Seduced

by Metsy Hingle

  “Michael, it sounds almost like a...a...”

  “A suicide note,” he finished. “I know. That’s what I thought, too. A couple of days after Phillip was killed in a car wreck, Sara received a letter from him. I think it was that letter. She never would tell me what it said, but I remember she was pretty broken up at the time.”

  “You were going to give that letter to the judge,” she said, realizing now why Michael had been so confident he could win. He had planned to use the letter to convince the court that not even Phillip had wanted his mother to have Summer.

  “I was at first,” he admitted. “But I changed my mind. I couldn’t go through with it. As much as I dislike the woman, I couldn’t let her spend the rest of her life wondering if she’d caused her son to kill himself. No one deserves that kind of hell, not even her.”

  “Oh, Michael.” Amanda threw her arms around his neck and held him close.

  He hugged her tight for a moment, then set her away from him. “That’s why I called Dave. To have him arrange a meeting with Martha. I did a lot of thinking about what you said the other night, about my not being fair to Summer. I’d decided to tell Summer about Martha being her grandmother. I was going to try to work something out with Martha...where she could see Summer.” His eyes searched her face. “Please believe me, Amanda. I love you. And I need you. But not for Summer, for myself.”

  When he pulled her into his arms, Amanda let the tears fall, but this time, they were tears of joy.

  After Michael had kissed away the last of her tears and her doubts, he asked, “Will you help me break the news to Summer?”

  “Yes,” Amanda whispered. Holding his hand, they went upstairs in search of the little girl.

  “Summer?” Amanda poked her head into the child’s room. It was empty. “That’s odd, she’s not here. Michael, check your bedroom. I asked her to move some things in there for me.”

  But that room was empty, too. Amanda spied one of the cartons on the floor. “She carried this up for me. Maybe she went down to get the other one.”

  The other carton was sitting in the living room where Amanda had left it, but there was still no sign of Summer.

  Trying not to panic, Amanda helped Michael search the rest of the house and the yard. When Summer still hadn’t turned up at any of the neighbors’ homes, both she and Michael were frantic.

  Where can she be? Amanda kept asking herself. Pacing the room, she pushed aside the curtain and looked out into the yard once more while praying for a glimpse of Summer.

  All she saw was the sun setting, another reminder that neither she nor Michael had seen the child for several hours. “Where could she have disappeared to?”

  “I don’t know,” Michael said, coming to stand behind her. “But I’ve called the police.”

  Amanda turned into his arms. “What did they say?”

  “I have to go down to the station and give them a picture of her and sign a formal statement. After I do that, I’m going out to look for her again.”

  “I’ll come with you.”

  “No. I need you to wait here in case she calls or comes back.” His eyes filled with tears and he pulled Amanda to him. “If anything happens to her...”

  “Nothing’s going to happen to her,” Amanda told him. It couldn’t. Taking a steadying breath, she pulled back so she could see his face. She stroked his jaw with her fingertips, feeling the light stubble that shadowed his face. “We’ll find her, Michael. I know we will.”

  “I hope you’re right.” Straightening his shoulders, Michael set Amanda away from him. “I’ll call you from the police station.”

  He picked up his coat. As he did so, the court petition envelope fell from the couch to the ground beside the carton.

  Amanda stooped down and picked it up. Suddenly her body went cold. Feeling as though her heart might stop, she dropped to the floor and started searching for the court subpoena and hearing notice.

  “Amanda, what is it? What’s the matter?”

  “The notice about the custody hearing,” she told him while frantically shoving aside the carton. She scrambled, searching under the table.

  “What about it?”

  “I dropped it in here...on the floor.” She started pulling the pillows from the couch and tossing them onto the floor. “It’s not here. I dropped it in here when you called to me from the study.”

  Michael paled as her words registered.

  “It must have fallen on the floor. And when Summer came down to get the box...”

  Michael sank down onto the couch; he buried his head in his hands. “No wonder she ran away. She must hate me for lying to her.”

  Amanda sat down next to him and squeezed his arm. “You don’t know that. Once you explain to her—”

  “Explain what?” he shot back. “That I deliberately kept her grandmother from her? You know how much she wanted to find the woman. Would you forgive me if you were her?”

  “Yes,” Amanda whispered. She touched his face. “I’d forgive you because I love you. And Summer loves you, too.”

