“I need to talk to Eve,” Alex said, smiling his thanks when Glo refilled his coffee mug. The diner was crowded, but he didn’t think anyone would be too interested in his conversation. Except maybe his waitress. She’d been hovering a little too closely every time he picked up his phone, trying to work up the courage to call the inn.
“She’s busy.”
Alex could tell by Dan’s tone that he was just stonewalling him. “Put her on. Now.”
“What the hell gives you the right to issue orders? She’s done with you. Get over it.”
“Yeah, well now that we’re going to have a kid together, we have a lot more to talk about. You better get used to having me around.”
“So she told you about that, huh?”
“Yeah,” Alex said, shifting so his back was to the other patrons. He lowered his voice to little more than a fierce whisper. “You’re pathetic, you know that? The fact that you would try to—”
“I love her. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to protect her and that baby she’s carrying.”
Alex clenched his fist, knowing if they were toe-to-toe, only one of them would walk away. “She’s carrying my baby. She’s the mother of my child. You need to back the hell off and give us some space to work this out.”
“You really think I’m gonna leave her alone to deal with you and your over-paid legal team? Think again, buddy.”
So Eve had taken his threats seriously enough to go home and tell her protector? Alex had been afraid of that. “Put Eve on the goddamn phone right now, or I’m gonna be on your doorstep so fast—”
“Do we need to a get a restraining order, Bolton?”
Alex’s heart hammered. He knew judges commonly ordered restraining orders in cases like his, which meant his hands would be tied. He wouldn’t be able to contact Eve… to tell her how sorry he was. To beg her for a chance to set things right. “I don’t want to upset her. Just let me talk to her.”
“If she wanted to talk to you, she would have returned your calls. Leave her the hell alone.”
Alex closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and prayed for patience when the line went dead.
“Wow, looks like that didn’t go well,” Gloria said, sliding into the bench seat across from him. “What happened?”
Alex hadn’t told Gloria, or anyone, about the baby. He was still getting used to the idea himself. He was going to be a daddy. Every baby he saw on the street made him do a double-take. With every day that passed, he felt more fiercely protective of his unborn child and more determined than ever to set things right with his baby’s mama. He reached for his coffee mug. “That was Eve’s ex-boyfriend. The bane of my existence.”
“How come you were talking to him?”
Alex looked around the busy diner. “Don’t you have work to do?” He knew he was being grumpy, but he wanted to be alone.
“Lucky for you, I’m on my lunch break, so you can tell me all about why you’ve been in such a pissy mood ever since your wife’s visit.”
“What if I don’t want to tell you?” he asked, sounding like an insolent five-year-old. He couldn’t even summon the energy to care when Gloria laughed in his face. “I don’t wanna talk about it, so let’s just drop it, okay?”
“Is she hooking up with her ex? Is that why you’re so pissed?”
“No, she’s not hooking up with her ex.” Alex would have to kill Dan with his bare hands if he laid one hand on Eve while she carried his baby. She may not be his wife anymore, but they had a bond no judge could sever.
“So, what is it?” She nudged Alex with her foot. “Come on, I’m dying here. Tell me already.”
Alex glared at her, but it had little effect. Tonya always reacted the same way when he tried to get her to back off. “She’s pregnant, okay?”
“Oh, wow.” Gloria leaned forward, her eyes wide. “And she doesn’t know if the kid is yours? Is that what’s got you so bent out of shape?”
Alex rolled his eyes. “Girl, you watch too much TV. Of course the baby is mine. I’m the only man she’s been with for the past twelve years.”
“Are you sure about that?”
Alex knew she was baiting him, but he didn’t know why. “What kind of question is that?”
“I think it’s a reasonable one, since you’re divorced and all.”
Gloria didn’t know Eve the way he did, so he supposed it was a fair question. Dropping his head in his hands, he thought back to their last conversation. He cringed when he remembered throwing the same accusation at her, making her believe he thought she was capable of cheating. “The baby is mine, Glo. There’s no doubt in my mind about that.”
