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“Sure, Mom.” Relieved for the chance to check on Kate, he made his way across the patio and up the steps. The patio door swung open silently.
He found her hunched over the sink, head hanging low. “Hey, you okay?”
She whirled around, bearing a forced smile, and reached for the fridge handle. “Yeah, of course. I’m fine.”
He placed a hand flat against the door. “Don’t do that. You don’t have to pretend with me. I know this must be hard for you.”
Her face fell and her shoulders sagged a good two inches. “I didn’t intend for this to happen. For her to get in the middle of your family. It’s so awkward. She volunteered to help with Trail Days, and your mom wanted to meet her, then she invited her to stay for supper and—”
“It’ll be okay. Nobody knows a thing.”
“That’s the problem, though, isn’t it? What if someone says something and she figures out who I am? It’ll ruin everything.” Kate’s eyes grew glassy.
He slid his hand over hers. “Come on now. That’s not going to happen. Let’s just get through the meal. It’s almost over and I’ll help out where I can.”
“But what about next time? She’ll be working on Trail Days for the next month, and Lisa will want updates. This is getting so messy.”
“Let’s not borrow trouble. Mom doesn’t know anything about you that would give you away.”
“I should’ve at least told Avery about her. She’s going to be hurt when she finds out I kept this from her.”
“This is your private business. It’s up to you when to share it—not anyone else.”
“I haven’t told Gavin yet either.”
“Well, he hasn’t told you about Jesse yet, has he?”
Relief washed over her features. “No.”
He loved that he could read her so well. She wore her feelings like a neon sign. “Try not to take that personally, by the way. He doesn’t talk about Jesse with anyone. He’s still dealing with a lot of guilt.”
He was still holding Kate’s hand. He should probably let go, but he couldn’t seem to make his muscles cooperate.
“Your relationship with your mom is intensely personal—I can see that. Childhood wounds go deep. She broke your trust in theworst way, and you have a right to get to know her at your own pace. If you find she’s worthy of your trust, you can tell her who you are. If not . . . you don’t owe her anything, Katelyn.”
A weight seemed to fall away from her. “Yeah. Thanks. I seem to keep forgetting that.”
“For what it’s worth, she seems pretty nice.”
“Not at all like a woman who would abandon her kids and never look back, huh?”
“Drugs do terrible things to people.” Unfortunately he saw it all the time on his job. “But she’s off them now.”
“She admitted she had kids...” Kate’s gaze clung to his, impossibly blue. Impossibly hopeful.
If that woman hurt Kate again, he’d hunt her down himself. “She was honest. That’s something, I guess.”
“I was so afraid she’d say no. I didn’t think I could take it if she just... acted like we never even existed.”
“Well, that didn’t happen. But even if it did, you’re a strong woman, Kate. You can handle whatever comes your way.”
She offered a tiny smile. Her eyes beamed at him with warmth and affection that soaked right through his skin. “You always say the nicest things.”
Of its own volition, his hand palmed her cheek. He was only a breath away. He took in her lovely features. Those almond-shaped eyes, the smattering of freckles on her nose, the sweet curve of her mouth. How had he made it two weeks without seeing her? It was like coming up for oxygen after holding his breath for five minutes underwater. Suddenly he could breathe again.
“It’s the truth,” he said softly.
Somewhere behind him feet shuffled to a stop.