  Michael turned his face into her palm and kissed it. “What would I do without you?”

  “You’re not going to get a chance to find out. Come on, we’ve got to call Martha.”

  But after being told for the third time that Mrs. Winthrop was out, Michael slammed down the telephone receiver. “I’m going over there,” he told Amanda. “That damn butler of hers won’t tell me anything.”

  Grabbing her bag, Amanda followed Michael to the door. He pulled it open and nearly ran into Martha Winthrop. She stood on the step with Summer beside her, her hand lifted, poised to knock.

  “Summer!” Michael dropped to his knees and reached for his niece. He hugged her to him.

  “I’m sorry I left without telling you,” Summer said.

  “It doesn’t matter, kitten. Just as long as you’re all right.”

  “May I come in?” Martha asked, her voice cool.

  Michael seemed unable to move, so Amanda stepped forward and touched his shoulder. He stepped back, taking Summer with him.

  “Of course, Martha. Come in.” Amanda shut the door and went to stand beside Michael and Summer. “Please, sit down,” she said, gesturing to a chair.

  Martha sat down and for the first time Amanda noted that she looked older, more tired than the last time she’d seen her. The regal bearing was still there, but the proud tilt of her chin wasn’t quite as high and her usually squared shoulders had the slightest droop. Even her green eyes seemed to have lost some of their fire.

  “In case you’re wondering, I didn’t kidnap Summer.”

  “We know that,” Amanda said.

  “She called me. She told me she knew I was her grandmother and said that she needed to see me. I knew if I told you she’d called, you’d refuse to let me see her. So I told her to wait for me outside.”

  Summer’s eyes were wide, frightened, as she looked at her uncle. “I came down to get the other box, to bring it upstairs. And I heard you and Aunt Mandy shouting at each other. Aunt Mandy said she wasn’t going to marry you...because of me...because of the c-custody suit. She said she was going away and not coming back.”

  Amanda’s heart ached at the pain she had caused this child. “Oh, Summer. I’m so sorry you heard that. Those things I said, it wasn’t because of you. It was because of me. Because I was afraid.”

  “I didn’t want you to go away. I was going to unpack your things so you would have to stay. But when I came to get the box, I found this paper.” She held out the document and Michael took it. “It said...it said I had a grandmother and that she wanted me to come live with her.” Summer sniffed; tears welled in her eyes as she looked at her uncle. “You told me I didn’t have a grandmother,” she accused.

  Michael’s face was ashen. “I know,” he said, his voice barely audible. “I’m sorry I lied to you, Summer. It was wrong of me.”

  “Anyway, I got my grandmother’s name from that paper and called information. T
hey gave me her number, so I called her.”

  Tears slid down Amanda’s cheeks as she listened to Summer. This was as much her fault as Michael’s. Her own fears and insecurities had led to this. And she’d hurt the two people she loved most.

  “I know I shouldn’t have come here and taken her as I did. I can see by your faces that you were worried. But I won’t apologize. No matter how much you dislike it, she is my granddaughter.” Martha’s chin rose proudly. “And if it were up to me, I wouldn’t have brought her back.”

  “Why did you?” Michael asked.

  “Because she asked me to.” She glanced over at Summer, and Amanda could see the yearning. “As much as I want her to be with me, I want her to be happy even more. I blame myself for her father’s unhappiness.” She twisted her hands in her lap. “I should have let him marry your sister when he wanted to. If I had, they might both still be alive today. And I wouldn’t have lost all these years with my granddaughter.”

  Her voice cracked and Amanda watched her fight for control. After swallowing, Martha looked directly at Michael. “I know I can give Summer a better life than you can. And if we went to court, I’m sure I could beat you. But I ruined my son’s life by forcing him to live by my standards. I’m not going to make the same mistake with my granddaughter. She loves the two of you and wants to be with you. Summer’s asked me not to fight you for custody. So I won’t. I’ve already instructed my attorneys to drop the lawsuit.”

  Martha glanced over at Summer and gave her a small smile. “Come say goodbye to your grandmother, child.” She opened her arms and Summer rushed into them.

  Amanda nearly choked on the lump in her throat. She reached for Michael’s hand.

  Martha held Summer a moment longer, then pulled back. She cupped her cheek. “Be happy, dear. And remember, I love you. If you ever want anything, need anything, all you have to do is call.”

