Lies of the Heart (Heart Romance #3)

by Laurie LeClair

  “You, too,” Walter pointed out.

  Looking up in stunned wonder, he asked, “Huh?”

  “Tessa paying dearly, you just said under your breath. You did, too. I think that’s part of the reason why Gabe made out that will the way he did. He used to say how you two were drawn to each other and maybe there was something more to it than anyone ever realized.”

  “There was,” Chance said hoarsely.

  “Is there still?”

  “I don’t know. I just don’t know anymore.”

  Chapter 26

  With a great weight in his soul, Chance inserted the key in the lock. The loud click grated along his nerves. He shoved open the door and walked in. The stale scent of mothballs rushed up to him and nearly made him gag. The dark, dingy house hadn’t felt the fresh breeze of air in years. “And so hadn’t Granny Warfield,” he muttered under his breath.

  Going in further and gently closing the door behind him, he detected the faint sounds of weeping. His middle clutched. He hardened his heart and walked across the room and to the stairs. A minute later, he'd climbed the last step and rounded the corner.

  “There, there, Theresa,” his grandmother said with her arm around the other woman’s shoulder as Granny Warfield leaned into her while they sat side by side on the bed.

  “She hates me.” Granny sniffled. “I only was trying to help her.”

  “I know. I know.”

  “You told me they’d never find out.”

  Chance’s middle clenched at that. No, it can’t be.

  “I didn’t think she would, dear. Why, my doctor friend said he’d take care of all the arrangements.”

  With each admission Chance grew a little colder. They’d conspired to conceal the baby in spite of the ongoing feud. Lord, they must have wanted to hide it pretty bad.

  “Gabe found out, didn’t he? That’s why he made up that cock-a-mamie will, wasn’t it?”

  His grandmother sighed heavily. “Yes. I tried, but he discovered it right after the baby was adopted. I guess I was feeling guilty and I couldn’t keep it in any more. It was easier to blame you. I’m sorry.”

  It felt as if a mule kicked him in the belly. He nearly doubled over. His own flesh and blood had betrayed him. It was one thing with the will; he could live with the temporary terms. But this, this was the deepest cut of all. Now, he knew just how Tessa was feeling. Who could he trust? Only Tessa’s name reverberated through his head.

  “How could you two?” he asked, shock edging his question.

  They jumped, gasping. He entered the bedroom with his fists balled.

  “Chance, please understand.”

  “Understand, Gran? You’re asking me to understand.” He snorted loudly. “While you two were in co-hoots with each other you ripped out a young girl’s heart, never mind pulled the wool over my eyes. Why, damn it?”

  Granny Warfield straightened her back. “I will not have that language in my house.”

  “The hell you have any say right now.” Gritting his teeth, he turned to his grandmother. “Why, Gran, just tell me that?”

  Her chin quivered, tugging at his heart. “It would have been a disaster, honey.”

  “Like my father’s murder.”

  They gasped in unison again, his gran pressing a hand to her chest.

  “Yes, I know,” he practically snarled.

  His grandmother broke down in tears. “I’m so sorry. Theresa’s husband had a lot of influential friends and had them cover up the mess before a scandal erupted.” Gazing up at him with pleading eyes, she said, “We did it for you and Tessa. You were just kids at the time, babies really. It was bad enough you had to live with what you did, but it could have been so much worse.” She shivered in revulsion.

  It was true, of course, but it still was hard to swallow. “Gran, you couldn’t have told us when we grew up?”

  Granny Warfield stepped near him, poking him in the chest. “What and have you two getting closer than you already were?” At his raised eyebrow, she went on, “That’s right, we knew you two were just palling around back then and look where that got you.”

  He bit back a snarky reply. “Maybe you forced us to find each other, did you ever think of that?”

  She moved back a step, surprise written across her features.

  “That’s right, Granny Warfield, we’re always attracted to the forbidden, aren’t we?”

  “Good, God, no,” she choked out.

