Matter Of Trust

by Lisa Harris

  Needing a distraction from his nearness, she picked up his Stetson and set it on his head. “My mom’s waiting for me outside.”

  He shot her a smile. “Can I take you out for coffee?”

  “Are you trying to avoid my mother?”

  “You bet.”

  Kayla laughed. She certainly didn’t blame him. The last thing she wanted to do right now was tell her mother she’d just kissed Ty Lawrence. She had no idea what the future held, but for the moment she much preferred staying lost in his gaze. The details of what had transpired could be worked out later. “You didn’t think I was going to leave you now, did you?”

  “I hope not.”

  “You wait here, and I’ll go tell her.”

  “No, I’ll come with you.”

  She hurried outside with Ty at her side and headed toward the driver’s side of the van, trying to calm the turmoil raging inside. Her mom wasn’t going to respond well to this.

  “Where have you been?” Her mom stuck her head out of the driver’s window then frowned. “Ty? What are you doing here?”

  “Mom.” Kayla leaned her arm against the door and forced a smile. “Ty and I are going out for a cup of coffee. He’ll drop me off later at my apartment.”

  “Kayla.” Her mom grabbed Kayla’s arm. “I need to talk to you. Alone.”

  Kayla glanced at Ty who looked as if he wished he were anywhere else but here. “Do you mind?”

  He shook his head. “I’ll go get my car.”

  Once he’d walked away, Kayla caught her mom’s fiery gaze. “What is going on?”

  Kayla kept her voice steady. “It’s only coffee, Mom.”

  She wasn’t ready to supply any further details. And besides, how could she when she didn’t know exactly what had happened? One kiss might have left her head spinning, but the future still held no guarantees.

  “Kayla, I thought you called things off with that man.”

  “He’s not the same man he was a year ago.”

  “Apparently you’re the same person.” Her mother’s frown deepened. “You haven’t learned a thing.”

  Kayla stared at the side of the van and tried to control her temper. “Mom—”

  “No. I want you to listen to me. Maybe you’ve forgotten, but the day you came back from Boston you were devastated. Ty Lawrence is a liar, and you know from the past that he will do anything to get what he wants. He’s after you, Kayla, and if you don’t turn and walk away right now, it’s going to be too late.”

  Kayla clenched her hands until her fingernails bit into her palms. She forced herself to push away any lingering doubts of who Ty really was.

  “A lot of things happened during this past year, Mom. Things that forced him to re-evaluate his life. I’m not saying we’re getting back together, and I know you don’t understand, but I believe him.”

  Her mom slammed her hands against the steering wheel. “Of course I don’t understand. That is why I’m trying to stop you from making the biggest mistake of your life. You found out before it was too late last time, but this time …”

  “Mom—”

  “You’re old enough to make your own decision, but don’t ever come back to me and say I didn’t warn you.”

  Kayla watched as her mom jerked the van into reverse and spun out of the parking lot. A moment later Ty pulled up beside her and reached over to open the passenger door. “Is everything all right?” he asked, as she climbed in beside him.

  Kayla shook her head. “I knew she’d be upset, but she had so much hurt in her eyes. As if I let her down.”

  “Do you blame her?” Ty pulled out of the parking lot and headed for an all-night coffee shop around the corner. “She has no reason to believe me.”

  “You’re not doing a very good job of convincing.” Kayla laughed, but reality stung. While she might be old enough to make her own decisions, she still respected her mother’s experienced opinion.

  He reached out and squeezed her hand. “I was hoping I wouldn’t have to convince you anymore.”

  “You don’t. But she loves me and doesn’t want me to get hurt.”

  Ty drove into a parking place and shut off the engine before turning to her. He pulled her hand toward his chest and caught her gaze. “I was a fool to lose you the last time, though I know I deserved it. I was never good enough for you.”

  Kayla struggled to take another breath. “That’s not true—”

  “Shhh.” He pressed his finger against her lips. “Let me finish. I want to do things right this time, with everything out in the open. I am not perfect—you know that—but I promise you I will never intentionally hurt you again. Never.”

