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The reason behind her brave smile was now obvious, her pride in knowing something important about him on display.
“An hour’s a long way to come just to say hi,” he replied, hoping she understood his meaning.
“Well, if you answered your phone, you’d know I didn’t drive an hour to get here. I have an apartment not ten minutes away.”
Lawson frowned. “You what?”
Still smiling, she shrugged nonchalantly and said, “I moved to Shelbyville.”
This news made Lawson turn in order to face her directly. “Youwhat?” he repeated.
Speaking through a mild laugh, she replied, “I’ve tried to tell you that I want to talk. I still do.” She swept a bit of hair behind her ear coyly before she went on to say, “Now that I’ve finally got your attention, maybe you want to grab a coffee?”
“Daddy?” Evelyn murmured, tugging on Lawson’s hand. She had his attention at once, and he read the apprehensive curiosity in her golden-brown eyes as she gave Ashlynn a furtive glance before she whispered up at him, “Who’s that lady?”
Lawson hesitated as he shifted his gaze back onto Ashlynn. He looked at her just in time to see her smile faulter as she took inallof him—including the little girl who stuck close by his side. Her expression made way for an opening he was smart enough to take.
“I’m with my family. I can’t do this now.”
Ashlynn opened her mouth to speak, then closed it abruptly. She looked down at Evelyn, then at the rest of his family—congregated behind him—and shook her head. “When, then? You can’t ignore me forever.”
Much as he wished he could, he knew she was right. She’d moved to Shelbyville, for crying out loud. Outsiders didn’t move to Shelby from Nashville without a reason. Last summer, she’d been a CNA at a hospital in the city. She’d had a good life up north. He didn’t think it arrogant to surmisehewas her reason for leaving it all behind. Though, how she could justify leaving her life for a relationship that didn’t exist, he couldn’t fathom. Clearly, ignoring her wouldn’t make her go away.
“I know how to reach you,” he said as he turned to leave.
“I’m free tomorrow,” she announced.
He didn’t respond. Neither did he acknowledge the stares aimed at him from his parents and siblings. With Evelyn’s fingers still wrapped around his, he grabbed hold of Nora’s hand with his free one and started for the parking lot without a backwards glance.
“Daddy? Who was that?” Evelyn asked for the second time.
“Just an old friend, darlin’.”
“She was pretty.”
Lawson didn’t respond, but that didn’t stop Nora from slipping her hand out of his grasp. He jerked his gaze in her direction, but she didn’t meet his eyes. Her face was blank, and she spoke not a word, causing a pit of dread to settle in Lawson’s gut. He didn’t reach for her again, understanding it was in his best interests to let her process what happened in whatever way she needed.
After Lawson helped Evelyn into her booster seat, he slid behind the wheel, but didn’t start the engine. He raked his fingers through his hair and then turned toward Nora. “Baby—”
“Not in front of Evie,” she murmured in a hushed voice.
Wishing to put the issue behind them sooner rather than later, Lawson bit back a curse as he started the engine. Of all days, this was the worst to have Nora upset at him. Silence filled the SUV until they pulled out onto the main road, and then his songbird reached for the digital display and fiddled with it until the vehicle’s sound system was playing country tunes. They listened to Evelyn sing along until they arrived at their destination, his parents pulling into the long drive right behind them.
With the intuition he could credit only to his mother, Gale called out to Evelyn as soon as her feet hit the ground.
“Evie, sweetheart, why don’t you come help your Nana finish up dinner.”
Evelyn shot across the gravel drive toward Gale’s outstretched hand without hesitation. Gale then winked at her son before she, Evelyn, and Judge made their way inside.
Nora got out of the SUV and waited for Lawson’s approach. She didn’t have to wait long. As soon as their eyes met, everything around them became a blur. Neither of them even bothered to look as another car pulled up into the drive.
“I’ll tell you whatever you want to know.”
Nora-Jean forced a smile and folded her arms across her chest. The longer she went without speaking, the more unsettled Lawson became.
“Baby, I’m not a saint, and I wasn’t celibate for the last six years.”
Nora sealed her eyes shut, cutting him off as she lifted a hand, signaling him to stop talking.
