Maybe with Reid gone for a few days she could come up with a way to smooth over the mess she’d made. The obvious solution, however, was one she wasn’t ready to embrace. Allowing Lily to meet her father would mend the rift between her and Reid, but it would leave her with a burden of guilt she wasn’t ready to carry.
There had to be some other way.
* * *
Reid shoved his small satchel into the overhead and took his seat beside the window. He hoped his seatmate wasn’t the chatty type because he had a lot to think through. Tori’s reaction to coming home to an empty house spoke volumes about her real feelings. He’d been hoping their relationship had reached a new level of trust and she would understand he wasn’t going to hurt her or Lily.
Now it was clear she would always see him as the enemy, someone who would walk away and break her heart. Her revelation about her last fiancé had given him a better understanding of her strong resistance to trusting him. He couldn’t imagine a man taking advantage of Tori’s sweet nature, though niceness only made her the perfect victim for a con artist. The guy had wounded her deeply and left her with a fear of trusting that she might never overcome.
It made winning her heart twice as hard for him. He already had so many strikes against him. He didn’t blame Eddie, but without his brother’s past behavior between them, there might have been a chance. But then, without Eddie he never would have met Tori in the first place. Or his little niece.
His gaze drifted to the window, and he watched absently as the plane began to taxi. Maybe it was time to think about moving on. Soon the bed-and-breakfast would open. The funds would be deposited in the bank, and Tori could move forward and make a success of her business. He wasn’t needed any longer.
His trip to Dallas was coming at a good time. The break would help him adjust his perspective. He needed space to think. Time away from emotional ties. There was also the appearance of Archer to consider. Seth was keeping a close eye on things while he was gone, but it had created a new worry. He loved Lily. And he was pretty sure his heart was already lost to her beautiful mother, and that meant he wanted to protect them at all costs. Even if it meant protecting them from himself and his past. If a future with Tori meant putting her at risk, in danger of becoming a target for the scores of criminals he’d put away, then he’d rather walk away and keep them safe.
His old life could never touch them. Ever.
It was probably for the best. Tori’s world was family, love and togetherness. His had always been alone, in the underworld. Could he ever shed his dark past and learn to live a different way? His life had been all about the adrenaline rush, the danger, the triumphant moment when he took down the bad guy. Could family life offer anything like that? Would he miss the danger, the challenge?
But the thought of returning to his old life left a sour taste in his throat, forcing him to question whether he was fit for either world.
* * *
Tori opened the door to her bedroom closet looking for a box of jewelry she’d placed there, but it was the box on the floor in the corner that snagged her attention. Grief lowered her shoulders. The carton was filled with the few personal belongs Judy had possessed. Tori had intended to go through it and see if there were things she should preserve for Lily, but had never found the time.
After tugging the box out into the room, she sat on the bed and opened the flaps. Her grief still burned for her friend. Even after all these months, it was still strong. Judy had packed the box, so Tori was curious to see what she’d saved. A box of jewelry was the first item she lifted out. A quick check told her she’d sort through it and save the pieces for Lily. One of Lily’s baby blankets, along with a few infant clothes, were folded together neatly. Beneath them were several children’s books Tori remembered reading to Lily. A Bubble Wrapped figurine of a little girl holding a basket of flowers was next. At the bottom she found a large brown envelope. She lifted it out, moving to the armchair to sort through its contents.
Much of it was duplicates of insurance papers, Judy’s will, the guardianship papers Tori had signed and a few other legal documents. The originals were all with Tori’s attorney. She pulled out a paper-clipped stack of pictures Lily had drawn, scribbles from toddlerhood and a couple of handmade cards. The next item was a spiral notebook with Judy’s name on it. She set it aside to look at later.
Only one thing remained. Tori slipped the paper from the envelope, her hands trembling as she read the large letters. Certificate of Marriage. The names below sent a jolt through her system. Judith Marie Stevens. Edward Lee Blackthorn.
Tori stared at the document, inhaling short, rapid breaths, making it hard to breathe. This couldn’t be true. Judy had always said she and Lily’s father were never married. Why would she lie about this? Had she hated him so much that she’d denied his existence?
Another thought shoved into her mind, and she closed her eyes against it. If Reid’s brother was legally Lily’s father, that meant he had rights. Parental rights he could exercise to force her to bring Lily to see him. Or—worse—to claim custody of the little girl.
This couldn’t be happening. Why hadn’t Judy told her the truth? What would Reid do when he found this out? He obviously knew. He’d mentioned it a couple of times, but she’d corrected him. Now she had proof in her hands, and she could see only disaster ahead.
She could pretend she’d never found it. Destroy the paper and move on. Her conscience flared. Then she wouldn’t be any better than Reid, withholding important information. As much as she wanted to ignore the discovery, she couldn’t live with herself if she did that. The smart thing to do would be to call her attorney. They’d already discussed her officially adopting Lily, but that had been down the road. Now she wanted to press forward. No one was going to take Lily away. Not even her biological father.