  She squeezed her arms around her waist and blinked back the tears. He was right about one thing. Ty had hurt her. He had deceived her … and yet she believed he was a changed man.

  Oh God, please let me be right.

  five

  Yellow rays of afternoon sunlight filtered through the sheer living room curtains of Chloe Parker’s house as Kayla emptied a box of crackers onto a glass plate. Smells of marinated steaks drifted in from the grill on the patio outside, mixing with the German potato salad and tangy coleslaw sitting on the antique mahogany table inside. As good as the spread looked, Kayla wasn’t sure she’d be able to eat a single bite. Agreeing to bring Ty to dinner with her two best friends had been a step she’d undoubtedly jumped into sooner than she should have. How could she explain their relationship to her friends when she wasn’t even ready to venture her own guess as to where they were headed? No matter what her heart wanted to believe, trust wasn’t something that could be repaired overnight.

  Chloe nudged Kayla with her elbow before shoving a strand of her long black hair out of her face. “I’ve yet to hear all the details behind how you and Ty got back together. Spill.”

  Kayla hesitated as she glanced around Chloe’s cozy dining room that opened to the kitchen and living room. Black-and-white photos of her two small boys lined the fireplace mantel. A wooden box of toys sat in the corner of the room, beside a rocking chair that was the perfect size for two-year-old Brandon. Kayla pulled out some crab dip from the picnic basket she’d brought and set it on the table. A home and family were things she’d once planned to have with Ty. Losing that dream had shattered all her childhood illusions of living happily ever after. Having him back in her life had yet to erase the fears that her newfound hopes for the two of them might vanish a second time.

  She drew in a breath and tried to calm the butterflies that flitted in her stomach. “There’s honestly not much to tell at this point.”

  Chloe folded her arms across her chest. “Somehow I don’t believe that.”

  “Me either.” Jenny shook her head as she added a stack of paper plates from the kitchen bar to the buffet table. “You’ve been too hush-hush about everything. It’s time you gave us a little insider information. We are your best friends, girl.”

  She couldn’t help but laugh as she looked up at Chloe and Jenny who stood side by side like a pair of interrogation officers. She’d given them very few details during the past month, but that hadn’t stopped them from arranging an afternoon barbeque where they could check out Ty for themselves.

  Kayla tried to shrug off the ridiculous case of nerves that had consumed her all day. These were her friends. Best friends since the seventh grade when the three of them had stood up against Angie Edwards and the Farrington Junior High cheerleaders whose antics had put them at odds outside the classroom more than once.

  Kayla gripped the edge of the table with her fingertips. “I promise I’m not trying to keep things from the two of you, but Ty and I still have a lot of things we need to work out. We’re completely starting over.”

  “Right.” Jenny’s blue eyes widened. “And how long is that going to last?”

  “Jenny.” Kayla felt a blush cross her cheeks.

  Ty’s one kiss after the company-catered dinner and observing him when he didn’t know she was there had managed to change her ent
ire world and push aside the resolutions she’d put into place over the past year. But until all her doubts were gone she was determined they take things slowly. Which was exactly what had happened so far.

  He’d kept his word, and they’d started seeing each other again as if they were dating for the first time. They’d gone out for dinner, movies at the Rialto Theater, ice cream at Barry’s Café, and even a couple of Saturday afternoons on his friend Charlie’s boat. In between they’d talked. She’d begun to trust him again—enough to let him into her life—but was still determined to move ahead with their relationship one slow step at a time. Which was exactly why she’d shared little with her mom—or with Jenny and Chloe—about their relationship.

  “We’re your friends.” Jenny flung her arm around Kayla’s shoulder. “All we want is what’s best for you.”

  “Or perhaps a chance to check him out up close.” Kayla shot her friend a grin as she picked up a serving spoon from the table and stuck it in the coleslaw.

  “You bet that’s what I mean.” Jenny laughed, but her smile melted into a frown. “It’s also our job to make sure you don’t get your heart broken again.”

