“That’s what neighbors do here,” he said.“You’ll have a whole wing to yourselves.”
“I don’t want to impose.”Two bright spots of color stained her cheeks.
“No imposition.”Even to his own ears his voice sounded strained.“Sally comes in five days a week.She always keeps the guest rooms ready.”
“But—”
“No buts.”Charlene linked her arm through Jane’s.“It’s all arranged.Let’s go get that darling daughter of yours and collect your suitcases.I see you’ve kept your hair long.I like it.Maybe we can go to the salon together and you can get a trim.I hate to criticize, dear, but Billie’s hair is quite atrocious.You might want to have a little talk with her about the merits of acting like a lady…”
Their voices faded as they walked toward the front door.Adam forced himself to relax.Jane and Billie would only be here for a couple of nights.It was a big house; they could easily avoid each other.And if they didn’t—
He shrugged.Hedidn’t have a problem with Jane Southwick now or ever.Nine years ago she’d shown him the truth about relationships in general and theirs in particular.Loving someone meant being left.He’d learned his lesson well.He’d offered his heart to a young woman once and she’d returned it broken and bleeding.That part of him was safely locked away, and no ghost from the past was going to find the key.
* * *
“You haven’t told him, have you?”
Jane glanced around the cheerful guest room, but there wasnowhere to hide.She finished putting out Billie’s nightgown, then checked to make sure the door to the bathroom was tightly closed.The sounds of her daughter’s off-key singing and the splashing of water against the side of the tub continued uninterrupted.All the activity was supposed to give her time to compose herself.It wasn’t working.
“You know,” Jane said, glancing up at her friend.
“How could I not?”Charlene stepped over to the bed and sat on the corner.“The eyes, her personality, the way she stands.A blind man could see it.”
The hard lump in her stomach doubled in size.Jane felt herself grow pale.
“I meant that as an expression, dear,” the older woman said hastily.“Nothing more.”
“Good.Because Adam—”
“Men don’t look for things like that.”Charlene took her hand and tugged, forcing Jane to sit on the bedspread, next to her.“Start from the beginning.”
Jane folded her hands in her lap.“I’ve made a mess of everything.”
“That sounds the tiniest bit exaggerated.”
“I left here nine years ago, had Adam’s baby and never told him.”She paused and drew in a breath.“Now I’m back and I’ve brought home his child.What would you call it?”
“Fine Southern drama.”Charlene’s blue eyes glittered with suppressed laughter.She sobered quickly.“Sorry, dear.I understand your concern, but you are back, and you’re going to tell him about Billie, and everything will be fine.”
Jane twisted her fingers together.“I’m not going to tell him.”
“What?”
“I mean, I am, but not just yet.”
The lump grew again, pressing against her ribs and making it difficult to breathe.Dear God, she prayed, then paused.What to ask for?Forgiveness?She could use a strong dose of that.Common sense?That went without saying.Show me the right thing for my daughter, she thought.But would God listen?Would anyone?After what she’d done?
No one had told her guilt tasted so empty.That the hollowness would linger on her tongue, as though the emptiness was too much for her heart to bear, and the excess would seep out into her body, stealing joy and promise.
Charlene touched her arm.“Then why are you here if not to tell Adam about his daughter?”
“I am.I will.I thought—” She squeezed her eyes shut, but that didn’t block out the past.“I thought it would be so easy.I’d show up, tell Adam I was sorry and he’d forgive me.Then I’d introduce Billie and we’d live as neighbors.Like a TV sitcom.”She paused, feeling overwhelmed.“I’ve been a fool.It’s not going to be like that.It can’t be.I should never have come.”
“If your furniture is being delivered Monday, then it’s a little late for second thoughts.”
Despite herself, Jane smiled.“Always practical.And this from a woman who still claims to be raised by wolves.”
Charlene straightened.“Iwasraised by wolves.”