She pulled out her phone and placed the call to her attorney, wishing Judy had trusted her with the truth. It didn’t make sense. Thinking back, there were many things Judy had done and said that didn’t make sense, but Tori had accepted them as either a parent thing or a result of her ongoing cancer battle and the treatments. Now she was looking at them in a new light. What else had she missed?
Reassured after the conversation with her attorney, she went back to the box. Her good mood was shattered. She’d deal with these things later. She repacked the items, but held on to the notebook. It was a spiral stenographer’s pad. She flipped over the cover and glanced at the contents. The first entry expressed Judy’s shock at her diagnosis. Clearly she was scared, but hopeful. As she leafed through the pages, tears formed. Judy had tried to be so brave and talked about her dreams for Lily. But a third of the way in, the tone changed. Her words grew harsh, her anger more evident. Her focus shifted to Eddie and his abandonment. It became difficult to read her ferocious text. The more Tori read, the more confused she became. Judy’s feelings about her husband bounced between missing him and feeling rage over his desertion.
What did it all mean? Her head spun with the possibilities. After replacing the box in the closet, she carried the notebook to her night table and slipped it into the drawer. She’d have to look at it again when she was thinking more clearly. Maybe she needed another perspective.
She picked up her phone and made arrangements for Shelley to come by after school. Lily and Emily could play and they could talk. By the time her friend showed up, Tori was ready to burst. She’d looked at the notebook again but it only confused her more.
Shelley curled up on the rattan sofa in the sunroom, her expression revealing her concern. “What’s going on? I could hear the desperation in your voice through the text message.”
“Sorry. I need another point of view on this.”
“You said you found something?”
“Judy’s marriage license.”
Shelley frowned. “Which means what?”
“She lied to me. She always claimed
she and Lily’s father were never married. But they were, which means Lily’s father has legal rights. He could take her away from me.”
“What does your attorney say? Can’t you adopt her?”
“Yes, but I have to get her father to relinquish his paternal rights. I doubt if Reid would let him do that.”
“It sounds like you’ve done all you can for now. I’m sure your lawyer will get it all worked out.”
“But there’s more.” She pulled out the steno pad. “I found this in her things, too. It’s a journal of sorts, and she started it shortly after her diagnosis. She starts out writing about things she wanted to tell Lily, her fears and dreams.”
“Sounds sweet. Are you going to give it to Lily someday?”
Tori shook her head. “It starts out sweet, but it ends up very different. Read this.” She handed Shelley the pad, opened to an entry near the back. She watched her friend’s expression go from curious to confused to horrified.
“This doesn’t even make sense.”
“I know. It makes me wonder about everything she told me. She lied about being married, and some of the things she railed about were untrue. It makes me wonder...”
“If there was really any reason to keep Lily from her dad?”
“It makes me question everything I thought I knew about Judy. I just don’t know what I want to do about it. I’m thinking about not telling Reid any of this. At least until I have time to sort it all out.”
Shelley shook her head. “Bad idea. If you’re asking me for advice, then I say tell him everything. Neither of you can make good decisions based on lies and distortion.”
“But I feel so disloyal.”
“Tori. Believe it or not, loyalty can have limits. Judy counted on your loyalty to keep her anger going. But she lied about that. So you’re free from honoring her requests. Are you going to be loyal to a woman who’s dead, or to the child who is alive and here with you?”
Tori mulled this over. She felt as though she were caught in a trap—being a faithful friend versus being a good parent to Lily.
* * *
Pulling up into the drive of Camellia Hall had never felt more like coming home. But Reid’s time here was almost up. He’d decided to make the most of the few days left and take one last stab at convincing Tori to let Eddie see Lily. He would be breaking their deal, but at this point he had nothing to lose. He also wanted to secure a promise from Tori that he could come and see his niece as often as possible.
He put his chances on the slim side, but he had to try. Time was short.
Buster greeted him as he entered the back gate through the picket fence, and he gave him a long scratch on his neck. “I missed you, too, fella.” His spirits lifted like a hot-air balloon as he took the steps to the porch and reached for the doorknob. He’d missed Tori and Lily, too. Far too much. Leaving them would be harder than he’d ever imagined.
He tapped on the back door before entering. Tori was sitting at the small desk in the sunroom. She glanced up at him and smiled, turning his heart to warm syrup in his chest. Was she glad to see him? Or was she merely happy to have her hired help back? He shoved the thought aside as he sat on the rattan chair.
“Welcome back.”
“Good to be back.”
“Everything go well in court?”
“It did. The guy will be locked away for many years. How did things go here? Has my repair list grown out of control?”
“No. As a matter of fact, not one thing has broken, clogged up or worn out since you left.”
Reid wished it had. He’d welcome an excuse to stay on awhile longer. “Then I guess I’m almost done here.” Her eyes darkened and she looked away, toying with the stapler on the desk.
A nagging twinge started in his chest. He knew that feeling. It always meant trouble. “And how’s my Lily? It’s only been a few days, but it’s like I haven’t seen her in months. The little princess wraps around your heart and won’t let go.”