“Then what the hell are you still doing here? You should be back there, trying to work things out with your wife.”
“My ex-wife,” he reminded her. He wished that word didn’t leave such a bitter taste in his mouth. He should get used to saying it, but that was like hoping he’d get used to the pain of an abscessed tooth. Not gonna happen.
“Who cares what some judge says, Alex? Eve still loves you, and it’s obvious you still love her. Why aren’t you back in Richmond fighting for her? You’re going to have a baby together. Do you want your kid to grow up without a father?”
“That’ll never happen,” he said fiercely. “No matter what, I’m going to be a part of his or her life, I can promise you that.” He couldn’t believe Eve would really try to keep him from their child, no matter how angry she was.
“But wouldn’t it be better if you could raise him together… as a family?”
He’d love nothing more. He didn’t know how to get there though. It seemed almost hopeless. At least before his outburst, they’d had a mutual love and respect, a strong foundation of friendship. He’d managed to screw that up with his hair-trigger temper and wild accusations.
“Well?”
“Of course it would, but how the hell are we supposed to get there when she won’t even talk to me?”
“Go there. Camp out on her doorstep. Do whatever it takes to make her listen to you.”
“Her ex just threatened me with a restraining order,” Alex said, pondering whether Eve would ever resort to such drastic steps.
“I saw the look on Eve’s face when she saw us together.” Gloria laughed. “She thought you and I were a couple.”
Alex smirked, finally finding humor in something. “She must have been delirious from the long drive.”
“I know, right?” Her eyes sparkled with suppressed laughter. “Couldn’t she see you’re old enough to be my father?”
“Hey, I’m not that old!” He smiled though, grateful she had found the words to lighten his dismal mood.
“My point is that woman still loves you, and you’re a fool if you waste any more time sitting here talking to me. You need to be talking to her.”
“You’re right.” Alex slid out of the booth and reached for his helmet as he kissed her cheek. “Thanks for everything, Glo. You’ve been a good friend.”
“My pleasure.” Her eyes went misty. “I hope everything works out for you guys. Every kid deserves to have two parents who love him.”
Alex reached into his pocket for his leather-bound check book. He wasn’t in hiding any longer, so he could spend his money freely again. “Got a pen?”
“Why?” Gloria asked warily as she handed one over.
He wrote a check for thirty-five thousand, leaving the top space blank when he realized he didn’t even know for sure that Gloria shared her father’s last name. “This should be enough for you to buy a decent set of wheels and pay your rent until you can finish school and land a nursing job.”
She gaped at the amount when he handed her the check. “Are you insane? You can’t give me this kind of money. You barely even know me.”
“I know that I like you.” He secured his helmet and grinned. “Besides, my little buddy deserves to drive around in style and so does his mama. Give him a kiss for me, will ya?”
She reached for his hand when he turned to w
alk away. “Thanks, Alex. No one has ever done anything like this for me. I don’t—”
“Hey, I’m just trying to restore your faith in men. Just because Jacob’s dad was a jerk doesn’t mean all guys are. You’re going to find someone amazing. Someone who will love you and that little boy the way you deserve to be loved.”
She smiled. “I hope Eve realizes how lucky she is to have you.”
“I just hope I can make her believe that I finally know how lucky I am to have her.”
***
Alex walked into his parents’ house and took it all in. He felt like he was seeing it with a new set of eyes as he saw images flash through his mind. The evidence of the amazing childhood he’d had in that home was everywhere: in the photographs on the walls, the height markers inside the coat closet, and the basketball hoop still in the driveway. He wanted that for his son or daughter—a lifetime of memories without ever having to question how much his parents loved him or each other.
Marianne rounded the corner, looking stunned when she spotted him.
“I hope you don’t mind I used my key?” he asked.
