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“So, you didn’t bother to follow up with me.”
“You didn’t come after me through the courts even though you must have known I was earning a lot of money. I kind of assumed you’d changed your mind.” He winced. “Wow. When I say it out loud, it sounds awful.”
“Yes, it does.” Lizzie gave him a pointed smile. “I didn’t come after you because I had more pride. I was lucky enough to have parents who were willing to financially support me. I work two jobs, Ray, and I get by just fine.”
“Mom said she offered you money to let her see her grandson.”
“Yes, she tried to buy access to him. I wasn’t very happy with her terms. Did she mention that?”
“She did.” He sighed. “Why she thought you’d be happy to let him come to San Francisco by himself I’ll never know.”
“I offered to allow her some supervised time with Roman here in Morgantown until he gets to know her better. That wasn’t good enough. She started flashing her checkbook around, and then petitioned the courts for visitation rights.”
Ray looked furtively around the empty kitchen, and then returned his gaze to Lizzie. “The thing is . . . I’d rather do this without the courts getting involved.”
“Why’s that?” Lizzie asked sweetly.
“Because it’s a waste of time when we can come to a satisfactory financial arrangement with basic visiting rights without my mother interfering.”
“How are we going to do that?” Lizzie regarded him warily.
“Well, firstly, I’d start paying child support, backdated to his birth. Secondly, I’d appreciate it if you’d allow my mom to come to Morgantown maybe once every two weeks to get to know Roman at your place.”
Lizzie regarded him until he started fidgeting.
“Why this sudden change of heart, Ray?”
“I told you. Mom really wants to get to know Roman. She just went about it all the wrong way.”
“What about you?”
It was his turn to look puzzled. “What about me?”
“Do you want to see your son?”
He looked down at his linked hands. “Look, I’m getting married in three months’ time.”
“Okay.” Lizzie paused, but he didn’t elaborate. “What’s that got to do with anything?”
“I really love Kim.”
“That’s great.” Again, Lizzie waited for enlightenment.
“Doesn’t that bother you?” Ray asked.
“Why would it?”
“Because you loved me, and had my baby.”
Lizzie sighed. “Ray, we had a one-night stand and my contraception failed. It was hardly a torrid love affair.”
“Yeah, but—”
Lizzie held up a finger. “Hold on a minute. Are you worried that I’m going to turn up and cause a scene?”
“Maybe,” he muttered, doing everything to avoid looking at her, which reminded her vividly of the day she’d told him she was pregnant.
“That’s why you’re willing to offer me money, and set up your mom’s visits?”
“Yeah. Pretty much.”
“Do I look like I’ve been pining over you for the last four years?” Lizzie asked.
“It’s hard to tell.” He considered her carefully. “Some women are really good at keeping it together. I know I’m something of a catch, and you are a few years older than me, and must be wondering if you’ll ever find someone as great as I am.”
Despite all her worries, Lizzie’s mouth kicked up at the corner at the absurdity of his self-absorption.
“If I confess that I was never in love with you, and that I’ve barely given you a thought in years, will you change your mind and rescind your generous offer?”
“Of course not.” Ray looked affronted. “I just want to make sure that there are no skeletons in my closet going forward—that if I run for political office no one can come around here and dig up dirt about me.”
“The Senator’s Secret Love Child?” Lizzie made bunny ears with her fingers. “Wow, you are thinking far ahead.” She gazed at him with grudging respect. “I never thought you had it in you.”
