If not for the way he looked at her, Taylor would have turned and run. He knew. As surely as if she’d made the admission, Lucas knew there were secrets she kept from him. Of course, hadn’t that been one reason why she’d resisted coming here in the first place? Because he’d always been able to see past the outer face she presented and went straight to the secrets and fears she kept tucked inside. He said he didn’t want answers today but, sooner or later, he would expect them.
“Lucas…”
He pressed a finger against her lips. “Not today, Taylor. Today, it’s just you and me. The way it always was with us.”
Was it too much, she asked, demanded, as she had already once this morning? One day, one glorious day when friendship and passion overshadowed the uncertainty of whether or not Lucas would be able to forgive her once he learned the truth. Tears clogging her throat, she caught the tip of his finger between her teeth and nodded.
The hours passed like minutes. Side by side they worked, making flower boxes to line the top rail of the deck. Lucas cut and hammered while Taylor sanded. She did indeed become hot and sweaty—from the long looks, quick caresses, and arousing kisses Lucas gave her as much as from the heat and labor. She ached from the mild exertion of using long dormant muscles.
“I haven’t seen Micah out in the shop working with you. I guess he didn’t inherit your love of wood.”
He was silent for so long she turned around, believing he hadn’t heard her. “No, he didn’t.” Lucas hung up a T-square on the pegboard lining the wall behind the workbench.
“Are you disappointed?”
“Micah has rarely disappointed me.”
“But what about passing the business on to him? Wouldn’t you like that?”
“If it was what he wanted.” Lucas shrugged. “He doesn’t.” He turned. “Are you disappointed Stephanie didn’t follow you into law?”
“Are you kidding? I’m just glad I don’t have to represent her in court.”
“She’s not that bad.”
“She was heading in that direction. She told me the reason she asked to borrow your camera in the first place was because she planned to pawn it and run away.”
He closed the lid on the paint can and dipped the brush into an old coffee can filled with mineral spirits. “Instead, she found something that has sparked her interest.”
“She does seem to enjoy it,” Taylor agreed.
“And she’s good,” Lucas said as he came up behind her, his hands massaging the kinks out of her shoulders. “Tired?”
“Stupid question.” Taylor leaned her head to the right, giving him a better angle at finding that tense spot where her neck curved into her shoulder. “What do you expect after making me slave in here all afternoon? I’m more accustomed to exercising my brain than my arm muscles.”
His thumbs hooked down to rub between her shoulder blades. Taylor sighed in satisfaction. “I will admit, however, there is gratification in doing something physical.”
“Anytime you want to do something physical, call me.” Lucas leaned forward, his teeth nipping at her neck. “In the meantime, why don’t I run you a hot bath?”
“Why don’t you?” she answered, turning so she could press her mouth to his.
Arm in arm they walked out of the workshop. When Lucas reached back to close the door behind them, Taylor kept an arm firmly around his waist. Holding on, she thought, holding on to the few hours we have left before the world once again intrudes on us.
Instead, it was the roar of a motorcycle that ended their brief break with reality. Taylor stopped, absently pulling Lucas into the shadows. Stephanie got off the bike, removed her helmet and, with laughter, leaned down to kiss Micah.
Taylor’s stomach turned to stone.
The kiss didn’t last long, but it certainly wasn’t a brotherly kiss. Fresh from a day of intimacy with Lucas, she recognized the look passing between the teenagers. They were drawing closer, heading toward the one step that would irrevocably bind them together. Taylor staggered slightly, reaching behind her to brace a hand on the wall for support.
The choice had been taken from her—as it had been years earlier. It was no longer a matter of whether or not she should tell Stephanie, along with Lucas and Micah, the truth. It was simply a question of when and how.
Stephanie shared another laughing comment with Micah, pulled her camera from his saddle bag, and looped it around her neck. “Mom?” she called out as she took a step toward the house. “Hey, Mom. Where are you?”
