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Jim drew back in reaction to that blow. His gut clenched tight, as did his fists. “Was she alone?”
Kara blinked, apparently surprised by the question. “I tell you a woman shows up claiming to be your wife and all you can think of to ask is if she was alone? Jimmy, you told me she was dead.”
“‘I told you we’d lost her,” he said. He turned quickly and strode to the area he’d set up for what he’d intended to be a romantic evening. “You assumed she was dead and I let you. And I’ve been kicking myself for it ever since. But for the record, Kara, she’s my ex-wife.” He yanked the wine out of the ice chest, crammed it back into the picnic basket and picked up both of them. “Grab the blanket.”
Kara did so, then ran to keep up with him as he carried the other items into the truck. “Jimmy, don’t you think you owe me an explanation?”
“I owe you more than that. Hell, a lot more.” He took the blanket from her and crammed it into the truck, then held the door open. “Get in.”
She got in. He went around to his side and started the vehicle moving.
“Jimmy, please tell me what’s going on.”
He glanced sideways at her, pushed a hand through his hair. “I’m sorry. Kara, dammit, I’m so sorry I wasn’t honest with you from the beginning. It’s just... my marriage to that woman is not something I’m proud of.”
“But why?”
He closed his eyes. “It’s a long story. She’s trouble, Kara. She hasn’t seen Tyler since she left us four years ago. She hasn’t wanted to see him. He doesn’t even know who she is.”
Kara lowered her head. “I don’t understand. If she doesn’t want him, then why is she here?”
“That’s what I’d like to know.” He pressed harder on the accelerator and soon was turning into the driveway that curved uphill from Vidalia’s farmhouse to Maya and Caleb’s recently built one, higher up the hill. He jumped out of the truck and ran to the door, knocked once before flinging it open.
Maya and Caleb looked up fast, and Maya frowned. “Back so soon?”
“Where’s Tyler?” he asked, scanning the living room.
“In the playroom with the twins,” Maya said, pointing.
“Is something wrong, Jim?” Caleb asked.
But Jim was already striding through the house in the direction Maya had pointed. He didn’t think he drew a breath again until he burst into the playroom and saw Tyler on the floor, making motor noises as he drove a toy truck along the floor. Ty looked up with a smile. “Hi, Dad.”
Jim scooped his son up and hugged him hard.
“I thought you was goin’ on a picnic with Kara,” Tyler said.
“I missed you.”
“Already?” Tyler’s face fell. “I don’t have to go yet, do I, Dad? We were gonna have popcorn and watch Rudolf.”
He kissed Tyler’s cheek, ruffled his hair and set him back down. “You go ahead. I’ll be right outside if you need me, all right?”
“Okay, Dad.”
Jim turned to see Kara standing in the doorway staring at him. He nodded at her inquisitive look. “Yeah. We can have that talk now. Just one more thing first.” He pulled out his cell phone and dialed his chief. When Chief Wilcox picked up, he said, “Ang is in Big Falls.”
* * *
They sat on the porch swing as the sun went down. Jimmy still seemed nervous, watchful. Kara had lost her grip on her righteous indignation and her anger at having been lied to. Now all she felt was fear, because if he was this upset over his wife— ex-wife, she corrected herself—appearing in town, then there must be a good reason. Jimmy Corona was not a stupid man. He was a cop, for God’s sake. And he’d been afraid when she’d told him about Angela’s visit. No cop got that scared without a reason.
He took her hand in his and she looked into his eyes. “Marrying Angela was a huge mistake,” he told her. “But she gave me Tyler, so it’s a mistake I’d make all over again. Except this time... I’d keep him safe.”
Kara frowned. “Safe? From his own mother?”
He nodded, leaned back in the swing, closed his eyes. “She liked to party, liked to have fun, never wanted kids. She resented getting pregnant. Resented having to give up her fun to carry a baby to term. But she did it. And I thought... I thought she would keep on doing it. I thought once she held our child in her arms, she’d see what was really important in life.”
“You thought a baby would change her.”
