanced at Angie. “Do you mind if I sit down?”
Angie shook her head, and he eased into a chair by Erin. “You have the Hollister eyes.”
“I do?”
“Yes, you do. They’re just like your father’s and mine.”
Angie tiptoed into the kitchen and let Erin have this time with her grandfather. She was positive Judge Hollister would not say one word to hurt her. Evidently Hardy had talked to him, and that warmed her heart.
“Mama,” Erin called. Angie went back into the living room. “Grandpa Hollister says they have horses at his ranch and, when I get better, I can come and ride one.”
“That would be nice.” Angie would not keep her child from her father or his family. Not ever again. Erin’s eyes sparkled, and that was all that mattered. But she had a foreboding sense her child was slipping away from her, which was ridiculous. No one could take Erin from her.
Judge Hollister soon left with a promise that he would be back. Erin chatted nonstop about how nice he was, not scary at all. Angie wanted to laugh at that, but she didn’t because she knew Judge Hollister could be scary as hell when he wanted to be.
A day that had started out dramatically had ended perfectly. Erin was bubbly and chatty, talking to Hardy on the phone and telling him about her day. She went to sleep with a smile on her face.
That set the pattern for the next few days. The letter in the paper did more than anything Angie could have done. The people of Horseshoe saw their actions through the eyes of a little girl, and it changed everything. The days that followed were busy with Erin’s friends coming and going. Jody was back, and Erin was her usual cheerful self.
Hardy went with them for the checkup to the doctor. Everything was right on schedule. They took X-rays of Erin’s chest and leg. The doctor said Angie didn’t have to tape Erin’s chest anymore. He also removed the surgical tape on her forehead and said the stitches on her hip were dissolving nicely. It was good news, and Hardy wanted to take them out to dinner to celebrate. Angie declined. They weren’t a family. She didn’t want to give Erin false hope that they could be. That’s what she told herself, but she had a hard time convincing her heart.
They ended up stopping for hamburgers at a McDonald’s, and that was all it took to make Erin’s day. It wasn’t a place she or Hardy would’ve chosen, but neither complained. It probably was the first time she’d ever been out with Hardy outside the ranch and it felt a little surreal and perfect at the same time. At the back of Angie’s mind, though, she wondered how Olivia would feel about him taking her out to eat.
Hardy said very little about Olivia, and Angie didn’t press him. It was his business. If and when it affected Erin, she would speak up. For now things were amicable.
* * *
HARDY LEFT ANGIE’S and headed into Austin. He’d given Olivia a few days to calm down and he needed to talk to her. He had to be back in court in the morning, so he couldn’t stay long.
When he reached her apartment, he could hear voices inside. He rang the doorbell. Olivia answered. Her eyes lit up when she saw him. She went into his arms and they kissed.
“I’m sorry I was testy the other day,” she said. “I think I was in shock.”
He was relieved at her words. He was still feeling a little shock himself. Laughter came from within her apartment. “Do you have company?”
“We got a verdict on the asbestos case.” She reached up and kissed him again. “A big settlement and we’re celebrating. Come in, I’ll introduce you.”
He followed her into the living area. Five other people were in the room, three men and two women. Olivia made the introductions, and he shook hands all around. A glass of wine was shoved into his hand as talk turned to their victory. Hardy felt a little out of place.
“Can I talk to you?” he whispered in her ear.
She took his hand and led them into her bedroom. She stepped into his arms, and they shared a long kiss. “I’ve missed you.”
“Me, too.” In a way he had, so he wasn’t lying.
She looked up at him. “We’re going out to a club to celebrate. Come with us. We’ll have a great time and put all the heartache aside for a while.”
That hit him the wrong way. “My daughter is not a heartache.”
“Hardy, I didn’t mean it that way.” She stepped away from him. “This is going to take time to get used to.”
“Every day I see my daughter it just gets better and better. I don’t know how else to say it. I thought fatherhood would scare me to death, but it’s becoming very natural.”
Olivia brushed back her blond hair with a nervous hand. “Are you seeing the mother, too?”
“Of course. Erin lives with her.”
Olivia sat on the bed. “Do you still have feelings for her?”