Tears of love flooded her eyes as Taylor stepped out of the shadows. “I’m over here,” she said, amazed at how calm she sounded.
Stephanie looked over her shoulder. “Oh, hey!” She practically ran over, then stopped abruptly and stared. Taylor didn’t have to turn to know Lucas had stepped into view. “What are you doing out here?”
“I needed a break,” Taylor said, going on the offensive. “So, I worked with Lucas for a little while.” With effort she forced a grin. “Can you believe I did manual labor?”
Stephanie grinned, though the guarded look stayed in her gaze. “I’m still trying to get over seeing you in jeans.”
Micah approached. “Are you kidding? You look hot,” he told Taylor with a grin. And earned an elbow in the stomach from Stephanie.
“Thank you,” Taylor told him and then looked at Stephanie. “Did you need something?”
“Oh.” Her face lit up, her eyes sparkled with delight. “You won’t believe it. You simply won’t believe it. In a million years, you’ll never guess.”
“Then you’ll have to tell me,” she dryly commented.
“I sold a photo. One of mine.”
“I don’t believe it.”
“I told you.” Stephanie squealed and did a quick spin around, holding tight to the camera hanging around her neck. “It was the one of Micah lifting weights.”
He rolled his eyes. “Which could be any one of a dozen.” Now he elbowed Stephanie lightly in the stomach.
The fact that Stephanie wanted to share the news with her had Taylor’s heart beating fast. No matter how much of a strain it put between her and Lucas, she was right to have made the decisions she had. Stephanie came first. She always had, and always would.
“Congratulations, baby. I’m very proud of you.” Taylor moved forward and gave Stephanie a hug. Lucas did the same.
“It’s only for the newspaper in the next county, but they paid me.” Her words ended as her hands toyed with the camera. “It’s not a lot, maybe enough for an hour or so in the dark room.”
“In that case,” Lucas said, staring at Taylor, his gaze soft and inviting. “Why don’t I spring for a celebration dinner?”
Chapter 10
Books and papers were scattered on top of the desk in uncharacteristic disorder. Taylor sat slumped in the chair and stared out the window. Well after midnight, she had pushed herself past exhaustion to prepare her opening statement for the trial due to begin in three days. Two often edited, but nevertheless complete sentences were pencil scratched on the pad lying forgotten on her lap.
“Mom?”
She looked up to find Stephanie in front of the desk, shifting her balance from one foot to the other and then back again. She had the impression Stephanie had been trying to get her attention.
“Have you got a few minutes?”
“For you, sure.” When Stephanie didn’t say anything, Taylor frowned. “Is something wrong?”
“Funny, that’s what I was going to ask you.”
“I guess I’m more tired than I realized.” She tossed the pad and pencil onto the desk before pointing at the large, manila envelope in Stephanie’s hand. “Are those your latest photos?”
Stephanie nodded but, without her recent, newfound enthusiasm. For the past four days Taylor had worked feverishly preparing for the trial, while still finding time to be with Stephanie. She’d made the time not only because she and her daughter were enjoying a renewed closeness, but it also reduced the amount of ti
me Stephanie spent with Micah.
The teenagers used Stephanie’s fresh passion for photography as the excuse for Micah to give her rides on his bike into town or around the countryside. It reminded Taylor, almost painfully, of her and Lucas at that age—when they’d innocently believed the future held the promise of love and happiness rather than the potential for hurt and heartache.
“These are the first ones I developed on my own,” Stephanie explained.
Two days ago, Lucas had rigged the half bathroom off the kitchen into a temporary darkroom for Stephanie’s use. Not only was it a generous gesture, but it provided Stephanie the means to work on learning her craft without depending on Taylor, or Micah, to drive her into town.
“I haven’t shown them to anyone yet.”
“Is there a reason why?”
“I’m not sure.” Stephanie sat in the chair next to the desk, her fingers bending and creasing one corner of the envelope. Her words poured out fast.