  “I love you, too, Grandma. And I’ll remember.”

  She stood. “Take good care of my granddaughter and make her happy,” Martha ordered with a touch of her old arrogance. “Because if you don’t, you’ll both answer to me.” Martha started for the door.

  “Martha, wait,” Michael called out.

  She turned around to face him.

  “I...we need to talk.”

  Amanda squeezed Michael’s fingers, realizing how difficult this was for him and trying to give him the strength to continue.

  “I’d planned to call you, anyway. I...” He looked at Amanda, then back at Martha. “Amanda’s helped me to see how selfish I’ve been. All these years I’ve blamed you for my father’s death.”

  Martha sighed. “It was an accident, Michael. And he was the one who opted not to take out adequate insurance for your family.”

  “I know that. But it was easier to blame you than him. And then when Sara left, I blamed you for that, too.”

  “If it’s any consolation, I hold myself responsible for what happened to her and Phillip.”

  “It wasn’t your fault—not entirely. It was mine, too. Sara may have left because she was afraid you’d take Summer from her, but I’m the reason she stayed away. Because I wouldn’t let go of the anger and hatred.” He took a deep breath and continued. “I almost lost Summer and the woman I love because I was afraid to give them a choice. I thought if I let Summer know you, love you, that she wouldn’t love me.”

  He looked at Amanda and her heart swelled at the love in his eyes.

  “I know now that the only way to hold on to someone’s love is by allowing them to give it freely.”

  He looked back at Martha. “And just because Summer loves you doesn’t mean she won’t love me. You’re her grandmother and you should be a part of her life.”

  Martha remained silent, her expression closed. But when Summer moved toward her, she opened her arms. She glanced up at Michael. “I don’t know what to say, except thank you.”

  Summer turned to face them. “Does this mean I can go for visits now like Michelle does with her grandmother?”

  “Yes, it does,” Michael assured her.

  “And I can stay overnight?”

  “If it’s all right with your grandmother,” Michael told her.

  “It’s fine with me. She’s welcome anytime.”

  “How about next week?” Michael asked.

  Amanda shot him a puzzled look. “Next week?”

  He grinned. “I know Summer and I come as a package deal. But even you have to admit three’s a crowd on a honeymoon.” He looked over at Martha. “Would you mind keeping Summer for a week while Amanda and I go on a honeymoon?”

  Martha smiled; her eyes brimmed with tears. “Take two weeks, take a month, if you’d like.”

  “Wait till I tell Michelle,” Summer said excitedly, then followed it with a big yawn.

  Amanda chuckled. “I think Michelle’s going to have to wait until tomorrow. It’s time you got ready for bed. We’ve got a lot to do before Saturday.” She looked up at Martha. “Would you like to tuck her in?”

  “I’d like that. Very much,” Martha said.

  “Come on, Grandma, I’ll show you my room.” Taking her by the hand, Summer led the older woman up the stairs.

  Once they were alone, Michael took Amanda in his arms. “No second thoughts?”

  She snuggled closer. “About what?”

  “Marrying me.” He paused. “I come with a lot of baggage, Amanda. I’m stubborn...”

  “True.”

  “And impatient...”

  “I know.”

  “And I have a tendency to force my will upon other people.”

  “Yes, you do.”

  “I know I practically forced you into agreeing on a quick wedding, when I should probably have let you have the engagement you wanted.”

  “I don’t want a long engagement, Michael.”

  “And I guess I’m selfish, too, because I don’t want to give you more time when I know I should. But I’m too afraid of losing you,” he said.

  “Michael, are you listening to me? I don’t want more time.” She slid her arms around his neck.

  “You don’t?”

  “No.” She brushed her lips across his. “I love you. And I want to marry you. On Saturday.”

  “You do?” he asked, his voice growing husky.

  “Mmm-hmm.” She traced his mouth with her tongue. A thrill of excitement went through her as Michael pressed his body, already hard with desire, against her. “You weren’t the only one who was afraid, Michael. I was afraid, too. Afraid to take a chance on loving you.”

  “And now?”

  “I’m still afraid, but I know now that loving you and being loved by you is worth any risk.”

  * * * * *

  ISBN: 978-1-4592-8651-1

  Seduced

  Copyright © 1994 by Metsy Hingle

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