by York, Zoe
“I’ve got half an hour.” She watched as Carrie poured hot water over a tea bag in a china mug. “You know what he told me this morning? He doesn’t think his parents would know what his first word was. He’d have to ask a nanny. Isn’t that strange?”
“Is he rich?”
“No, I don’t think so. He’s Ted’s nephew, for heaven’s sake.”
Carrie rolled her eyes. “Evie, how is it that you’re having this man’s baby and you haven’t demanded his last five tax returns? What about child support?”
“He just graduated from school! He worked for a bit between degrees, and I know he has some money that he’s going to reinvest in property here, but really…I don’t need anything from him for the first while. Once this kid has daycare and soccer registration to worry about, that’ll be a different story. But then he’ll be more settled.”
She hoped. God, she hated how much she wanted Liam to settle in Wardham. How much her heart would ache if he decided to head back to the city, and not just for her baby’s sake.
Carrie moved to the nook in the corner where she kept her laptop.
“What are you doing?”
“Googling him.”
“Carrie, no! You can’t do that.”
“Actually, I’m pretty sure that I can.”
“Well, I don’t want you to.” Evie knew it was a futile argument. “Besides, he friended me on Facebook last month. He’s not hiding anything from me.”
Carrie made some non-committal noises as she first searched his name, then went to the social network site and clicked through Evie’s profile to see Liam’s picture. Evie couldn’t help but be fascinated as she watched Carrie click on Liam’s picture and drag it into another browser tab. The computer worked for a minute, then the screen was filled with a dozen Liams. And as Carrie scrolled down the page, Evie realized there were actually an endless stream of pictures of this man on the internet. Not a huge variety, many different shots of the same moments, but there was Liam, in the society pages of the National Post, and on the red carpet at the Toronto International Film Festival. At the re-opening gala for the Royal Ontario Museum. Liam in a tuxedo. Liam with a beautiful brunette, then a different one, and another still. Her Liam.
“Holy shit.” She whispered the words as she pressed closer to the screen, crowding Carrie.
“Evie, is it possible that your baby daddy might be rich? And possibly famous?”
“But you Googled him. He’s not famous.” But he was something. Something that she had no clue about.
“Are we sure that’s his real name?” Carrie clicked on one of the photos and shrugged as she read the caption. “Annabeth Scott and her date, Liam McIntosh. Huh. Okay, that’s his real name.”
Evie backed up, shaking her head. “No. Close the window. Let’s pretend we didn’t do that. He’ll tell me what that’s all about when it matters.” Carrie raised her eyebrows. Yeah, that sounded like a terrible idea to Evie’s ears as well. “Damn it. Damn it! How do I ask him about this without sounding like a stalker?”
“You just finished telling me he’s considerate. Blame me. He’ll understand.”
“Damn damn damn.”
“On the other hand, you can probably feel better about asking him for child support now.”
Evie shot her friend a dirty look before turning back to her tea. This was not a good turn to the day.
Liam arrived at the studio at half past two, but he didn’t head inside. Through the plate glass window, he could see Evie coaching someone through exercises. There was a bench a few yards away, so he made himself comfortable and pulled out his phone to check if he’d gotten any emails back yet. A lot of puzzle pieces had to come together in order for him to put in a clean offer on the potential fourplex. Willa’s preferred home inspector was available to come to the viewing tomorrow, thankfully, which would be the only thing he’d hold out for. But the money? He’d walk away from the deal before he asked for help on that front. He needed to be able to do this on his own. Not having a job would make qualifying for a mortgage difficult, so he needed to liquidate what he had access to.
As he plotted and planned, a half hour passed. Evie’s client left the studio, and Liam stood to head inside when a shiny, dark blue Ford Explorer pulled up to the curb. They hadn’t yet been formally introduced, but Liam had seen Evie’s ex-husband around town enough to instantly recognize him. He climbed out at the same moment that Evie stepped onto the sidewalk. Liam stood there, waiting to see what would happen. Waiting to see what Evie would do when she saw him. When she saw Dale. Awww, shit. This wouldn’t be good.