  The innocent comment pierced through the layer of protection Kayla had wrapped around her heart. She knew she had no guarantees Ty wouldn’t walk off with the shattered pieces of her heart again. Kayla glanced out the kitchen window that overlooked the backyard and tried to ignore the implications. Ty stood beside the grill with the other two guys, looking as if he were having a good time. His white T-shirt showed off his tan skin, and when he laughed a dimple appeared on his left cheek. He’d always been irresistible. That’s why she’d left Boston. Was she only fooling herself into believing things could be different this time around?

  No. Things were different this time. Completely different. She was convinced of it.

  “Jenny’s exactly right, you know.” Chloe interrupted Kayla’s thoughts. “It’s our job to watch out for each other.”

  “So what do you think about the new Ty?” Kayla dunked a cracker into the crab dip. Maybe food would settle her stomach after all.

  Chloe picked up an empty sippy cup from the table then headed into the adjoining kitchen to rinse it out in the sink. “Honestly, while I’m happy for you, it’s hard to be objective at this point. I mean, this is the guy who broke your heart, Kayla. I can’t forget how many times you cried on my shoulder after you moved back.”

  “She is right, Kayla.” Jenny popped open a jar of salsa and set it next to the chips. “I was supposed to be your maid of honor, and instead you came home with a broken heart.”

  Kayla frowned. The broken heart was one fact that no one, especially her mother, was willing to forget. And as many times as she’d tried to rationalize it, if she was honest with herself, it was an issue that was hard for her to leave in the past as well. “Things are different now.”

  “I hope so.” Jenny followed Kayla’s gaze out the window. “Though there never was any question as to how handsome the guy is.”

  “Don’t let Greg hear you say that.” Chloe laughed.

  “What about your mom?” Jenny asked, ignoring Chloe’s grin. “What does she think about him coming back into your life?”

  “We don’t talk about it.” Kayla grabbed another cracker. “She’d like to pretend none of this is happening. She doesn’t trust Ty at all.”

  “The steaks are done!” Chloe’s husband, Nick, burst through the door interrupting any further conversation.

  Chloe took the platter of meat from her husband to set on the table. “Are the kids behaving, honey?”

  “Come look for yourself. Jeremy just roped Ty into a game of catch.”

  Chloe followed Nick outside with a clean plate for the grilled potatoes.

  Kayla looked outside at the spacious backyard. It appeared that the game of catch had been postponed. At that moment four-year-old Jeremy was tackling Ty who was on his hands and knees. Two-year-old Brandon had hold of Ty’s leg and was pulling with a determined look on his face.

  A wave of peace flooded the corners of Kayla’s heart as she watched the playful struggle until Ty collapsed to the ground, pretending to admit defeat.

  “He’s really good with kids,” Jenny said, standing beside her.

  “Funny thing is, I never knew it.” Kayla watched Ty roll over and toss Brandon a foot into the air above him. “A year ago he wouldn’t have been out there on the grass wrestling with two little boys. He’d have been too worried about messing up his designer suit.”

  “Can someone really change that much in such a short time?” Jenny laid her hand on Kayla’s arm. “I’m sorry. I had no right—”

  “It’s okay.” Hadn’t she asked herself the very same question dozens of times over the past two weeks?

  Jenny gave Kayla a hug. “I just don’t want you to get hurt again.”

  Chloe set the potatoes on the table then rang the cast iron dinner bell to bring everyone to the table.

  Thirty minutes later Ty leaned back and patted his firm stomach. “Boy, am I full. This was delicious, ladies.”

  “Absolutely wonderful.” Nick reached out and squeezed his wife’s hand.

  “I think it’s time for two little boys to take a nap.” Chloe looked at her kids whose eyes were beginning to droop.

  Jeremy started to protest, but one look from his mother stopped him.

  “Take a good nap for your mom, and I’ll turn on the sprinkler later.” Their father’s offer brought smiles to their faces as they slid off their chairs and into his arms.