  “Yes, while you two and granddad kept your secrets and made us shut up if we had any questions, Tessa and I had nowhere to turn to but each other. We were drawn together and you had a part in that, whether you like to admit that or not.”

  “Chance, don’t. She’s been hurt enough,” his grandmother said.

  He swallowed the lump in his throat. “I don’t know how either one of you could stick up for each other.”

  “We used to be best friends.”

  “Until Gabe came between us,” Granny Warfield said with a great deal of sadness. Wearily, she sat back down. “I loved that old cuss once.”

  It was Chance’s turn to be shaken up. He stepped back and clutched the doorframe. For the first time ever there wasn’t a trace of bitterness in the old woman’s voice.

  His grandmother sighed again. “And he loved you.” Gazing up at Chance, she winced noticeably. “I hated the fact that she got him instead of me, so I told stories, lies really. They didn’t stand a chance after that.”

  “Jealousy does that,” Mrs. W. added.

  “I’ve lived to regret it, too.” His grandmother bowed her head.

  Mrs. W. reached over and patted her hand. “Now, now, Della, don’t go blaming it all on yourself. We were young and headstrong which didn’t help one bit.” She hesitated for a moment. “Who knows if we would have lasted without your interference or not. Then after the baby…” She choked back tears.

  His grandmother reached over and grabbed her hand in hers. “Now, honey, don’t go upsetting yourself again.”

  Chance shook his head in wonder. “I can’t believe I’m hearing this.” After all the years of mudslinging this was a shock to his system.

  His gran chuckled, a hollow sound. “Well, honey, when you get old and close to dying you start looking at things differently.”

  “Gabe’s passing opened up our eyes,” Mrs. W. said.

  “Yes, we’re tired of fighting and not being friends any more.” She took a big, unsteady breath. “That’s one reason why I’m selling our house and moving in here with Theresa.”

  “Yes, and because with Tessa gone from the house I’ve been filled with self-pity.”

  “You can say that again,” he muttered under his breath.

  “I heard that.”

  He smiled at her feistiness. “You still got some bite left in you, old woman.”

  “You better believe it.”

  He was the first to chuckle, but the ladies soon joined in. After a few minutes, he sobered. “I can’t bring myself to forgive you both just yet, in time maybe, but it’s Tessa that’s hurting the most.”

  Granny Warfield looked heavenward, saying, “Lord knows I never meant to harm her. I just clung too tight and protected her too much, that’s all. And look what I’ve done.”

  “Pushed her farther away than ever,” Chance said softly. He blew out a heavy sigh. “She left me.”

  “No,” his grandmother said, shock radiating in her voice.

  “Go to her, Chance, you’re all she has now.” Mrs. W.’s demand nearly knocked him over.

  “But…you always tried keeping us apart.” He couldn’t conceal the shock reverberating in his words. “I thought you couldn’t wait until the six months were up and I leave town.”

  With tears gathering in her eyes, she bit her lip. Sighing heavily, she said, “Oh, I know. I thought you’d steal her away from me and be a bad influence on her. But, as much as I hate admitting it, she’s never been happier than she has these last few weeks with you. To hell with our deal. Go to h
er, please.”

  ***

  Chance knocked on the heavy door, each rap vibrating through him. Dread sat like a cold, hard stone in his middle. The silence all around him throbbed in his ears. The bulge in his back pocket weighed his soul down.

  After what seemed like hours, but was only minutes, the door swung open. A grim-face Devon stood on the other side. He nodded. “Chance. I was wondering how long it would be before you showed up.”

  “You going to kick me off your land?”

  “Nope. She needs you and you need her. But, she’s not here.”

  “What?” He hadn’t counted on that. “Where? Did she say?”

  “At the pub.”

  ***

  Gripping the wheel, he sped all the way to the bar. He wondered if she’d changed her mind. Could he be so lucky?

  Turning up the street, he saw her old Chevy parked in front of the bar. Chance swallowed hard as he pulled up behind her car and shut off the engine.

