by Brenda Novak
“I saw Aaron at Nature’s Way with Wyatt,” Cheyenne said. “He’s so smitten with this boy.” She gave Wyatt’s chin a little tweak. “They’re darling together.”
Wyatt adored his daddy as much as his daddy adored him. Sometimes that made Presley nervous, maybe even jealous—when the doubt and insecurities of her past welled up. But she did her best to force those concerns into the back of her mind. She’d deal with whatever came up, and she’d do it with class. That was her goal. “He’s a good father. Much more interested in Wyatt than I expected him to be.”
“Yeah, he seems to have Wyatt with him a lot.”
She offered her son another drink of his milk. “I think he’s taking him as much as possible, since it’ll be harder once he moves.”
Aaron’s relocation loomed larger with each passing day. It sent a pang of anxiety through her now, but she suppressed that, too.
“What happens then?” Cheyenne asked, sipping her orange juice.
Presley added another packet of sugar to her tea so she wouldn’t have to look up. She’d released all her fear, stopped trying to second-guess what might come next. She’d decided that living in the moment was the only way she and Aaron would have a chance. They’d had a lot of fun, but he hadn’t said the three words she longed to hear, hadn’t asked her to marry him, either. With his departure getting so close, her hopes were beginning to dwindle.
You saw this coming. You’ve had most of May with him, which is more than you would’ve had before. At least you were brave enough to take the risk.
“He’ll have to drive back here if he wants to visit us, I guess,” she said, lowering her eyes in case they revealed her true feelings.
“He hasn’t mentioned the possibility of you going to Reno with him?”
Trying to be the picture of poise and confidence, Presley leaned back, crossed her legs and took a sip of her tea. “Why would he? My business is here.”
But he could have asked her to relocate. She would have done it, for him—if not immediately, then in time, when she could make the arrangements.
“But you’re a couple now, right? I mean...from what Dylan and I can tell, you’re basically living together. Grady says Aaron hardly ever comes home. He can’t remember the last time Aaron did laundry there.”
Aaron had seemed less and less interested in staying at the house with his brothers. But nothing made their “togetherness” official. He’d been moving forward with the franchise and, most recently, he’d secured living accommodations. “Like I said, I’m letting him spend time with Wyatt.”
Cheyenne wiped the table with a napkin. “You mean, when he’s not in your bed.”
“I might be enjoying the perks that go along with that, yes.”
“Presley, I hope—”
She raised a hand. No way would she allow her sister’s empathy to make her falter. “Don’t. It’s okay if Aaron moves without me. I’m not the fragile person I used to be. I can take it.”
Cheyenne didn’t look too convinced. “What will you do?”
“I’ll keep building my business, like I’m doing now. And someday maybe there will be someone else.” That was hard to imagine, but it was the classic line, what she was supposed to say when putting on a brave face. She’d made this decision. She wasn’t going to drag her sister and brother-in-law through whatever she might experience as a result. They’d done enough for her already.
She and Chey sat in silence for several seconds. Then Cheyenne said, “Has he mentioned the baby?”
“The baby?” Hadn’t they just been talking about Wyatt?
“My baby,” she clarified. “I’ve texted him a few times, but he’s only responded once.”
“What’d he say?”
“He’s happy that I’m happy and he wishes me luck. That was it. I get the feeling he doesn’t even want to talk to me.”
“It’s not that. He wants to put some distance between himself and you and your pregnancy. It’s actually a good thing that he doesn’t expect you to keep acknowledging his contribution, right?”
“I guess. But I feel bad. I don’t want this pregnancy to cost me my brother-in-law. I didn’t go into it thinking there’d be that kind of sacrifice.”
“He just needs some distance, like I said. He feels guilty for keeping it a secret, and yet he can see why everyone’s better off that way.”
“We are better off,” Cheyenne insisted. “Dylan is, anyway. He’s so happy.”
Presley certainly hoped so, because it was too late to turn back. “Have you heard from Riley?”
“Here and there. He was at coffee last Friday. Why?”
“I’ve tried to reach him a few times, but he hasn’t replied.”
Cheyenne finished her drink and tossed the container in a nearby wastebasket. “He had high hopes where you were concerned.”
“I don’t see why.”
Her sister gave her arm a slight tap. “Don’t say that.”
“I’m not putting myself down. There wasn’t any chemistry between us.”
“On your side, maybe. But you were already in love, so I’m not sure you would’ve felt it even if it had earthquake proportions.”
“He hasn’t been coming in for his massages,” she said. “I feel like I should give him his money back. I sent a text to that effect, but no answer there, either. I guess I’ll have to call him again.”
“Don’t bother returning his money. I love Riley, but it’s his choice whether he gets the massages he bought. You haven’t done anything wrong.” She slipped Wyatt another of his organic juice-sweetened animal crackers. “I’m guessing he’ll schedule an appointment in a few months, after Aaron’s gone and he thinks you’ve had a chance to forget him.”
If she could forget Aaron, she would’ve done it already. “Maybe you’re right.”
A honk drew their attention, and Presley glanced over to see Aaron parking his truck.
