“I’m sorry. You’re right, and it was your decision to make. I just—” She blows out another breath. “I wish I could make this easier for you, but I don’t think there’s going to be an easy answer now, sweetie.”
“There was no easy answer then either,” I say, dejected.
“You’re right. There wasn’t. Maybe your dad and I should hold off on bringing Lennox up until you’ve had a chance to tell him. The worst possible scenario is Jamie figuring it out on his own.”
I squeeze my eyes shut and exhale heavily. “Aye… Aye, you’re right. I’ll take a long weekend to come see Lennox in a couple of weeks. It doesn’t make sense to bring him up before I have a place sorted for us anyway.”
“How’s the house hunt going?” she asks, and I’m glad for the change of subject.
“Eh, fine, I guess. I’ve put in a few applications…”
“I thought you were planning to buy?”
“I was, but everything feels too precarious right now. I think a lease makes more sense… you know?” I keep thinking of the worst-case scenario—where this all implodes, everyone gets hurt, and staying here will no longer be an option.
“Mm. That does make sense. Well, if you need help with anything, you call me, okay? No more secrets, please. We haven’t had secrets since you were seventeen.”
I chuckle at the irony. “Yeah, true. I’m sorry. I wasn’t sure how to tell you.”
“That’s understandable, but I’m glad you did. You’ll call Lennox this evening?”
“Aye, as always. He’s doing okay, right?” My heart clenches, I miss him so much.
“He’s doing great. He misses you, of course, and I think he’s excited for the move.”
“Is he still having trouble with the kids at school?”
“It’s been better this week, or at least he seems better.”
That helps ease my worries. The fact that Lennox is having issues with these kids only made our move more appealing, but I’m glad things seem to be improving. Especially since I can’t be in Glasgow to try to fix it. Not that I was having much luck while I was back there.
“Good. I’ll call him later. Love you, Mum.”
“Love you too, Avonlea.”
Music fills my earbuds when the call ends, resuming the playlist I had on before. I turn around to look for my phone and find Jamie instead, sitting at his grandfather’s desk in the corner, watching me over steepled fingers.
I jump and my frightened squeak bounces off the walls of the kitchen. “Holy shit! How long have you been sitting there?” My mind races over the conversation I just had. What did he hear? I don’t think I said anything that would give away my secret, but hell, I know he wasn’t there a few minutes ago.
“I just sat down. Sorry I scared you.”
It’s the most words we’ve exchanged since that night on the roof.
“What’re you doing in here?” I ask, breathless and clutching a hand over the heart that nearly jumped out of my chest.
“I was looking for Grandad.” He leans back casually in the chair, his broad shoulders spanning the entire width and his damn shirt stretching across his chest when he presses his forearms into the armrests. Why is this man still so appealing?
I force my gaze to meet his and cross my arms. “And when you didn’t find him, you figured you’d eavesdrop on my phone call?”
“That wasn’t my intention, Avonlea.” The irritated fire that was there during our last conversation is gone now.
I hate the way he’s still calling me Avonlea and not Avi, though I don’t know why. I definitely shouldnotcare.
“Well, next time, just announce yourself or something,” I say, trying to bring my own reactions down a notch.
“I was going to ask if he needs anything from town, but I guess I’ll ask you instead. Doyouneed anything?”
I restrain myself from laughing maniacally and sayingAside from a miracle that will make it so I don’t have to tell you that you have a son and that I hid him from you for ten years, nope!
