“One of many.”He tried to call the words back, but it was too late.The first crack in the armor, he thought.There wouldn’t be another.She couldn’t get to him anymore.“When we were—” He paused and searched for the correct phrase.He didn’t like the one that came to mind, so he tried another tack.“It was never my intention to continue that schedule.I did what I had to in order to get the bank healthy.While I don’t keep what people refer to as ‘banker’s hours’, I do only put in the usual forty or so.”Another crack.There, in the sharpness of his voice.Jane set her coffee on the counter and walked toward him.
“Adam, I’m sorry.”
“There’s no need to apologize.”
“You must feel—”
“Nothing.”He cut her off before she could voice what he was doing his damnedest to ignore.“Not a thing.I don’t want your apologies.I don’t want—” A burst of anger struck the side of his soul.The blow caught him off guard.He took a deep breath.“Let it go.I did.”
“I don’t believe you.”Her hazel eyes searched his face.
He made himself sit quietly, forced the lid down on his anger and secured the lock.“That’s your problem.”He glanced at his watch.“I’ve got a couple of appointments in town.Feel free to use the phone and call whomever you need.”
“The phone?”
“To let people know you arrived safely.Or if Billie needs to speak to anyone.”
“I spoke to my parents yesterday.Who would Billie call?”
She was making it difficult.He rose.“Your ex-husband.Billie has a father, does she not?”
“Oh.”Jane twisted her fingers together.“Oh, that.I…there’s no one to call.”
“You have sole custody?”
Jane paled visibly and backed up a step.“Yes,” she whispered.“I think so.”
“Think?What do the divorce papers say?”
“Why are you asking this?”
“I want to know if a strange man is going to show up on my doorstep.”
“There’s no one.Billie and I are alone.”She took another step away and bumped into the counter.
“I see.”Her statement didn’t please him, he told himself.Jane could have married six times since she’d left and it wouldn’t matter to him.Why would he care that she’d probably left some other man the way she’d left him?
“We’ll be fine,” Jane said, crossing her arms over her chest.“There’s the car to unpack and the house to clean.Don’t worry about us.Billie and I have lots to do.”
“She’s a great kid.”
For the first time since entering the kitchen, Jane looked at ease.“Really?You think so?”She smiled.“I know she thinks the world of you.”
“She’s just happy I didn’t take off a layer of her hide for breaking the window.”
“Billie knows you’d never hit her.”
“How would she know a thing like that?”
“She’s very wise about people.”
“That’s a good skill for someone her age.”
Her arms dropped to her sides.“I wish I’d had it.I always saw what was on the surface.I never thought to look for more.”
She was trying to tell him something, but what?“And now?”
Her eyes darkened as the gold fled.She moistened her lips.“I’m getting better.It comes with age.”
