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Emmy volleyed some glances at them to make sure it wasn’t lip service. It wasn’t. So she nodded, and that caused Nessato smile again.
“From everything I’ve heard, you and Calen are very close,” Nessa said. “I suspect he could use his best friend right about now.”
Calen made a sound of agreement and met Emmy’s eyes. Yes, he could use a best friend. He didn’t want to put distance between them despite that kissing session they’d just had in his kitchen. Good. Maybe it meant he wasn’t having any regrets about it. And since she was feeling hopeful, Emmy added that maybe the regrets wouldn’t come at all.
She certainly wasn’t feeling regretful about those kisses.
Just the opposite. She was trying to wrap her mind around how she could convince Calen that kissing, and maybe doing a whole lot more, were very good things. For now, though, she just needed to help get him past this visit andthe aftermath.
When Nessa rubbed her hand over her hugely pregnant belly, Calen seemed to yank himself out of his stunned trance. “Why don’t you come and sit down.” He took her by the arm and gently led her into the living room. “Can I get you something to drink?”
“No, thanks. I had some herbal tea at the Yuletide, and Gladys topped off my cup a couple of times while we chatted. It must be amazing to live in a town that feels so happy.” She paused, and the smile faded. “Well, maybe not always happy,” she added in a murmur.
So, Nessa obviously knew about their broken engagements. Of course she did. If she’d visited Gladys, Nessa would have heard all about it.
“I’ve never told Gladys or anyone else in Christmas Creek that I’m Waylon’s daughter,” Nessa went on as she sat in one of the chairs across from the couch. Emmy and Calen took the sofa. “I figured if you’d wanted people to know, you would have told them.”
“I didn’t know about you,” Calen immediately said. “Not until yesterday.”
“Ah, yes. You found out when you went through the mail that Dad didn’t deliver. Gladys,” Nessa added, and no further explanation was needed. “He didn’t open the cards I sent to him.” Her smile went south again. “Since he never responded, I guessed as much.”
Emmy groaned and wanted to throttle Waylon. It was bad enough that he’d withheld the mail, period, but he’d compounded that bad by not even responding to his own daughter.
Or maybe he hadn’t known Nessawas his child.
“Waylon knew about you?” Emmy cameout and asked.
Nessa’s nod was quick. “He came to visit my mom and me two or three times a year.” She stopped again. “And here’s where I should go back to the beginning. Well, the beginning as I know it anyway. My mom, Miranda, and Dad met as kids when he visited his grandparents in San Antonio.”
“His grandparents,” Calen repeated. “That was his mom’s folks.”
Nessa nodded. “Apparently, Dad’s father sent him there most summers, and Mom said he hated it almost as much as he hated being home. That he also resented his own mom for abandoning him, and her folks put all the blame for that onDad’s father.”
“I recall Waylon mentioning his grandparents,” Calen said, “but I didn’t know he’d had any contact with them. I never met them because they died shortly after I was born.” He paused. “So, Waylon met your mother when they were kids and they…kept in touch?”
Another nod from Nessa. “They dated on and off through high school, but it was hard for them to visit after my mom started college in Austin. According to my mom, they drifted apart but ran into each other twenty-five years ago.” Now, it was Nessa who paused. “Yes, while he was still married to your mother.”
The silence settled in for a few uncomfortable moments.
“They had an affair,” Calen concluded.
“No. Again, according to my mom, it was a one-time deal. Your mother had gotten the news that she wasn’t going to make it, that the cancer had spread, and Dad didn’t take that well. He showed up at Mom’s apartment, and one thing led to another….”
Well, crap. Emmy immediately looked at Calen to see how he was handling this. His jaw was set, and it was possible he was doing a whole lot ofsilent cursing.
“I’m so sorry,” Nessa went on. “This is one of the reasons I never contacted you. I figured it would bring back horrible memories just to see me, to know that I even exist.” She started to get up. “I’ll be going.”
“No, stay,” Calen said, and he reached out to take her hand, urging her to remain seated. “My mother’s death was a hard blow, but I don’t connect you to that.” He dragged in a long breath. “But I’m sorry Waylon didn’t do better by you. What reason did he give your mom for not marrying her after hewas a widower?”
Nessa lifted her shoulder. “My mom has never said. She got married two years ago and moved to Florida, so I’m hoping one day she’ll spill all. For now, I’ll just accept what I have. And I have so very much.” She pressed her hand to her stomach again. “I’ve done a family tree for the baby. Of course, it’s all just names and dates, but I’m hoping to get pictures for her.”
So, a daughter. Calen would be getting a niece.
“I can maybe help with that,” Emmy offered. “There are still some boxes with old photos in the attic of the house I bought from Waylon.”
“Oh, that’d be wonderful. If it’s okay with you?” Nessa asked, directing her question to Calen.
“It’s okay,” he assured her. “When are you due?”
