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“That wasn’t my finest moment, despite what she did.” His dad grimaced. “I regret that.”
“Well, I suppose that’s something.” Ben stirred and walked toward the door. He wasn’t the kind of guy to hang around during an argument. “I’ll go saddle up. I’ll meet you at the barn, Adam.”
“Okay.” Adam continued studying his father who was helping himself to coffee. He waited until Ben left to continue the conversation. “Is it true that you banned Leanne from coming back to the ranch and seeing us?”
“As I just said, Adam. I didn’t behave well back then. I was furious when she pulled that stunt on me and walked out. I thought I had reason to get her out of my life, and I was determined to make her pay for it.” He sighed. “I was an absolute fool.”
“Yeah, you were.” Adam stood and put his mug in the dishwasher. “You also told us that she’d run off for good, not that she was staying in Bridgeport, waiting for you to come to your senses and beg her to come back.”
“She tried to come back a couple of times to see you all,” his dad said. “I wouldn’t let her stay—threatened to shoot out her tires if she came by again.”
“Wow, you really made sure she couldn’t see her own kids, didn’t you?” Adam slammed the dishwasher door shut. “What a hero.”
“I was the opposite of that, and you damn well know it. I lost the best thing in my life.”
“No, you gave it away, which is even worse. She didn’t goddamn die on you.” Adam faced his father. “You just decided to mess up everyone’s lives because you were too stubborn to admit you were wrong.”
He walked toward the door, aware that he was angry and unwilling to let his father see how much he was affected by his open admission of, not just his guilt, but also his appalling behavior.
“You disappearing on me again, son?”
“Yeah, I am, before I say something I’ll regret,” Adam replied.
His dad held his gaze. “I can take it, Adam. I probably deserve it, too.” He sighed. “Just let it out. You’ll feel much better.”
“I’m good.” Adam was at the door before his father spoke again.
“Except you’re not good. You never allow yourself to get angry at anything anymore.”
“What’s wrong with that?” Adam demanded, guilt churning in his gut.
“It’s not natural.”
“Maybe not to you, but maybe growing up with a father who lost it over the smallest thing made me realize I never wanted to be like that.” Adam pushed open the door. “I’ve got to get back to work.”
Chapter Fifteen
When Lizzie went down the stairs the next morning, she wasn’t surprised to see that a note had been pushed under her door. She picked it up, avoiding Roman’s questions, and kept walking toward Gabby’s. As soon as Roman’s attention wandered, she opened it up one-handed, and read it through.
I would appreciate it if you would meet me today at 1 P.M. at Henry Parker’s law firm in town.
I hope this is a mutually acceptable neutral place. Miranda Smith.
Law firm? A stab of alarm hit Lizzie’s stomach. Why on earth would Miranda want to meet her there? She glanced down at Roman’s happy face as he skipped along holding her hand, and tried to imagine what might happen next. She had a sense that if she didn’t cooperate, Miranda would simply keep trying. She’d been the same back when she’d insisted that Lizzie had no part in her family. An iron will cloaked in a smiling, sweet exterior.
Lizzie reminded herself that she wasn’t the same scared woman who’d allowed the Smith family to railroad her four years ago. Having Roman and learning to care for him had made her a different person entirely. She dropped Roman off at Gabby’s and told her about Miranda just in case the woman tried to get in and see her grandson.
For once she was glad that it was a busy day at the café with several busloads of tourists passing through as well as the locals to deal with. Yvonne had also made several special occasion cakes that needed to be boxed up and delivered. Ten minutes before her lunch break began, Lizzie rushed into the bathroom to make sure she looked presentable before setting off down the street toward the only law office in town.
