Libby eyed her speculatively. “Just forget I said anything. When and if Bryce wants you to know about his past, he’ll tell you. Please, don’t tell him that I mentioned it. He trusts very few people in this world, and two of them just died. I don’t want to give him a reason not to trust me.”
“Okay, I wouldn’t. I wouldn’t say anything.” Accepting that any more discussions about Bryce were over, Kaya walked to the fireplace and stretched her hands toward the leaping flames behind the glass-enclosed hearth. Libby was clearly concerned about ruining her relationship with Bryce. Not only was the man domineering and intimidating, he had his entourage of loyal disciples to protect and defend him.
In spite of the internal havoc he was already causing to her being, and the obstacles he could place in her path to retaining custody of the children, Kaya couldn’t help but wonder about the painful experience Bryce had suffered.
Whatever it was, she was certain that he didn’t want her pity or her sympathy. He wasn’t the kind of man to wear his heart on his sleeve, either. She’d only spent a few minutes in his presence, but she already had him figured out. Bryce Fontaine wasn’t the kind of man who would let anyone know he was hurting, emotionally or physically. He was proud.
Sensing someone was watching her, Kaya gazed across the wide open space of the first floor. Sure enough, Jason was standing in an informal dining area off the kitchen, observing her. Even from a distance, she felt the disdain in his silver-grey eyes.
He was the most light-footed child she’d ever known. She could hear Alyssa coming from a mile away, but Jason made his presence known only when he was ready. Several times yesterday, she’d caught him eyeing her like a full-bellied cat would eye a bird with a broken wing—not knowing whether or not to be bothered.
Unlike Alyssa, he’d been wary of her, but politely civil when she first arrived. But last night it all changed when she’d offered to tuck him in. He’d screamed at her, telling her that she was not his mother and to leave him alone. Then he’d slammed his bedroom door in her face.
He’d given her a glimpse of Little Kaya. After her father walked out on her, she’d become filled with rage. Nadine had tried to beat it out of her, to no avail. As Kaya thought about it, she realized that it was only after Nadine abandoned her and she was placed in foster care that her anger began to subdue. She wasn’t mad at the world; she was just mad at Nadine. It was Nadine’s fault that her father had left. Kaya wished her father had fought for her, like Bryce was prepared to fight for Jason and his sisters. Oh, to know love like that.
Jason sauntered up to Libby, ignoring Kaya altogether. “Miss Libby, when are Uncle Bryce and Mommy and Daddy coming home?”
“Soon, Jason.” Kaya gave Libby a silencing shake of the head.
“Yeah, soon,” Libby backed her up.
She didn’t want him to know that Bryce was back, not until she figured out how to deal with the man. As she watched Jason’s shoulders droop, Kaya felt like someone was snipping little pieces of her heart out with a pair of giant scissors. His moment of truth was near.
“Can I stay at your place until they come home?”
Libby rested her hands on his shoulders. “I’ll tell you what. I have to go into town to run some errands. Would you like to come along for the ride? We can stop at Mountainview Café and have a bowl of Miss Eloise’s homemade clam chowder that you love.”
“Okay, and maybe if Ethan is there, I can see him?”
“Yeah, maybe.” Libby ruffled his curly black hair.
Kaya wished she could have been the one to cause the hint of a smile that flitted across Jason’s face. She knew that deep down inside, he was a sweet kid. She wanted so much to put her arms around him, tell him that she loved him.
“Ethan’s grandmother owns the café,” Libby told Kaya.
Kaya nodded. “I see.”
“Run on upstairs and put on some warm clothes.” Libby tugged on the sleeve of Jason’s T-shirt. “We don’t want you getting sick.”