“Of course not,” she said softly, wringing her hands as though she wasn’t sure how her son would respond if she reached out to him. “It’s so good to see you. We’ve been so worried.”
He reached out to her. She needed the physical connection to know he’d forgiven her. “I know. I’m sorry.”
She stepped into his arms and clung to him. Her voice broke when she whispered, “You have nothing to be sorry for. I was so wrong. I should have talked to you before I made that deal. That company, it really belonged to you and your father. I just—”
“Sssh.” Alex stepped back, taking her hands in his. Looking into his mother’s eyes, he saw the grief his absence had caused. One day in the not-too-distant future, he could be the one asking his own child for forgiveness. “You didn’t do anything wrong. You were only thinking about what was best for me and Eve. I get that now.”
“You do?” Marianne asked, squeezing his hands. “Really?”
“Really.” He released her hands and put his arm around her shoulders to lead her into the comfortable family room that was the hub of the large home. “You made the right call. It was time for me to step back from the company. I just needed a little distance to figure things out.”
“And now you have? Figured things out, I mean?” Marianne looked hopeful. “Does that mean you and Eve—”
He knew he couldn’t ease the shock of the truth, so he’d decided to just say it. “We’re going to have a baby.” Marianne’s eyes were wide as her hand flew to her mouth. Alex smiled, knowing she’d prayed for that almost as long as Eve had. “I’d say the man upstairs has a twisted sense of humor, wouldn’t you?”
“Oh, Alex!” She grabbed him in a tight embrace. “I’m so happy for you, for both of you. But why would you agree to the divorce if—”
“I didn’t know. Eve found out about the baby the day the divorce was finalized.” Alex nodded at his mother’s look of dismay. “I know, talk about lousy timing.”
“When did you find out?”
“Just a few days ago. I guess you know she tracked me down?”
“She told me,” Marianne said, sighing. “I got the impression it didn’t go well, but I had no idea…” Sitting on the sofa, she held out her hand, inviting Alex to join her. “How did you react when she told you she was pregnant?”
“Like an idiot.” Alex knew there was no other way to describe it. “I was in shock. I said things I shouldn’t have, jumped to conclusions I shouldn’t have…” He leaned forward, letting his head drop. “I made a real mess of things. I wouldn’t blame her if she never wanted to see me again.”
“Couples argue, son,” Marianne said, laying her hand on his back. “That’s just a part of life.”
“Yeah, except we’re not a couple anymore. The only thing holding us together is this baby, and I’m afraid she’s going to do whatever it takes to shut me out of their life.”
“That doesn’t sound like Eve,” Marianne said gently. “She’s not the type to hold a grudge because of a few harsh words spoken in the heat of the moment.”
“It’s more than that, Mom.” Alex propped his elbows on his knees and linked his hands in front of his mouth. “I accused her of trying to get pregnant. I even told her I wanted a paternity test.”
Marianne gasped. “Oh my God, what were you thinking? You know Eve would never—”
“I know that.” Scraping his hands over his face, he squeezed his eyes shut. “I wasn’t thinking. I just reacted.”
“Have you tried reaching out to her to apologize?”
“Of course I have. I’ve called her at least ten times, sent her a dozen text messages. Hell, I even sent her flowers. She won’t talk to me.”
“So go there. See her in person. You two are having a child together. She needs to face you sometime.”
“I know. I’m headed there now. I just wanted to stop by and ask you a favor first.”
“Anything. You know that.”
He said, “I contacted the realtor. I’m putting my house on the market. Can you drop your extra key off at her office in the morning?”
“Are you sure you want to do that? I mean, if you and Eve can’t work things out—”
“No matter what happens, I won’t be coming back here.” He shifted to face his mother. “Even if Eve doesn’t want me anymore, I need to be close to my baby. I want to see him or her every day if I can, not just on weekends and holidays.”