“Speak of the devil,” Cheyenne murmured.
“He knew I was going to be here. I told him. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Of course not. Maybe he’ll finally have something to say to me.”
Presley pulled a chair from the table closest to them so he’d have a place to sit. “You didn’t reply when I texted you to see if you wanted me to order for you,” she said as he walked up. “I was afraid maybe you weren’t going to make it.”
“I was driving. But that’s okay. I’ll grab something.” He paused long enough to take Wyatt, who was giddy with happiness at the sight of him, into the coffee shop.
As the door swung shut behind them, Cheyenne winked at her. “He looks good.”
She grinned. “He always looks good.”
When Aaron returned carrying an iced coffee, he bent to kiss her before taking his seat. “What’d you get?” he asked as he positioned Wyatt on his lap.
“My regular.”
“Chai tea? I should’ve known.” He smiled at Cheyenne. “This girl won’t eat anything that’s bad for her anymore.”
Cheyenne moved her purse to give him more room. “I know. Makes it difficult to have dinner at Just Like Mom’s, right?”
“Speaking of Just Like Mom’s. You guys are on for tonight, aren’t you?” Aaron asked.
“To meet your new stepmother?” Cheyenne whistled under her breath. “Of course. I’m dying of curiosity.”
“I’m glad you’re excited about it, because I’m not,” Aaron said.
Cheyenne slid the sugar toward him. “It should be less awkward if there’s a group.”
He ripped open one of the packets. “My thoughts exactly.”
According to what Aaron had told her, Anya Sharp had been trying to get the Amos brothers to have dinner with her for weeks, and they’d finally run out of excuses. “I’ll make an exception wi
th my diet,” she said, “even though you’ve been taking me to that restaurant too often as it is.”
“Are you nervous about meeting her?” Cheyenne asked Aaron.
“Not nervous,” he replied. “Apprehensive. Who knows what this woman will be like?”
Cheyenne waved as someone called out to her from across the street. “Maybe she’ll be pleasant. Haven’t you talked to her on the phone? Dylan told me you’re the one who set this up.”
“She’s been calling me ever since Dylan gave her my number. You’ll have to thank him for me.”
She laughed at his sarcasm. “He couldn’t put her off any longer and figured you’d have better luck.”
“Apparently, I’m a softer touch than I like to believe. Or I got her after she’d run out of patience. She wasn’t taking no for an answer. I was afraid she’d just show up at our house.”
“She’s that aggressive?”
“Absolutely. She’s so damn eager to meet us, but I don’t get why she’s in such a rush. Why not wait until my father’s released?”
“I agree,” Presley said. They’d talked about this before.
“We’re all adults,” he added. “It’s not as if we need a mother.”
“Maybe she’s lonely,” Cheyenne said. “She married a convict, after all.”
Experience had taught Presley that Aaron didn’t enjoy talking about his stepmother, so she changed the subject. They’d find out exactly what Anya was like tonight. Conjecture was getting them nowhere. “So how’d it go this morning?” she asked Aaron. “Did you sign the lease on the cute little house you found in Reno?”
He’d asked her to go with him, but she had yoga class and three massages.
“I did. Handed over my security deposit and first and last month’s rent.”
“Nice.” She managed to keep her smile in place.
Cheyenne looked from him to Presley and back again. “So you’ve rented something? It’s official?”
“Nothing too fancy,” he replied. “But it’s comfortable.” He nudged Presley for confirmation. “Wouldn’t you say?”
“I love it,” she admitted.
Cheyenne scooted her chair back so she could stay in the shade of the giant umbrella. “When will you be moving?”
“The lease starts June 1.”
“That soon? That’s only a week away.”
“June’s always been my goal—once I decided to do this.”
Cheyenne frowned. “But Presley’s birthday is at the end of the month, and I’m planning a big party. You’ll drive back for it, won’t you?”
Presley spoke up before he could. “If he has time. It’ll be hard work to get the shop going.”
“If I have time?” he echoed.
“You’ll be busy.” She checked her phone. “I’ve got to run or I’ll be late for my next massage. Chey, are you okay with Wyatt?”
“I can keep him with me,” Aaron said. “I’ve got some calls to make, but I can do that at the house.”
“Great. I’ll see you later.” Aaron had kissed her when he sat down, but she was always careful not to lay any claim on him, especially in public. So instead of touching him, she gave her baby a quick hug and waved goodbye.
27
Cheyenne watched her sister leave. “She’s doing so well.”
Aaron handed Wyatt to her while he folded up the stroller. He kept a child’s seat in his truck, which was something Cheyenne had never thought she’d see. It made her smile every time she saw it peeking up over the window. “Here in Whiskey Creek?”
“In life. Generally.”
When he narrowed his eyes, she knew he recognized that as the lead-in it was.
“Sounds like you’re getting philosophical.”
“I’m just glad she’s happy!” she said, trying to backpedal.
“And that’s it? Tell the truth,” he retorted. “You have something else on your mind.”
Aaron wasn’t letting her get away with anything.
