But he hadn’t meant to hurt her and he knew that’s what had happened. He’d seen the stiffness in her body, the flicker of pain in her eyes. He, too, missed the relationship they used to have. For years she’d been his best friend. When she’d left, he found himself as alone as he’d been when his father had walked out. In all the years she’d been gone, he hadn’t found anyone to take her place. Even marrying Melissa hadn’t filled the hole in his heart.
He supposed that was the problem. That he’d gotten over loving Katie, but he’d never recovered from losing their friendship. And now she wanted to talk about being friends again. He didn’t want to open that barely healed wound one more time. He wanted distance and more time to forget. He didn’t want to have to lose her again.
Saturday morning Katie pulled jeans and dark socks out of the dryer and dropped them into the laundry basket. The day was bright and clear with more than a hint of warmth in the air. Maybe when the laundry was done she and Shane would drive into town and take a look at their house. Last weekend when they’d checked, the framing had nearly been finished. It was probably done now. Then they could go get ice cream and maybe rent some movies for tonight.
She opened the washer to put the wet load of whites into the dryer when the sounds of loud voices drifted toward the back of the house. Katie tilted her head to catch what was being said. The words were difficult to make out, but the tone was familiar. Her father was on the rampage.
Instantly Katie’s stomach knotted. Her half brother and sister, Brent and Blair, had already left to spend the day with friends, and Suzanne was out at the grocery store. Which meant there was only one person Aaron could be yelling at.
Katie dropped the white T-shirt she held and ran toward the front of the house. The sound of her father’s voice grew louder. She tore into the family room and found her son curled up on the sofa, his arms held protectively over his head. Aaron stood over him, hands on hips, his voice booming like a cannon.
“Stop it,” Katie demanded as she stepped between the two of them. She took Shane in her arms and glared at her father. “Just stop it right now. Look at what you’re doing to him. What’s wrong with you?”
Shane trembled in her embrace. His face was deathly pale. She’d never seen his eyes so big. “Did he hit you?” she asked. Her father had never been one for violence, but he didn’t think there was anything wrong with a well- placed slap.
Shane shook his head.
“You’re babying him,” her father growled, his ruddy face darkening. “That’s the problem.”
Katie ignored him and focused on her son. “Can you get to your room? I want to talk to Grandpa, and then I’ll be right there.”
Her son nodded.
She cupped his face, then gave him a little push. With one last glance at his grandfather, he scurried from the room.
Katie sucked in a breath and tried to prepare herself for battle. She might not have much in the way of height, but she would face down any opponent to protect her son.
She stood and glared at her father. “I will not have you yelling at him like that. If you have a problem with him, you come to me.”
Her father leaned close. “Don’t you tell me what to do in my house, missy. Shane just told me he was learning to ride and that Jack Darby was teaching him.”
He spit out Jack’s name like it was snake venom. Rage made him shake. All Katie wanted to do was turn and run, but she forced herself to stand her ground.
“Yes, Jack’s been kind enough to give Shane a little positive attention. He’s even begun teaching him to ride. Amazingly enough, he manages to get through the entire lesson without yelling.”
Aaron looked disgusted. “What the hell is going on here?” he demanded. “You’re turning that son of yours into a girl. As for letting Jack Darby anywhere near the kid, that makes you stupider than I thought.”
Her father’s words tore at her. Katie had always tried to do right by her family and make her parents proud of her. With her mother and later with Suzanne, she’d been successful, but never with her father. For the first time, she realized the blame wasn’t hers at all.
“You can’t see anyone’s point of view but your own,” she told him. “You can’t understand that having a big man yell is a frightening thing for a small child.”
“You were the runt of the litter and you were never scared,” her father told her, his voice laced with disdain.
“You’re wrong. I was plenty scared. The difference was I learned not to show it.”
Aaron threw up his arms. “I don’t want to hear this. You’re in my house and you’ll follow my rules. No more consorting with the Darbys. And if Shane is finally man enough to want to ride a horse, then by God, I’ll be the one to teach him.”
But Katie wasn’t listening. She was too busy staring at the man who was her father. All her life she’d thought that whatever he might be blustering about at the moment, in his heart of hearts, he loved her. But now she wasn’t so sure. Had he changed or had she?
“Are you listening to me, girl?” he demanded.
Katie nodded. “I’m listening, Daddy. And I don’t like anything I’m hearing.” Her heart cracked a little. “I’m sorry, but Shane and I can’t stay here anymore.”
His blue eyes turned to ice. “If you walk out that door, you’re never coming back. You’ll never be my daughter again.”
She stared in stunned surprise. “You’d risk our relationship over this?” She couldn’t believe it. “Do I mean so little to you? I’m starting to think you never cared about me at all. Is it because I’m a girl or because I was small and sick all the time? Did you think I should have been put down, like the calves that don’t gain weight fast enough?”
Aaron sputtered, but he didn’t say anything. Katie no longer cared. She was tired of this fight and she was out of words. She turned to walk away.
“I mean it, Katie. You won’t be allowed back here if you leave.”
She moved faster. Her father came after her. She ran down the hall and entered Shane’s room. He stood by the door, his school backpack already over his shoulders.
Katie didn’t have to say anything. When she motioned, he followed. Together they ran outside and jumped into her Explorer. Aaron came out on the porch, still yelling and making threats. Katie pulled her keys from her pocket and started the engine. Seconds later, they were gone.
Chapter Seven
Katie thought she’d done her best to remain calm and in control, but as soon as they reached the main road, she began to shake. Her legs trembled so hard it was difficult to press on the accelerator. Her heart fluttered, and her eyes burned with unshed tears.
It wasn’t supposed to be like this, she thought sadly. She and her father were supposed to be able to have a mature relationship as she got older. She actually had been stupid enough to look forward to being at home for a couple of months. She’d thought she and Aaron could reconnect, that he would enjoy being around Shane, that the family bonds would strengthen.
She glanced at her son and saw tears trickling down his cheeks. She reached over and touched his shoulder. “I’m sorry,” she said, swallowing against the lump in her throat. “I don’t remember your grandfather being so difficult when I was growing up. Maybe he was always this way and I didn’t see it before. I don’t know. I never thought he would be scary for you.”
Shane sniffed and nodded, but didn’t speak. Katie’s heart ached for her child. She searched for words to ease his pain. “Aaron has his own way of doing things. He thinks he always knows best and it’s impossible to make him see otherwise. I want you to know that his temper and screaming were about him rather than about you.”
Her son looked at her. “I’m sorry I made Grandpa so mad at me. I wanted to do what he said. I thought he’d be happy that I was learning to ride a horse, but he wasn’t. And then he was yelling and I was scared.”
Katie pulled to the side of the road. She put the Explorer in park, then unfastened her seat belt and released