Liam was torn between knowing he should let Evie fight her own battles—and win, because she deserved that—and wanting to get between his woman and an obvious threat.
Not that Dale posed any physical threat to his ex-wife. His hands were stuffed in his pockets and his body language clearly spelled out that his attack was going to be more pointed. More vicious. He was going to strike with words and history and feelings, and Liam would give anything to deflect all of that shit from Evie.
But as she glanced toward him, as much as it killed him, he slowed to a stop, and damned if her eyes didn’t soften. The desperate plea and silent thanks…why did she need to do this? Their baby wasn’t any of this asshole’s business.
“Damn, Evie, I thought it was a rumour.” Dale’s shoulders sagged and he tipped his head to one side. “You got yourself in a spot of trouble, eh?”
She bristled. “That’s not how I’d describe it.”
“Have you told the boys yet?”
“No. I thought I had more time, but this belly literally popped overnight.” She squared off her posture, as if daring him to call her a liar. He didn’t. “I’ll tell them tonight when you drop them off, and I’d appreciate you not saying anything before that point.”
“They’re gonna have a lot of questions.”
“Not as many as you, I’m sure. Difference is, they have a right to ask me.”
“Hey, now, that’s not fair. We’re co-parents, as you keep calling it, and this thing is going to disrupt our sons’ lives. That affects me.”
“My baby isn’t going to change a thing about how we co-parent the boys. And mind your tone about how you refer to their sibling. He or she is not a thing.”
From the way Dale’s back stiffened instantly, Liam could tell this was a sore point between them. Was it the judgment on word choice, or the sniped correction? Both? Resentment that this was all they had left between them? He already knew that co-parenting was hard shit, and so far, he and Evie still liked each other. Screw that. She would always be a partner in his life, and he would always like her, no matter what happened between them personally.
“Why you gotta harp at me, Evie? I came here to show you some support.”
She snorted. “Yeah? Doing a real good job of that, Dale.”
“Well, what am I supposed to think? I hear someone saying that you’re knocked up, and you’re not in a solid relationship. How could you be so irresponsible? I mean, do you even know who the father is?” Liam was on his feet as soon as Dale’s tone turned mean and ugly, and at Evie’s side before he finished speaking. Dale took one look at the hand Evie pressed to Liam’s side—as if that would hold him back—and cracked his jaw from side to side. His eyelids dropped, hooding his gaze, and he rocked back on his heels. Well, at least the man wasn’t stupid. Just mean.
“Dale, right? Liam McIntosh, I believe we’ve met a few times around town.” It was stretching the definition of their passing acquaintance, but Liam had learned a thing or two about handling bullies over the years, and it started with disarming them with the unexpected. Change the terms of the game they think they’re going to win. “You’re out at the Ford dealership, right? Heard great things.”
Dale huffed a quiet breath. “Can’t say that I’ve heard much about you, though. You’re working with your uncle on his farm, right?”
Liam turned to Evie and smiled. “For now. It’s giving
me the time I need to watch my baby grow, get used to the idea of being a parent.”
“Well, once you get used to the idea, you’ll realize it’s a lot of hard work. Not just with the kids, I mean, but at a job. A real job, that earns money.”
Beside him, Evie couldn’t contain a semi-hysterical giggle, and he wished they’d had more conversations about how that wouldn’t be an issue for them. He hadn’t come out and told her all the details of his plans, yet, and she still seemed to harbour some concerns that he might be an impoverished student. He needed to set that record straight, but not here, not in front of Dale.
“Much obliged for the tip, then. Can I give one back in return?” He gave Evie what he hoped would be received as a reassuring squeeze before stepping forward, closing the gap between him and his predecessor. Evie’s first husband. Connor and Max’s dad. He needed to remember that last piece before he did something stupid. “This is a private conversation, and Evie won’t be the only one discussed in the rumour mill if you carry it out on the sidewalk. I’d suggest we move inside, but I understand you’re on your way to the school, is that right?”