“I really wasn’t trying to deliberately snoop around or anything like that. It was nothing more than being in the right place at the right time. At least I hope it was the right place to be. For Micah’s sake.”
“Stephanie, take a breath and slow down.”
“Okay.” She took a long breath and slowly let it out. “I saw a teenage couple standing partly hidden by the low hanging branches of this weeping willow tree in the park. They were in each other’s arms so I thought maybe they were meeting on the sly because their parents didn’t approve of them being together. It’s something I see more clearly than I used to.”
Taylor felt the sour burn in her stomach that always accompanied her attempt to keep Stephanie and Micah apart. With a shrug for her mother’s continued silence, Stephanie completed unwinding the thread closure.
“I snapped the pictures before it occurred to me that I might be violating their privacy. I just wanted to try and catch that feeling of first love. It wasn’t until I developed the shots that I realized I might have something more.”
Stephanie removed the photos and handed them to Taylor. There were six photos in all of a couple in an embrace. Though they stood close, and the boy’s hand cupped the girl’s breast, it wasn’t a lover’s embrace. It was obvious the boy was forcing his attention onto the girl who was attempting to push her way out of his arms. There was fear on the girl’s face and pleasure in the boy’s smug smile. Pleasure at knowing he held the power of intimidation.
The girl was Rebecca Whitfield. The boy was Tommy Newman.
“Micah told me,” Stephanie said when Taylor lifted her gaze from the photos. “He thought Tommy Newman might be the boy who attacked Rebecca.”
“Why?”
“Apparently Rebecca had a crush on Tommy, and she told Micah she thought Tommy felt the same way about her. Micah tried to convince Becky that Tommy is the kind of boy who is only after one thing from a girl, but Becky wouldn’t listen.” She shrugged. “Becky’s been sheltered, living under her father’s rules. She’s pretty naïve.”
Taylor’s gaze traveled to the pictures, studying the threatening way Tommy pressed against Rebecca. Stephanie had caught on film the fear and revulsion of a young girl whose trust and innocence had been abused, along with the arrogance of a boy who obviously believed he was entitled to take what he wanted.
It almost seemed too easy since it fit in with her own theory of what happened the night of Rebecca’s attack.
“I didn’t know what to do,” Stephanie said. “I mean, I want to help Micah, but...” Her gaze settled on the photos. “I know what it’s like to have your picture on the front page of every newspaper in the state.” Then, suddenly, she lifted her face, her eyes glittering with fury. “But Tommy should pay for what he’s done to her. And to Micah.”
“He will.” Taylor reached across the top of the desk to link hands with Stephanie. “I’ll call Judge Williams first thing in the morning and ask for a conference in his chambers. Hopefully, once Rebecca sees these, she’ll finally tell us the truth and Micah can avoid a trial altogether.” Her fingers tightened around her daughter’s. “It took a great deal of courage to show these pictures to me. I’m so very proud of you.”
“Thanks,” Stephanie said with a small smile. Then, she pulled her hand loose to open the envelope again. “I have one more print I’d like to show you.”
Another embrace, another couple. This time there was no youth, no fear or intimidation, no sense of hiding beneath the shelter of a tree. Taylor stared at the image of herself in Lucas’s arms.
They had met on the deck as she was leaving the house, he about to enter. She remembered him taking her briefcase and walking with her to the car. There they had stood, talking and laughing until naturally, without considering where they were or who might see them, they had reached for one another. It had been one of the purest moments of contentment she’d felt in the last four days.
From the angle of the photo, Stephanie caught little more than Lucas’s profile. Staring at her own face, however, Taylor saw all the love she felt for him.
So clear, she thought even as tears blurred her vision. For that one moment when he held her, simply held her, there had been no secrets or questions between them. There had been no uncertainty about whether or not she and Lucas could manage to build a future together.
How could he look at her and not see the love spilling out of her heart when Stephanie could capture that feeling and expose it cleanly and honestly for anyone to see?
