She stilled and saw he clearly had a question. Then slowly he asked, "So why didn't you tell me you were pregnant? You said something about me and a woman at basic. I wanted to ask you what you meant."
"I have the pictures in my bag. Hold on." She jumped out of her chair and raced for her pocketbook. She sorted through the materials she'd brought and then grabbed the pictures. She returned and laid them on the table. "My father's private investigator brought me these."
He flipped through the pictures as he wrinkled his nose. "This is Stacy."
She widened her eyes. "Who's Stacy?"
His hand went to his chin to support him. "One night at basic, she was in bad shape. Her parents died in a car crash, or something truly horrible like that. It was a long time ago. I remember feeling awful for her. We all went drinking and had too much. She couldn't walk, so I helped her to the car so we could return to base."
"That's it?"
He pushed the picture of him and Stacy to the table. "Despite this picture, I never kissed her."
Then her eyes narrowed. "Are you sure?"
He shook his head. "Why would I then? I would close my eyes and still imagine you. I wanted you to call me every day of training."
Her heart melted. She was too late and had missed her chance with Colt, so she avoided his gaze. "If I did, then I disowned him, my family, the money to pay for Clara's birth, and my college tuition."
He ran his hands through his hair. "My family isn't poor, Vicki. Granted, my trust fund isn't a big as yours, but we could have been fine."
She lowered her gaze. "He threatened I'd lose everything for a man who was heading off to war and who was in bed with another woman. Then when the nurses, doctor, and my father all said my baby died, I lost my will to fight." Her cheeks were wet with tears, and she couldn't look at Colt. "I shouldn't have let that happen."
"Don't blame yourself." He reached out to hold her hand for a moment, and his eyes had a spark of something deeper. "We're starting fresh from now on, Vicki. No more lies between us, and there was no other woman."
He was engaged, and despite how she wished she had him too, she knew this was a fantasy. She dropped his hand that she clung to, and reached up to her mother's necklace to hold the pendant. Her daughter deserved more than a necklace for a mother. "Today is as good as any to start fresh. What happened before now can all be forgotten."
"No." He took his hand back across the table, and a grin appeared on his face. "Clara is the best thing that came from our mistake."
"She's perfect." She smiled as tension eased off her skin. "I'm glad. Can we tell her I'm her mother?"
Colt massaged the back of his neck. "Soon. Not yet. I want it be natural and without pressure. When the topic comes up again, I'll tell her." He stood suddenly. "I have to get going to check on the oranges. You're staying here?"
"I am." She nodded. "My appointment in town is for tomorrow, but it won't take more than a few hours. Clara is welcome to join me. We'll go to the shop, have lunch, and I'll bring her back here."
"That sounds fine. Guess tonight's our last night of one-on-one family." He sucked in his breath as he held both hands behind his back. "Belle's flight is in the morning tomorrow."
"Ohh." The bubble she lived in was about to burst. His fiancée showing up meant no more times like now. Her shoulders sagged. "Okay. I'm happy for you."
His face reddened. As he headed to the door, he tipped his head. "After work, let's celebrate that we're putting the past away."
"You're on, cowboy," she called out.
"I like how you say my name, princess."
"Colt." Her heart beat faster for him even after he walked out the door. She shouldn't. She sighed and told herself she was here for Clara.
Her lips ached as she wished for an impossible kiss that would only exist in her dreams.
CHAPTER TEN
Vicki and Clara found the cake convection oven still in its box in the pantry. Vicki decided it was time to use it. She placed it on the counter, and showed Clara how to make a homemade cake, complete with frosting. Clara ended up with flour on her face, and a huge laugh. Vicki's heart soared as she wet the cloth and cleaned up her baby's face. As they set the mix into the machine, Clara wiped flour all over her forehead again and tugged at Vicki's shirt.
Vicki breathed lighter as she reapplied the wet towel and cleaned her up.
"What's up, darling?" Vicki asked as Clara closed her eyes and sighed. Vicki scrubbed her clean and then told her, "You smell like strawberries."
Clara opened her eyes and stared at Vicki. Vicki's heart wished that her baby realized she was her mom, but then all Clara said was, "My shampoo."
Vicki dropped the towel in the sink, satisfied the flour was gone. Then she picked up her daughter so they could wash their hands together.
"Next time, I want to go get my stool. I'm too big to be picked up," Clara said, then reached over to turn off the faucet. Vicki held her and whiffed her soft, strawberry-flavored hair.
"I don't mind holding you." Vicki shrugged as she helped her stand on the ground.
Clara giggled. "Okay, but you're skinny and I'm too big."
"I'm stronger than I look."
"Dad is bigger and stronger."
"Girls are made different, but we're strong in our way. So what's the plan now?" Vicki asked, and wondered what other game or activity her daughter preferred to play. Every second of today had to be about Clara.
Clara spun around, showed her toothy smile, and giggled. "Let's play dress-up again."
"It's turning into your favorite game. I'll help you into a dress and do your hair." Vicki followed her as she traipsed through the house toward her room.
At the door, Clara spun around, tugged at Vicki's arm, and demanded, "No, you have to dress up too."
Vicki's eyebrows lifted. "I don't have any of my dresses here."
"Wear one of Grandma's until you get your clothes to move in with me." Clara swung their hands together like she was enjoying herself, and Vicki couldn't say no. Clara must have smelled her victory, because she sped up. "I'll show you where they are."
Vicki ran her free hand on the wall. If she wore something clean and fresh, not a few days old, her spirits would lift. In these clothes, she thought about Colt every other second, and to her, clothes held memories too long. "Okay."
In a bedroom in the back of the house, Clara threw open the closet without a care. "Grandma's stuff. I'm going to take a shower. Be in my room in ten minutes and we'll do our hair to impress Daddy."
"You don't have to impress your dad, sweetheart." Vicki smiled. "Colt's love for you is unconditional."
"Daddy will laugh at me." Clara squeaked and ran out of the room.