“This is none of your business, McIntosh.”
“That’s where you’re wrong, Simmons. Everything related to Evie and our baby is my business.”
“That’s what you think.” Dale’s lips pulled together so hard they turned white, and his next words were spit out with more venom than Liam had ever heard before from one spouse about another. “She’s a dirty slut, man. Don’t waste your time.”
It wasn’t Liam’s way to use violence. He wasn’t big, he wasn’t a fighter. But he fisted his hand in the front of Dale’s shirt and shoved the larger man back a giant step, following with lightning speed to maintain the advantage, and grabbed at the other man again, every bit of him shaking with barely restrained hatred. “Out of respect for your children, I’m not going to punch you. Not now. Not here, on the main street of their tiny little town. But at some point, you and I are going to find ourselves alone somewhere, and I’m going to make you eat those fucking words, asshole. She’s the mother of your children. That better be your first and last thought about Evie Calhoun, you hear me?”
“Get your hands off of me,” Dale muttered, and Liam eased back. Dale flexed his shoulders for a moment, but kept his distance.
“They’re off, dude. Nothing happened here, right? I just saw a bee or something. Thought you might be allergic. I hear that’s common among assholes, didn’t want you to get stung.” So much for dealing well with the situation. He was breathing hard, his hands balled into fists at his side. He dipped his head to the side, glancing back at Evie. Damn. Her face, white and drawn, told him everything he needed to know. He’d stepped way over the line.
“Evie, I’m going to get the kids. Maybe I’ll drop them at your mom’s tonight after dinner?”
“Sure thing, Dale.” Her words were barely above a whisper.
Liam stepped back and they watched Dale get back into his vehicle before she whirled around and ran back into the studio. He took a deep breath before following.
He expected her to yell, to lecture him on the delicate balance of co-parenting. And she wouldn’t be wrong to do so. Man, had he let that situation get way out of hand. But instead, as soon as he was inside, she threw herself into his arms and the dam burst.
Well, then… “You okay, sunshine?”
Inside his arms, Evie trembled like a leaf.
“You mad I got involved there?”
“Yeah, probably…” She sniffed. “But not as mad—” she hiccuped “—as I am at Dale.”
“That was pretty shitty of him.”
“It’s been a while since he’s hurled words like that at me.”
He couldn’t help but tense at the realization that Evie had been married to a class-A jerk. And Liam had let the opportunity to smash his face in slip away. “Hang on. He’s said that to you before?”
She sighed into his chest and nodded reluctantly.
“Evie…Awww, Evie, that sucks.”
She sniffed hard, and twisted away, probably looking for a tissue. He released her, but followed. He wanted to stay close.
“Do you want me to make you dinner?” Do you want to tell me more about what that was all about? They were having a baby together, and Evie would barely let him kiss her. Dale couldn’t be more wrong about his ex-wife, but there was a story there, and Liam wanted to hear it. Not for curiosity’s sake, but because he wanted to know what to expect next. Be able to anticipate future clashes and prevent them from happening at all.
Not that he’d done a very good job of preventing jack shit today.
“No, that’s okay.” She let out another sigh, this one stronger, steadying. “What are you doing here, anyway?”
“I was going to ask you if you are free tomorrow at nine-thirty to see a property with me.”
She wrinkled her brow, wary suspicion all over her face. “Why?”
He chuckled, and moved closer. “If I said it was a giant house I wanted to move you and the boys into, what would you say?”
“That you’re crazy and clearly haven’t heard anything I’ve said.” She grinned. “But that’s not it, is it?”
“Nope. It’s a rental property. I need something to do once we finish with the harvest.” Besides, I’ve got plans for your little cottage…Yeah, he wasn’t telling her that. Not yet. Maybe after a few more kisses.