Cheyenne scowled at him. “Come on, Aaron. I just need to know that you care about her. You do, don’t you?”
“I’ve told you before that I do.”
“And yet you’re going to move to Reno and leave her behind?”
His expression held a not-so-subtle warning. “Stop. Don’t get involved.”
She didn’t dare push him any harder. At least he was being a good father. She couldn’t fault him there. And he treated Presley really well. It was only his lack of commitment to the relationship that worried her. She knew how difficult that had to be for Pres.
With a sigh of frustration at his hardheadedness, she said, “Can we talk about the baby, then? At last?”
He drilled her with another level stare. “Which baby?”
“My baby.” She put a hand to her stomach. “The one you gave me.”
“I don’t want you to ever talk to me about that again,” he said. “As far as I’m concerned that night at Presley’s—what we did—it never happened.”
“Fine. Wonderful. There’s just one problem.”
He grimaced but asked, anyway. “What’s that?”
“I don’t want it to cost me my relationship with you. You matter to me, as my brother-in-law. And you matter even more to Dylan. When I made the decision to ask for your help, I wasn’t consciously trading you for what you could give me.”
Fortunately, he didn’t say that was a trade she’d make without a second thought. He could’ve accused her of it, considering how desperate she’d been. But he seemed to understand that she was trying to get everything to go back to normal. “It hasn’t cost you anything, Chey. Just forget it, okay?”
“I can’t forget. You treat me like a complete stranger these days, and that makes me feel it was a mistake to involve you. It’s not as if we can ignore each other indefinitely, Aaron, even if I was willing to settle for that. We’ll continue to see each other at events like the one tonight, when we have to meet the new Mrs. J. T. Amos. I’d rather those events not be awkward.”
After glancing around to find the sidewalks clear, he lowered his voice. “I treat you the way I do because I don’t want you to acknowledge what happened. I don’t want you to thank me. I don’t want you to be grateful. I don’t want us to be any different than we were before because of our little secret. The idea that what we did would bring us close feels wrong to me, do you understand? Just be happy and make my brother and your baby happy. That’s the only way I can feel good about the situation.”
“Then I’m sorry.”
She could tell that wasn’t the response he’d been expecting.
“What? Why?”
“Because I am grateful. I could never explain how much. And I will never mention it again, to you or anyone else. But how could I ever forget that you’re the one who made it possible for me to be a mother and Dylan a father?” Although she held Wyatt, and he held the stroller, she stood and gave him a brief one-armed hug.
“I appreciate the sentiment,” he mumbled as she pulled away. “But that’s all that needs to be said, okay? No more thankful smiles or ‘are we okay’ glances.”
She laughed. “Got it.”
“You promise?”
“Yes.”
“Thank God.” He strode to his truck and put Wyatt’s stroller in the bed.
“There’s just one more thing,” she said, following him.
He turned to face her. “I’m almost afraid to ask what it is,” he said dryly.
“If you hurt my sister again, I’ll make you sorry you were ever born.” She nodded as if that was the end of it, and he finally seemed to relax into his old self.
“Glad we’re back on familiar ground,” he said, taking his son.
* * *
Anya Sharp-Amos
was nothing like Aaron had expected. He’d thought she’d have to be unattractive and well past her prime to settle for a prison inmate. But she was neither of those things. Maybe thirty-five, she had an excellent figure and was doing everything possible to flaunt it—hardly a challenge since she was dressed in a pair of shorts that practically showed her ass. The addition of a leather vest and army boots made her look like a true biker chick. The tattoos on her arms and legs, and the fact that she reeked of tobacco smoke, completed the stereotype. But Aaron could suddenly understand why his father had married a woman he didn’t even know. After twenty years in the slammer, the promise of conjugal visits could probably tempt him into anything. To a regular man, however, all she had to do to ruin her appeal was open her mouth. She was far too pushy for Aaron’s taste; he’d experienced just how pushy when she wouldn’t let him postpone tonight’s dinner.
“Look at all these handsome men.” She stood as they filed in, then she motioned for a teenage girl, who was apparently with her, to show some enthusiasm. Whoever the girl was, she didn’t seem happy to be included in this little get-together. She rolled her eyes as if she was sick of her mother, and gave them a brooding glare.
“This is my daughter, Natasha,” Anya announced. Aaron had already guessed from the teen’s large almond-shaped green eyes that they were related. But Anya had never once mentioned a daughter when they’d spoken on the phone, so Natasha came as a total surprise.
“She’s got a bit of an attitude problem, as you can tell,” Anya went on. “She needs some big brothers to set her straight and look out for her. Because if there’s trouble, she’ll find it,” she added with a smoker’s raspy laugh.
They were meeting at the steakhouse in Sutter Creek. At the last second, Aaron had called her to change the location. Anya had argued, said she really wanted to see where they lived. But he hadn’t been too excited about having this meeting at Just Like Mom’s, where the whole town could watch. Now he was glad he’d insisted they eat here, where they could maintain a degree of anonymity. This was going to be quite an interesting—interesting as in horrifying—meal, and he was pretty sure the girl, Natasha, understood that even better than he did.
