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I wanted to avoid the next part, but I wasn’t going to be home all day either.“Actually, I was just going to shower and then I was going out.”I forced myself to say the rest.I shouldn’t have to hide everything about my life.“With Liam and the boys.They’re taking me fishing.”I’d hide only the part where I was taking the monumental step of moving on and it was with Liam.
“He wants you to keep the boys from hurting themselves while he messes around.”His tone was matter of fact.
I couldn’t keep the sigh out of my voice.“He’s a good dad, Bruce.”I left thebetter than his ownout.
Bruce grunted.“Ginny’s the one raising them.”
“Helping doesn’t mean someone has to do everything.”Hint, hint.
Bruce leveled a flat stare.“He’d have to be here in order to make me think that Ginny isn’t doing everything.”
A rare moment of defiance straightened my spine.“Then too bad the circumstances of his birth prevented him from finding a job around here.”
“It’s never been about his birth, Kennedy.It’s about how he conducts himself.”I opened my mouth, but he put a hand up and that gentle expression formed, the one where I had to double-check that I was twenty-six and not six.“He’s an adult now, yes.But he’s also a single dad.He chased the mom away and he’s making his grandmother raise his kids.As for the job hunt when he was younger, well, no one wanted to hire the welder that burned down his barn.”
“It was an—”
“Kennedy.”That placating tone ignited a fire I hadn’t known existed, but I wasn’t sure how to deal with it.“I know you think the way you do because of my son.I take responsibility for that.”
I know Liam didn’t want his grandpa blamed, but it wasn’t his fault people put two and two together and came up with five instead.“Bruce—”
“Derek had a blind spot a mile wide when it came to that kid.I’m sure it’s cuz we were strict and the Pewters weren’t.”I almost laughed.How could he know Grandma Gin and think she was a pushover?“But I’d like to save you from the headache a guy like Liam can cause.You’ve been through enough.”
I’d been through enough of this conversation.I pressed my fingers against my temples.I was about to reiterate how Liam had been nothing but supportive when Bruce noticed what I was doing.
“Dammit, Kennedy, I’m sorry.”Bruce shoved a hand through his graying hair, his expression distraught.“I didn’t mean to upset you.It’s just that I’d never forgive myself if you got hurt and I didn’t do anything.Without Derek around, I just want to—” He made a strangled sound and his eyes misted over.
I’d woken up full of energy and optimism.Now I was tired, and I didn’t want to make Bruce feel worse, but I wanted him to leave.The fastest way to achieve that would be to let him do what he’d come here to do.“Thanks for doing the lawn.I need to clean up and maybe lie down for a while.”
I regretted the white lie, but if he thought I was resting, he’d be quick and go.
“I’ll make it quick.You lie down,” he said in a fatherly tone.Bruce might be a little overbearing, a bit old-fashioned, and too unthinking when it came to what Cameron demanded, but he was the closest thing to a father I had.
“Thanks, Bruce.Tell Willow hi.”
He was on the way to the door when he stopped.“She’d like to invite you over for supper.When’s a good night?”
This was what I realized was missing with my relationship with my mother.A simple invite over.“How about Wednesday?”
“Wednesday it is.Get some rest.”
I went to the bedroom to message Liam and ask if we could postpone for an hour to give Bruce time to clear out.When it came to Bruce’s opinion of Liam, we couldn’t agree to disagree forever, but I couldn’t tackle the argument when Bruce’s grief was still so acute.
Liam
The steady lapof the water against the shore sank into my bones, relaxing my tight muscles.I had hiked us around the campsites of Hazen Bay on the edge of Lake Sakakawea.We set up our fishing area where there was enough sand for the boys to play in and find the occasional mussel shell and large rocks for them to climb but no drop-offs.The water was shallow, so they could wade on the edge when they got bored with watching their bobber.They were like little tops, twirling from spot to spot.Kenny was in a folding camp chair, holding the fishing rod for Owen.I was knotting a hook onto Eli’s line for the third time since we’d gotten here.When it was secure, I helped him cast, then he ran to where Owen was digging for worms.
I squatted next to Kenny, my gaze brushing along the satiny skin of her bare legs.“Eli’s appointment is at two on Thursday, right?”
“Yes.Want me to come with?”
The corner of my mouth kicked up.“I won’t say no, but it has nothing to do with thinking I can’t do it myself.”
“I know.”Her shy smile confirmed she wanted to go with me just because.Never in my life had I gotten gooey over a woman, but here I was, insides turned to mush, ready to hand my balls over on a silver platter.
The sun peeked out from behind a cloud.Her deep brown eyes brightened and golden highlights scattered across her hair.She wore a tank top that covered as much as a T-shirt except for the upper parts of her arms.My fingers twitched to stroke along her flesh, but the kids were nearby.
If we weren’t hiding our intimacy, what would I do?I didn’t have much experience with long-term dating.My time with Payton was a drama-filled roller coaster, and we’d hung out at the bar a lot when we weren’t fucking.Watching movies and going fishing was a level of intimacy I hadn’t attained with a woman.I enjoyed it and wanted more.But I’d have to settle with touching her in private.Kenny didn’t want to handle the emotions of others if they learned about us, but I also didn’t want to upturn the stability my kids had finally found by confusing them about Kenny’s role in our life.