Tori squirmed in the chair, keeping her eyes averted. Now he knew something was wrong. “Yes, she does. I’m afraid she’s going to be a heartbreaker when she grows up.”
“Too late. She already is.” He leaned forward, resting his forearms on his knees. “You want to tell me what’s going on? What happened while I was gone?”
She looked at him, her blue eyes filled with an odd mixture of sadness and guilt. Whatever she had to say wouldn’t be good.
“I was going through some of Judy’s things, and I found the marriage certificate.”
He studied her a moment, uncertain of what she was trying to say. “Okay. Eddie always claimed they were but his memory isn’t the best.”
“But Judy always denied it. She swore up and down they were never married. She lied about it.” She rested a hand against her cheek. “This changes everything.”
“How?”
“Your brother now has legal claim on my daughter. His daughter. I have to tell you, I’ve already started the process of adoption for Lily, but since this has come to light it complicates things.”
Reid nodded. “I guess it does. Eddie always said they were married, but he has a lot of blank spots in his memory so I figured he didn’t really know. What does your attorney say?”
She took a deep breath before answering. “Eddie has to relinquish his parental rights before I can legally adopt Lily.”
Reid was beginning to see where this was leading. He stood, his irritation mounting. “So you want to know if he’ll do that and give you a clear path?”
“Wouldn’t it be best for Lily?”
“Probably. But what about what’s best for Eddie?”
“I don’t know. Lily is my only concern.”
“Yes. You’ve made that very clear. Maybe this would be a good time to discuss a compromise.”
Tori bit her lip. “You mean visiting your brother.”
“It seems like a fair trade. One visit in exchange for signing away his rights to his only child.”
“You make it sound so cold and heartless. Like I’m buying her.”
He hadn’t meant to, but stepping back into his old world had reignited this attitude. “Well, those are the kind of situations I’m used to.”
“Don’t you want what’s best for your niece?”
“I want what’s best for all of us.” He moved to the door. “I need to discuss this with Eddie.”
“Will you ask him to do the right thing by Lily?”
“I’ll ask. But you might not like the answer. Maybe it’s time you did the right thing, Tori.”
“I’ll think about it.”
“The time for thinking is over.” He stomped out and climbed into his truck. This was not the homecoming he’d longed for, but it’s what he should have expected. Tori was determined to keep her promise to her friend no matter what. This new information might give him leverage to force Tori to let Eddie see his child. He didn’t like doing it this way, but he had no choice.
* * *
Reid watched the play of emotions across his brother’s face later that day.
“I told you we were married. But my memory is spotty, so I thought maybe I’d only wished we were. Good to know I was right.”
“You realize this changes things. You can petition the court to force Tori to bring Lily to see you.”
“I can?”
“You’re her legal parent. You have rights.”
“Yes. I do. Reid, I want the Montgomery woman to bring my little girl here right away. If she refuses, I’ll start some sort of legal process to make her.”
“Is that really what you want to do?”
“No. But I want you to tell her so. Maybe it’ll shake her out of her rut and get her to see how serious things are.”
“Eddie, Tori has started adoption proceedings. But she can’t legally adopt Lily unless yo
u sign away your parental rights.”
“No. I can’t do that. Lily would think I didn’t care about her at all. She’d hate me. She might even wonder what was wrong with her that I wrote her off. I know I’ve made a mess of things, but she should know I really loved her.”
“What do you want to do?”
Eddie sank back into his pillow. “Maybe we should wait until I’m gone, then she can go ahead with her adoption. It won’t matter.”
A surge of denial flooded his throat. “Don’t talk like that. I’ll do whatever you want.”
“I want to see my little girl. Time is running out. I can sense it. See what our options are. Maybe there’s something else we can do. Maybe we can let her think we’re taking action, only we’re not.”
Great. He was back to lying and manipulating Tori for his own ends. Every step he took added another row of bricks to the wall he was building between him and Tori. “All right. I’ll look into it.”
Reid stayed until his brother fell asleep, then went outside and placed a call to his attorney. He didn’t want to take legal action against Tori. If he did, it would widen the divide between them and damage their relationship irrevocably. Eddie might get to see Lily, but Tori would never speak to him again.
Why did doing the right thing for Eddie have to be the worst thing for a woman he cared for so much?
Chapter Eleven
Tori looked out the window to the apartment. Reid was sitting on the small patio, staring at his phone and tossing a stick for Buster. He’d been back in Dover since early last night, but he hadn’t said a word to her. Instead, he’d gone to the apartment and closed the door. Lily asked for him, but he didn’t even come to see her.
Moving away, she sighed and paced the sunroom. The cozy space usually soothed her anxious thoughts and helped her see things more clearly. But this situation was far too complicated. She had no idea what Eddie had said about signing away his rights to Lily. The mere thought of someone doing that made her angry. How could any parent cut the ties and go on with their life as if the child had never existed? But if he didn’t, then even after he passed, Reid would have more rights to custody of Lily than she would.
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