Page 90 of Steel

“Well, I’ve been known to heat them up when I couldn’t finish one.”

To Steel’s credit, he’d tried to pretend as if the evening hadn’t been ruined. But it had. The argument had established a path of least resistance between us, which included keeping our distance. Not that it was a bad idea, but the timing was terrible. At least the cat was out of the bag. I’d always considered myself a control freak and at this point, I had no control over anything. My job. My feelings.

I wasn’t in love, nothing crazy like that, but for the first time since losing my self-control over eight years ago, I felt alive. That was a dangerous situation to be in when away from home and people I knew who could talk me down from the rafters.

“Sure,” Damon said.

With a sigh, I glanced at Steel as he pulled into a driveway, although not the one for the house where we were living. “What are you doing?”

He placed his finger across his mouth. “I have something that will cheer you up, Damon.”

“What?”

The dull tone in my son’s voice gutted me.

Steel put the gear into park before answering. “I guess you’re going to need to come in and find out. Won’t you?” He had no plans on taking no for an answer, unfastening his seatbelt and climbing out before I could object.

When he closed the door, I let out a deep sigh.

“Mom. Do you love me? Do you want me around?”

“What kind of question is that? Of course I love you and always want you around.”

“Just askin’. You’re angry with Steel. I thought it was because of me.”

“Honey…” Oh, this wasn’t the conversation I needed to have. “I’m not angry with him. He was furious with me. I should have told him about the calendar.”

“Yeah, you should have. I like it here and you’re messing everything up.” He didn’t wait for me, crawling to the other side and managed to get himself out from the backseat.

While I sat quietly, watching as my son hopped up on the stoop, waiting patiently as Steel unlocked the door.

Realizing once again I was a terrible mother.

But I wouldn’t give it up for the world.

CHAPTER 19

Steel

“You can open your eyes now.” I was more excited than I thought possible. How odd considering the awkward night. I’d been so angry that I’d planned on leaving Damon and Violet at the restaurant. I’d seriously thought about it.

What kind of man did that kind of thing?

Not a decent one.

Damon was almost lethargic, acting as if he wasn’t interested.

“Come on, little man. You can’t be surprised unless you open your eyes.” She stood off to the side, her body language indicating she was doing everything in her power to remain shut down.

Could I blame her? Hell, no. I’d overreacted, although between the shock of learning why she’d dropped into town and her accusations about not talking with my brother, I’d lost my cool.

Damon’s big sigh was exactly as I’d heard from his mother a half dozen times.

But he peeked between his fingers and as soon as he did, the happy child I’d seen returned, if only for a little while. His gasp was everything I’d hoped for. It had been a long time since I’d seen anyone so excited.

“They’re amazing! Can I touch them?” His eagerness was an affliction I craved.

“I’ll do you one better. I’ll let you have them.” I dared glance at Violet and she was already shaking her head. In turn, I nodded.