Of course, Marcia also insisted that Zoe is welcome to live in the cabin as long as she needs to, even when I go back to New York. When I relayed that to Zoe, she was stunned at first because no one had been so kind and concerned about her welfare before. Then she realized she’d live in the house alone during her senior year of high school and sorrow clouded her face.
“We’ll figure something out, Zoe,” I consoled her. “It’ll be okay, don’t worry.”
“Today is my birthday,” she replied solemnly. “Happy big one-eight to me.”
“Happy birthday! I wish I’d known that before now so I could’ve found you a real birthday present. How about, for now, I take you out to eat and we’ll grab an ice cream cone afterward?”
“That sounds perfect.” She smiled. “Thank you, Layne.”
* * *
Today, as I spend time with River and think about that conversation with Zoe from a couple of weeks ago, I realize how different our perspectives are. Zoe sees a dismal existence in her future if she stays in Oak Grove, and I see a dismal existence in my future if I leave here. More and more, I find myself falling in love with this small town and most of the people in it.
Ace pulls into the driveway after his workday and draws me out of my memories. River runs to greet him, covered in mud from our mud pie baking session on the riverbank, and he scoops her up in his arms. He saunters toward me, my mouth watering from watching his naturally confident stride, but he’s completely oblivious to it as he gives his attention to his daughter’s detailed report of what she’s done today.
When he reaches me, he leans in and his full, sexy lips connect with mine. A swipe of his tongue against my lips sends shivers down my spine and I consciously withhold a moan.
He puts River down and turns his attention to me. “And how was your day, beautiful?”
“It’s been a great day. Sunny, warm, not a cloud in sight, and River and I had so much fun exploring.”
“Yeah, Daddy, we found a salamander! It was under the rock in the river,” River adds excitedly.
Ace shakes his head and chuckles. “My little tomboy. Are you ready to go in and cook some supper?”
“Me and Laynie already cooked,” River replies.
“Laynie and I,” I correct her. “Not me and Laynie.”
“Oh, yeah. Laynie and I,” she amends.
Ace looks at us quizzically and I explain. “I hope you don’t mind. She’s just so smart, so I’ve started working with her for a little while every day to give her a head start before she starts Pre-K this fall.”
“No, I don’t mind at all. I really appreciate it. Thank you, Layne,” he replies sincerely. “You cooked supper, too?”
“Yeah,” I admit reluctantly. “You work hard all day so I thought I’d save you the hassle today. It’s not a big deal.”
The sound of another car catches my attention, and I look up in time to see Zoe pulling into the driveway of our cabin. I start looking for my cell phone to invite her over to eat with us. Ace knows the whole story of how her parents reacted, but I haven’t told him about the adoption yet. I’m not sure how it’ll affect our relationship, but my plan is to tell him tonight as soon as River falls asleep.
Not knowing what to expect at the end of the season makes it difficult to think of this as a long-term relationship.
Knowing how I feel about him makes it impossible to think this is anything but a lifelong relationship.
When I finally find it, there’s a missed call and voice mail banner across the screen. It’s a New York number again. I call Zoe first before she raids the kitchen of all our food. Since the stress of telling her parents has subsided, her cravings have hit full force. When we disconnect, I grit my teeth and steel my nerves to listen to the voice mail message.
It’s from Bobby. He sounds haggard and miserable, begging and pleading. “Layne, please call me back. We have to talk. There are things I need to tell you. I’m sorry for what I said when we talked last time. It came out all wrong. I was trying so hard to not fuck up that I made it even worse. Just please talk to me.”
The expression on my face and the change in my demeanor must be transparent because Ace stops what he’s doing to watch me carefully. “Everything okay, babe?” He knows it isn’t, but he asks the polite question anyway.
All I can do is shake my head in disgust. “I had a missed call and voice mail from a number back home. It was Bobby and he’s begging me to call him back.”
“What does he want?” Ace straightens his spine, his expression becomes serious, and he moves into my personal space as if to shield and protect me.
With my hand on his chest, I try to reassure him. “He said he has something to tell me. I’m okay, Ace. My reaction was simply because I really don’t care what he has to say. What’s done is done, and he can’t change it now.”
His brows draw down before he replies in an ominous tone. “I’d be glad to relay the message to him. In my own words.”
Chapter Fifteen
ACE
“Squirt is bathed, pajama’d, and already asleep. You must’ve worn her out today.”
“Pajama’d?” Layne asks teasingly.
“That’s a legit word.”