  With his heart hammering away, Chance slowly climbed out of Belle, and then walked to the entrance. In the back of his mind, he rehearsed a speech, hoping to convince his wife to give them another chance.

  He was at the door before he knew it. His pulse picked up speed. The bell jangled as he shoved the door open and he immediately spotted Tessa sitting forlornly at the bar. His middle dipped.

  Taking a deep breath, he walked to where she sat on the barstool. When he drew near, she looked at him. His heart lurched at the pain swimming in her eyes.

  “Sunshine,” he choked out.

  “Devil.”

  He smiled at that. Gesturing to the seat beside her, he asked, “Mind if I join you?”

  “Suit yourself.” Her voice was dull and flat, making his insides ache. She leaned over and moved the small, flat rectangular box so he could sit.

  He slid onto the stool, brushing her hip. A jolt of electricity shot through him. Stilling, he gazed into her eyes as she gasped. “Did you feel that?” he asked the question she asked him weeks ago in the same situation.

  “What do you think? Of course I did.” She repeated his answer back to him, and then gave him a sad, seductive smile.

  With his breath trapped in his chest, he blurted out the first thing that popped into his head. “God, you’re beautiful.”

  She blushed, and then looked away. She played with the label on the brown beer bottle sitting in front of her.

  “I thought you didn’t drink that stuff.”

  “Gave it up years ago. And you?” She bit her lip.

  “Same here.”

  At that she jerked back to look at him, searching for something. “Are you sure?”

  “Absolutely.” And for the first time ever he knew it was true. He didn’t need to hide in the bottle any longer. He didn’t need to prove anything to anyone any longer, especially himself.

  She gave him the sweetest, most angelical smile he’d ever seen in his life. His heart turned over in his chest. “I’m so glad for you, Chance.”

  Just the way she said his name had his blood roaring in his ears. “Tessa…” He couldn’t find the right words. “I…we need to talk.”

  “I thought we said everything there was to say.” The hollow sound of her voice tugged at his soul.

  Frowning, he asked, “If you thought that then why did you come here?”

  She tried to chuckle at that, but it came out strangled. “Max insisted. He missed Walter.”

  She nodded to the two nosy onlookers standing in the doorway leading to the supply room. Walter grinned sheepishly at Chance, pulled Max into the outer room, and then quietly closed the door behind him.

  “And…I missed him and you, too,” she choked out.

  Chance let out a long, slow breath. “Thank you. I thought I was the only one.” As the tension eased inside him, hope spread and his determination grew. “You belong with me.” Conviction rang in his words.

  The fierceness of that statement must have shaken her because she turned pale and her jaw dropped.

  Gently, he reached out and with his forefinger lifted her chin up so her mouth closed. “Don’t argue. Just listen.” Over the next twenty minutes he told her everything he’d learned.

  “No!”

  Gingerly, he brushed back tendrils of her hair and caressed her cheek with his knuckles. It was still the softest skin he’d ever felt. “So many secrets and betrayals, sunshine.”

  “And so much hurt,” she whispered hoarsely.

  “Fear, too.” He let out a sigh. “Being a kid, I was afraid I was to blame for my folks dying.”

  She grabbed at his hand, holding it tight. “Oh no, Chance, not you, too.”

  Smiling tightly, he nodded slowly. “I guess that’s something else we have in common, huh?” He didn’t wait for an answer. “I thought it was because of my getting into trouble, shaming them, you know how kids blame themselves for everything. Well, I did for their drinking. Then after they died, I figured, hell, it didn’t matter what I did or how much trouble I got into. I couldn’t bring them back anyway.”

  “While I was Missy Goody Two Shoes for Granny.” Bitterness edged her voice.

  He rubbed his thumb over the back of her hand. “It worked for us back then. That’s how we both survived it all.”

  “That and loyalty to our families.” She twined her fingers in his, palms flush. The heat of her touch seared him to his core. As she looked at their hands, she said, “I wish we would have realized so much sooner just how wrong that was. We should have trusted ourselves more and them less.”