  The scene brought a smile to Kayla’s lips as well. She turned to Chloe. “You’re lucky Nick’s as good a father as he is a lawyer.”

  Five minutes later Nick returned from the boys’ bedroom and came up behind Chloe to nuzzle his chin in her hair. “Are you into motorcycles, Ty?”

  “I’ve ridden a few times.” Ty set his fork down on the plate that had held the second piece of coconut pie Kayla had made. “My father had one when I was in high school—until he broke both legs and my mother made him sell it.”

  “Don’t get any ideas.” Nick covered Chloe’s ears with his hands, a playful expression on his face. She squirmed out of his grasp before reaching up and planting a firm kiss on his lips.

  “Good luck.” Jenny reached out and grabbed Greg’s hand. “I told Greg I’d never ride a motorcycle. Now he’s got me outfitted with everything from a battery-heated vest to a pair of leather boots.”

  “We all know you’re dying to check out Greg’s new toy, so go have fun.”

  Chloe had barely finished her sentence when the men jumped up from the table. Nick kissed his wife again then headed for the garage door.

  Kayla laughed, but a part of her still ached in confusion. A year ago holding hands or letting Ty kiss her had seemed a natural part of their relationship. Figuring out where they stood today was a whole other issue.

  Kayla let Ty take her hand and lead her down the tree-lined street in front of her apartment building. Walking through the quiet neighborhood was the perfect way to end the day.

  “I like your friends.” Ty kicked an acorn with the tip of his boot, then watched it bounce across the pavement.

  “I’m glad.” While she knew Chloe and Jenny still held a handful of reservations, the awkwardness of the day had melted into peacefulness as Kayla’s friends had worked to make them both feel comfortable with a boisterous game of charades. “You sure seemed to enjoy Nick and Chloe’s boys.”

  “They’re sweet kids. It’s been a long time since I had so much fun rolling on the grass.”

  “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you roll on the grass.” Kayla laughed. “I liked it.”

  “I guess you’re right. A year ago I would have worried about what the next person might be thinking about me.”

  “And today?”

  Ty stopped and turned so he could look at her.

  “Only one person’s opinion matters to me now.” His blue eyes gazed at her.

 
“And whose is that?”

  Ty tipped her chin and brought his face inches from Kayla’s. “Yours.”

  Kayla could feel his warm breath on her face, but he made no move to lean down farther and kiss her. As much as she wanted his lips on hers, she took a step back. If she let him kiss her, she wouldn’t be able to think clearly.

  They started walking again in silence, each occupied with their own thoughts.

  “Tell me what happened to Jack.” It was the one subject they’d put off discussing. And one she needed to understand.

  The muscles in his hand flinched, and she knew she’d broached a painful topic. Still, she had to know exactly what led Ty to change his life so drastically.

  “I know this is a painful subject for you.”

  “And one you have every right to know.” Ty led Kayla to a bench just off the road, under two large oak trees whose branches spanned the wide street. “Jack’s death was a major factor in my finding Christ. It’s sad, but in his death I found life.”

  “God’s way of bringing good in the worst of circumstances?”

  “Maybe.” Ty was silent for a moment. “I’m not sure when Jack started having marital problems. He and his wife had been fighting for months, but shortly after you left Boston he found out Karen was having an affair with a man at her office.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that. Jack was a good guy.”

  “Within a week Karen filed the divorce papers and was gone. I never saw her again. Jack didn’t take it well. I think deep down he honestly believed things would work out between them. When she didn’t come back, it devastated him. Two weeks later I went by his apartment to pick him up for a basketball game. I found him lying dead on the kitchen floor. He’d shot himself.”

  Kayla shuddered and squeezed Ty’s hand. “I’m so sorry.”

  “I’m sorry because Jack never knew God. He never knew Christ was the one place where he could have found relief and peace.”

  “What about you? How did his death change you?”

  “My grandfather had a heart attack a month later. I was furious over losing you and then Jack. In a matter of a few weeks I’d lost everything that meant anything to me. It made me start thinking about what was important.”