“I’d come out of the house,” Stephanie explained, “planning to get some shots of Lucas in the workshop. You…” She trailed off. “You’re in love with him,” she finished.
“Yes, I am.”
Taylor lifted tear-washed eyes to meet her daughter’s stare. How was it possible for Stephanie to see so much and yet so little?
“I’ve been in love with Lucas since the day I met him.”
“Did Daddy know?”
“I never mentioned Lucas during my marriage to Stephen,” Taylor answered on a whisper. “But I believe Stephen suspected I still loved Lucas.”
“Then why did you two stay married?” Stephanie rose and walked away. “Was it because of me?”
“I’m not saying I didn’t care for Stephen. In many ways we had a strong marriage. He was a very important part of my life.” Stephanie turned around, her chin angled. Taylor tried to swallow past the dryness of her throat.
“Just as you’re a very important part of my life. The most important part.” Taylor glanced down at the photo in her hand, then back at Stephanie. “Loving Lucas doesn’t mean I love you any less, baby.”
“There was a time when I wouldn’t have believed that.”
It was so hard to keep the fear out of her voice. “And now?”
“Now, I’ve seen a different side of you, a side I think neither one of us realized existed. Since we’ve come here, you’ve changed. You’re more open and relaxed, easier to talk to. You seem happy.” Stephanie shrugged as her gaze lowered to the picture. “I guess Lucas is the reason for that.” She looked back up before Taylor could speak. “I’ve changed since we came here, too.”
“Yes, you have. You’ve grown up a lot.”
“It hasn’t been easy, and for a while…” Stephanie smiled a little. “I fought the change every step of the way. But, Mom, I see things differently now than I ever did before. Part of the reason has been the time we’ve spent together, the talks we’ve had. And my photography. But, mostly, Micah has made the biggest difference.”
The picture slipped free of Taylor’s suddenly lax fingers.
“I care for him. More than I ever have for a boy. A man,” Stephanie corrected. She approached where Taylor remained behind the desk.
“The first day we were here, while we waited in that conference room in the courthouse, you told me Lucas had given you more than you ever dared to dream. Micah is like that for me, Mom. He gives me support and understanding when I’m trying to sort through my feelings, he gives me a lecture
when I deserve it.” Again, a small smile curved her lips.
“Sometimes he lectures me when I don’t deserve it. But he also listens when I need to talk. Mostly, he challenges me to be the best person I can be.”
Taylor lifted a trembling hand to brush back her bangs. “You…” She swallowed, hoping to block the terror in her voice, remembering the intensity of these feelings. Then and now. “Oh, God. You’re in love with him.”
“Yes, I am.” Stephanie sat, beaming as if pleased that her mother understood. “I know you’re thinking I can’t possibly be. That we don’t know each other well enough or that I don’t have the experience to know, really know, what love is.” Stephanie reached for Taylor’s hands.
“But, Mom, I know how I feel when I’m with Micah. I don’t know if I can explain—”
“Impatient,” Taylor interrupted, not even her panic holding back the rush of warm emotion. “Yet willing to wait for him forever if that’s what it takes. Strong and powerful, as if you can conquer anything or anyone, but incredibly weak. Like you have this magical secret you keep here.” She slipped a hand free and placed it over her heart. “Where it can remain pure and untouched by doubts or trouble.”
“Yes.” Stephanie sat back in her chair, obviously stunned her mother knew the exact words to describe so much of how she felt. “Is that how it is for you with Lucas?”
“Yes, oh yes.”
“Then you understand how I feel about Micah.”
Stephanie was up, pacing around the room. Taylor recalled that current of feeling as she struggled to find a way to soften the words that would crush her daughter’s heart. And break the bond they’d managed to weave between them.
Oh, Stephen had been right. She should have told Stephanie the truth years ago.
“Stephanie.” Taylor stood. She opened her mouth, but the words wouldn’t come. Jamming her hands into the pockets of her slacks, she tried again, only to change course. “You and Micah…you haven’t…that is, you’re not—”
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