  “Loyalty to us first, is that it?”

  With her head bowed he felt the hot tears before he saw them. Something twisted inside of him. He gathered her close, hugging her with his eyes tightly shut. She clung to him and he pressed his lips to the crown of her head, inhaling lavender and sunshine.

  “We can’t change who we are or where we came from, Chance.” She gulped between sobs.

  “No, we can’t.” He hesitated for a second. “But we can stop hiding like we’ve been doing all our lives.”

  Pushing back, she stared up at him with watery green eyes that tore a chunk out of his heart. “Huh?”

  He kissed her forehead tenderly. “What I’m saying, Tessa Warfield Deveraux, is I love you, sunshine.” He nearly growled it out.

  She gasped.

  “That’s right, I love you and I think I’ve loved you for years. I’ve been hiding that and so much more that it became almost normal. The booze helped, too.”

  “But…I thought you loved your wife.”

  He smiled widely. “I do.”

  She jabbed him gently in the ribs. “I meant your first wife, silly.”

  He shook his head. “No. I guess I was in awe of her mostly. She was everything I wasn’t, rich, pampered, high-class. That’s not me.” He framed her face with his palms. “But you, Tessa, you held my heart in your hands all this time. I was so afraid if I got mixed up with you I’d ruin your life. I couldn’t do that to you.”

  “Chance, is that why you tried to push me away? Why you didn’t want to make love at first?”

  “That was part of it, but your granny’s hate added into it. And repercussions she’d heap on you. How was I to know she’d already cast aside our baby?” It still stung whenever he thought about it.

  “First baby,” she said softly.

  He frowned at that. “First?”

  She pressed a hand to her flat stomach, saying, “I think I’m going to have your baby, Chance.”

  Wonder rushed over him. Joy followed. He covered her hand with his. “Our baby, sunshine, our baby.”

  Gazing at her once again, he saw her smile through her tears. “I’m scared and excited all at the same time.” She nodded to the flat box, saying, “I even dragged out the little outfit, booties, and matching blanket Granny made for our son that I’ve kept all these years.” Then a cloud passed over her features. “But…” She bit her lip.

  “What is it? Your granny?”

&nb
sp; She nodded. “How can I raise a baby when I can’t even forgive her?”

  “It’s too soon.”

  “No, not that. Well, not really. It’s just I have so much anger and resentment and bitterness welling up inside of me every time I think of what she did. I could explode.”

  “Maybe you should.”

  Shaking her head, she said, “No, I couldn’t possibly do that. That’s just not me.”

  “What about dancing it out?”

  She stilled. “Dancing, did you say?”

  “Yep, I have this great big studio upstairs that’s going to go to waste.”

  A smile tugged up at the corner of her lips. “Oh, Chance.”

  “Was that a yes?”

  “There’s still so much to work out, so much to overcome. Can you even forgive me for not telling you about our baby all those years ago?”

  “Me, forgive you? Of course. Oh, honey, we were just kids, screwed up kids at that.” He gulped hard. “If you’d told me I can’t be sure if I would have stayed even then; I’d have probably thought I’d ruin our son’s life, too, not just yours.” It hurt to admit that about himself, but he knew he wasn’t the same person now as he was then. He’d never walk away from their baby or her now.

  She nodded, clearly understanding. Sighing, she said, “I don’t know if we can make it work this time either.”

  “If we set the rules, we can. Us first, our baby next, then what we love to do, friends, family – when they’re ready to accept us as we are. No exceptions. We make the life we want, not them dictating what they want any more and us letting them have their way. And, when the time’s right, we find our first baby. We owe it to him to make it happen this time, to love each other, no interferences and no excuses. Don’t you see? If you want it bad enough, we’ll make it work.”

  Chuckling at that, she said, “And when did you become an optimist?”

  “Since marrying you, sunshine. You make me believe that anything’s possible,” he said huskily.