The tiny bubble of hope inside her burst hearing those four little words. Lord, she hated them. “After everything you said last time, I don’t have the strength for another conversation.”
“I was an ass. The things I said to you were—” His voice cracked, and he swallowed hard. “When AJ told me you’d been fired and then when the shadow box was gone, my first instinct was you wouldn’t steal pens from work, much less Ginny’s pin. Then I remembered how well my father lied. I doubted you and then betrayal took over. I was deliberately cruel because I wanted you to make you hurt as much as I did.”
“You succeeded.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t believe you. I’m sorry for what I said and how I hurt you.”
He apologized. What had happened since their last discussion? Then he’d been rigid, almost unwilling to listen. He said he’d felt betrayed and doubted her. But now he almost sounded as if he believed her? She got out of her car and stood by the door. Something had to convince him she was innocent. “Why the change? Did you find the shadow box?”
He shook his head.
“But you believe I didn’t take the pin or the money? Without evidence?”
“I realized the woman I loved who’d return a dollar of extra change couldn’t steal from me or anyone else.”
He hadn’t found evidence to prove her innocence. He’d taken a leap of faith because he loved her. Euphoria burst through her. She had to be sure. “You love me?”
“I do, but I’ll never be worthy of you. There’s too much of my father in me. My assuming the worst about you and my cruelty today proved that.”
“Listen up, Zane. You aren’t like your father any more than I am my mother.”
“You don’t know what he did.” His face pained, his eyes dark, the story tumbled out of him. “It was a Tuesday night. Mom had made my favorite dinner, spaghetti and meatballs. Dad was traveling again.” He shook his head and laughed. The bitter, brittle sound tore at her. “I remember being excited when he came home early. Then he said he was moving out. He wanted to live with his other family.”
McKenna gasped. “Other family?”
Zane nodded. His shoulders hunched and he gazed over her at the hay fields. Her heart ached for what he’d endured. For the child who’d been tossed aside by a selfish father.
“Turned out when he said he was traveling for work, he was living with his girlfriend and their two children. They have a son four months younger than I am and a daughter. I also have three other half-siblings from my father’s third marriage.”
No wonder Zane insisted everyone lied and something was either true or not. Gray areas would be dangerous for him and require trust. And yet, he’d let her in. He’d trusted her and let her seehim. Finding out from AJ that she’d lied about her work history must have made him feel as gullible as the night he’d learned about his father’s second family.
She rushed toward him, but he raised his hand halting her. Wanting to comfort him, but keeping her distance, she said, “Some people shouldn’t raise puppies, much less children.”
“I can’t promise I won’t one day be just like him.”
“Life doesn’t come with a guarantee, but I’m as sure as I can be about anything that you won’t ever be like your father. What he did speaks of his character flaws, not yours. Unlike him, you’re loyal and giving. Look at all you’ve done for Ginny. Not many grandsons would run a wedding planning business for their grandmothers.”
“She and my granddad saved me.”
McKenna stepped forward, and this time when he tried to stop her, she brushed his hand aside. Instead, she placed her hand on his cheek. “And their blood runs through you, too. From what I’ve seen and heard from Ginny, I’d say stronger than your father’s.”
“But—”
“Shh. I’m not blameless in what happened, you know. We’ve both made mistakes, and we certainly will again. Hopefully, we’ve learned to talk about them next time.”
“Next time?”
“I’ve loved you since I sang at Katharine and Rainy’s wedding.”
“How can you after what I’ve done?”
“Are you fishing for compliments?” she teased as he once had with her.
“You’re amazing. Thank goodness Ginny had the sense to hire you after she talked to Darby.”
“What? She knew? When did she tell you that?”
“Later. I want to ask you another question.” He knelt in the middle of the pothole ridden black top and clasped her hand. His Adam’s apple bobbed up and down as he swallowed repeatedly.