The question caught him off guard and no ran through his mind only to be mocked by his common sense. “I like Angie. I’ve always liked her. She’s a warm, loving, compassionate person and—”
“Oh, God, I’m going to gag.”
“We share a child.”
“A little fact she forgot to mention for ten damn years.” She stood quickly. “This is changing you, and it’s changing your life. Your campaign. Everything. I would think you would be extremely angry.”
He took a deep breath. “I was for a while, but all I have to do is look at Erin and the anger goes away.”
“I don’t know what you want me to say, Hardy. I’m having a hard time with this.”
“I can see that. Maybe we need to take a break until I get my life sorted out.”
She stepped closer to him and placed her hands on his chest. “Let’s go out tonight and enjoy the evening. Just the two of us and forget about all the problems.”
“You mean forget about my daughter.”
Her eyes flashed with anger. “You always come back to that as if you want to shut me out.”
“Olivia, this has been a very difficult time and—”
“Forget it, Hardy. I’m going out tonight and enjoying myself with or without you.” She stomped out of the room. He stood there for a moment, wondering if his life was ever going to get back on track.
He left without speaking to her again, and he knew that their relationship was over. She might not admit it and it might take a while to sink in, but he knew Olivia was not going to accept his daughter. Without that, they had no relationship. It was that simple.
* * *
THE NEXT WEEK Hardy was in court every day, and Angie and Erin saw very little of him. He stopped by in the mornings and late at night to talk to Erin. Angie was also back at work and busy. It was what she needed to get her mind on something else.
That evening Hardy was in a good mood because he’d gotten a conviction on the robbery case. His dark blue eyes gleamed when he talked about his work. He really enjoyed putting criminals behind bars, and Angie couldn’t help but think he’d make a good judge.
Erin was in her room, talking to Jody on the phone, and they were sitting on the sofa. He had on his customary jeans, white shirt and boots. During a trial he wore a suit, but most of the time he was in pressed jeans and white shirts. The shirts were always long-sleeved, and he filled them out better than any man she’d ever seen. The cotton fabric stretched tight across his broad shoulders, and she thought she could look at him all day long.
“Erin will be off the crutches soon. I’d like to take her out to the ranch,” Hardy said. “Actually, I have orders to bring her.”
She collected her wa
ndering thoughts and settled back in the corner of the sofa. “What made your father change his mind?”
“When he saw her eyes, he knew Erin was mine, and that changed his whole attitude. I’m not saying the controlling, manipulative man is gone, but he’s easier to deal with.” He glanced at her. “I’d like for you to come with us.”
For a moment she was completely mesmerized by the warmth of his eyes and the temptation to agree was strong. But her time at the ranch was over. She couldn’t go back. She wouldn’t go back. “I think this is father-daughter time, and I have tons of work to catch up on now that Erin is so much better.”
Strong lines of concern were etched in his face. “It would be easier for Erin if you came.”
Her heart raced and she hated herself for being so gullible. “It might be a good time to introduce her to Olivia.” Did she just say that? Oh, the things she did for her daughter.
He rubbed his hands together. “Olivia and I are taking a break.”
“Because of Erin?”
He looked at her levelly. “She has to accept my kid or we have nothing.”
“I’m sorry, Hardy.” Everything she feared was coming true. She was ruining his life. His plans. His dreams. She never wanted that to happen. Damn fate. Damn everything that made her feel so guilty. So vulnerable. So helpless.
The phone rang and Angie jumped up to answer it. Hardly anyone called her on the landline, and she’d been meaning to take it out. It was probably a telemarketer. She was in a hurry to get off the phone to assure Hardy...of what? She wasn’t sure. She just wanted to get rid of the guilt that rode her conscience.
“Is this Angela Wiznowski?”
“Yes.”
“This is Sharon Dunlap. I’m with Child Protective Services.”
Angie froze for a moment. “What is this about? Do you have the right person?”
“Do you live in Horseshoe, Texas, and have a ten-year-old daughter named Erin?”
A shiver of alarm shot through her. “Yes.”
“I’d like to talk with you at your earliest convenience.”
“What is this about?”
“I’d rather not talk about it on the phone. Do you have any time tomorrow?”