“I’ve already transferred your share of the sale into your bank account,” Marianne said, looking down at her hands. Even after all these years, she still wore her wedding ring.
Alex looked at his own bare hands. He’d taken off his wedding ring too soon. He’d given up on his marriage too soon. He just hoped it wasn’t too late to rectify his mistakes. “I don’t know exactly what I’m going to do. I have an idea, but I need to talk to Eve before anyone else.”
“I understand,” Marianne said, patting his knee. “You’ll let me know as soon as you can though, won’t you?”
“Of course. Tell me something,” Alex said, hesitantly, “how did you know?”
“Know what?”
“That it was time for me to step away from the company.”
“I saw how much it had changed you, and not in a good way.” She glanced at a picture on the end table. Alex was wearing his cap and gown, his arm around his mother and little sister as his father snapped the picture. “You lost sight of what mattered. I knew you just wanted to make your father proud, but Hugh was always proud of you. No matter what you did, he knew you would give it everything you had, and that’s all he ever asked.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“He loved Eve like his own daughter,” Marianne said, reaching for his hand. “He made me promise that if something happened to him”—she cleared her throat—“I wouldn’t let you get so lost in building that business that you let it destroy your marriage.” A tear slid down her softly lined cheek. “I couldn’t keep my promise to him. I failed you and Eve. I should have taken action sooner—”
“Hey,” Alex said, pulling her close, “this isn’t your fault. I did this. I ruined my marriage, and it’s up to me to try to make things right.”
“Do you really think you can?” Marianne asked, pulling back to look him in the eye.
A smile teased his lips. “You know me, Mom. I’m gonna give it everything I’ve got.”
Chapter Thirteen
The first person Alex saw when he walked into the Lakeside Inn later that day was Jane. He didn’t know whether he should be relieved or concerned that the only person standing between him and Eve was her mother. “Hi, Jane. How’ve you been?”
Pursing her lips, she looked at him for an endless moment. “Better than my daughter, that’s for sure.”
Eve and her mother had obviously come a long way if she was so fiercely protective of her. That knowledge put Alex’s mind
at ease. She needed her mother, especially with Sharon gone and a baby on the way. “Speaking of your daughter, where is she?”
“Why should I tell you?” she asked, straightening a stack of glossy brochures.
“She told you about what happened?”
Jane glared at him. “Yes. She didn’t want to, but I finally got it out of her.” She leaned over the desk and lowered her voice to a whisper so the guests passing through the foyer wouldn’t overhear their conversation. “How could you accuse her of lying to you about—”
“I was way out of line. I know that. That’s why I’m here—to apologize.” His mouth tipped up at the corner, and he hoped she could see he was being sincere. “And to beg forgiveness.”
“Why should she forgive you?”
Alex knew it was time to call Jane out. He looked her in the eye. “Because we both know she’s a loving and forgiving woman, don’t we? If she wasn’t, she wouldn’t have welcomed you back into her life.”
They stared each other down before Jane gave him a begrudging smile. “Okay, point taken.”
“Does that mean you’re going to tell me where she is?”
“She’s down by the lake. I insisted she take some time to put her feet up after dinner. She’s been working too hard. It’s not good for her… or that baby of yours,” Jane said pointedly. “I hope you can talk some sense into her. Convince her she needs to rest and get more sleep and make sure she eats—” Jane smiled when she caught herself rambling. “I really do sound like an over-protective mother, don’t I?”
“You wear it well,” Alex said, smiling. “But don’t worry, I’m going to make sure she takes care of herself and our baby.” He winked at her. “You have my word, Grandma.”
Jane’s eyes filled with tears. She reached for his hand when he stepped away from the desk. “She loves you, Alex. That’s why this is so hard on her, because she loves you so much.”
“Trust me, the feeling is mutual.” He kissed Jane’s hand. “If it takes the rest of my life, I’m going to make it up to her. I wasn’t the husband I should have been—I know that—but I will be the father our baby needs.”
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