“Why do you want me to look at it?”
“You know the town, you’re my target demographic for tenants, and…” He left the most important point unspoken.
She understood, and the warm little smile she offered in return made him hope for a hell of a lot more than kisses.
It wasn’t until later that Liam realized how many times that afternoon he thought of Evie as his. His woman. His partner. His life.
He wasn’t sure when that happened, but he liked it. Now he just needed to get her on board. And after seeing Dale in action, he was starting to understand what he was up against.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
After sleeping on it, Evie decided she needed to let Liam’s wealth, or apparent wealth, come up on its own. He probably wouldn’t mind if she told him what happened at Carrie’s shop, but the more she thought about it, she had a hard time figuring out how it changed anything. Except the strong likelihood that Liam would tire of Wardham, and her. She pushed that fear away. She was doing all she could on that front. Protecting her heart, and maintaining a safe distance.
To that end, she was pleasant but decidedly un-flirty when he came over for dinner the next Wednesday, and gave him absolutely no wiggle room on staying after the boys went to bed. Connor was cool towards him anyway, and she had a fine line to walk there: disrespect wouldn’t be tolerated, but the boys were allowed to have an emotional response to news that had rocked their world.
She’d told them the night before, after they’d played soccer for a bit in the backyard. Connor immediately put two and two together, and shut down. Max said he hoped the baby was a boy, so they could go camping together at the Pinery.
“That’s something we do with Dad,” Connor muttered.
“So?” Max looked at her in total confusion and her heart cracked in two.
“This baby has a different daddy, sweetheart.” She swallowed hard against the tears rising fast.
“It’s not really my brother?”
“This baby will be your brother or sister, of course. And when you guys do stuff with your daddy, this baby will be with Liam.”
Connor crossed his arms and scowled. “Why does Liam get to come over for dinner once a week, but Dad doesn’t?”
Ugh. “Because you guys are growing up, and you don’t need to be with me all the time. When this baby is born, Liam won’t be able to take him or her for overnight visits until he or she is old enough be away from me.”
A thought which gutted her, but that was the bed she’d made.
“I like Liam,” Max said in a quiet voice,
looking at his older brother for guidance.
Connor sighed. “I like him too. But he’s not my dad.”
Evie gasped. “No, honey, of course not. Liam’s just like Grandma or Megan’s dad—a grown-up you can trust. Nothing more, okay?”
“Is he your boyfriend?”
She took a deep breath and looked her first born in the eye. “My relationship with Liam is hard to describe, Connor, but I promise, if he was my boyfriend you’d be the first person I told. Right now, he’s just this baby’s father.”
It was probably too much, but she didn’t want to baby him, either. Max had tuned out already, turning his sweet potato chunks into turrets for salmon cannons, and when Connor tossed a pea bomb onto his brother’s plate, she accepted the conversation as over. For the moment.
So the next night, as she said goodnight to Liam at the door, she was relieved that the short visit had gone without incident.
“Listen,” he said, turning back to look at her from halfway down the front steps. “I have some video games that I’m not using right now since my system isn’t set up. Could I bring them over for the boys? I thought I should check with you first.”
“Sure. Thanks for asking.”
“No problem. You’re the mom, I’m just the interloper.” He winked.
“You picked up on that, eh?”
“Little bit. It’s okay, I was expecting way worse. So, I could drop them off on Saturday?”
“Yep. We’ll be home all afternoon.”
“Great. I’ll bring stuff for dinner, too.”
“Hey!” She groaned as he chuckled and jogged to his vehicle. She wasn’t sure that was a good idea at all.
So when Karen called and said she’d be in town for the weekend, and they were going to take Megan to Danny’s for wings Saturday night, Evie saw an out. As she called Liam, she tamped down the pang of disappointment at the lost opportunity to spend time with him.
“You’re taking the boys to a bar for dinner?” It wasn’t the first thing he said, but it was uncharacteristically brusque for Liam.
