Long-Lost Mom

Jenna winced at that now, the use of the awful fake name she’d given. She couldn’t do this, couldn’t continue the lie. “Stone,” she whispered, coming to the impossibly difficult decision. “Oh, Stone.”

“Daddy, Daddy!”

Oh, how Jenna wanted to tell him. The lie was eating at her. But not like this was all she could think, not with their daughter barreling toward them.

Stone glanced at the child heading his way, then back at her. “I’m sorry, Cindy. I didn’t realize how late it was.”

“Don’t apologize for being a great dad.” She hesitated, torn between disappointment and eagerness to learn all she could about Sara. Her curiosity about her little girl was killing her.

“She gets dropped off here.” Stone again turned to Sara, who was nearly upon them now, book bag flying out behind her, hair tangled, sweater off one arm, a blissful expression on her face-all because she’d seen her father.

Jenna knew exactly how the girl felt. What she herself would give to be able to so freely show it!

Without hesitation Sara flung herself into Stone’s arms, laughing and squealing as he easily caught her up against him.

“Hey, princess.” He hugged her tight, and as he did, his expression lost most of its intensity, switching into easy loving father mode.

Jenna watched the two of them, her stomach twisting uncomfortably with… Oh, God, it was jealousy of Stone, for having Sara’s unconditional love. Jealousy of Sara, for being able to put that happy carefree expression on Stone’s face with just her presence.

What kind of monster was she to feel such jealousy of these people who deserved so much more?

“How was your spelling test?” Stone set Sara down. When she didn’t answer, he tugged on a hopelessly mussed lock of dark hair.

“Fine,” she muttered.

“Sara.”

Jenna smiled through the pain in her chest as she pictured what life for these two must be like. Laughter, understanding and togetherness were important. She could see that hair grooming-for both of them, she decided as she glanced at Stone’s slightly too long, also wild hair-was a low priority.

But apparently love topped that list, and that was all that mattered. How had she ever imagined she could live without this? Without them?

“How good is ‘fine’?” Stone asked Sara.

“I got an A-, because I missed one. But don’t worry,” Sara was quick to add. “I didn’t stick my tongue out behind Ms. Miller’s back like last time.”

“Good decision, and great job.”

“I didn’t wanna have to write my name on the board.” The girl looked at Cindy speculatively. “Hi.”

“Hello, Sara.” Jenna could hardly breathe. The child looked so good, so healthy, so absolutely perfect. “How are you?” she asked when, in fact, she wanted to know much more than that. Do you like ice cream? Do you love the rain? Do you play with a Barbie?

Are you happy?

Is your life as perfect as it can be?

Do you miss me?

So many questions, none of which would satisfy Jenna’s insatiable need to know everything.

“Why are you here?” the little girl asked directly.

“Sara,” Stone said quietly. “That’s rude.”

“Well, it’s not pizza night, Daddy. There’s not even a game today. Why is she at your office?”

Ah, Jenna thought. Jealousy was a two-way street. It was one thing when Sara invited Jenna to have pizza with the entire town present. It was another thing entirely for Jenna to show interest in her father, for Sara clearly believed Stone belonged exclusively to her.

And didn’t he?

For as Jenna could see all too well, Sara had no intention of sharing him. It made her smile, this show of fierce possessive love.

But it made her ache, too, for she was beginning to understand fierce, possessive love. She was feeling it for Sara, a girl she hardly knew, all because that girl was her daughter.

“Actually, this is my office.” Jenna pointed her front door out to Sara, a door still empty of a sign. “I’m opening a business here.”

Sara looked decidedly not thrilled. “Oh?”

Jenna had once been the Queen of Attitude herself, so she understood perfectly. And seeing the first flash of herself in her daughter was an unspeakable thrill. “A temp business, which means I help people find work.”

“But this is where my Daddy works.”

“Yes, a few doors down. And it will be where I work, too.”

All friendliness died in Sara’s eyes. “Oh,” she said again, a wealth of information in that one syllable.

Stone took Sara’s hand. “Excuse us,” he said to Jenna. “We need to have a chat, then do some homework.”

Jenna saw the firmness of his jaw, knew he was unhappy with Sara for being what he considered rude. She opened her mouth, wanting to protest, naturally coming to her daughter’s defense.

But Sara was Stone’s daughter first, and he had the right to raise the child as he saw fit, which Jenna knew would be with tough loving care.

She watched them walk away and listened to Stone murmur a reprimand. Though his tone wasn’t rough or abusive-it never would be-it had an unmistakable air of authority.

Her throat thickened as Stone tugged a stiff Sara close and set his hand on her shoulder. Immediately Sara melted against him, twisting her head to send him a smile.

They loved each other. No one could doubt that. Stone could punish, could be strict, could even be unhappy with Sara, and yet Sara had no doubt her father loved her.

Just as it should be for every child.

Jenna had never had such unconditional love from either of her parents, and although she regretted it, it was time to stop ruining her life over it.

Determination renewed, Jenna lifted her chin, sent one last watery smile down the path toward Stone and Sara and went into her new office to set up.

Jenna couldn’t keep herself away from Sara’s game the following night.

She tried to go incognito, wearing a hat and keeping her head down, but still, she was the recipient of more than one appreciative male glance. One man, probably a father, tried to make conversation, but she wasn’t up for it.

She wasn’t up for much, other than watching the tall rangy coach as he ran back and forth on the sidelines yelling encouragement to his kids.

Just looking at him did something to her insides, something she was having a hard time dealing with. He’d been by her office at least twice that she knew of, leaving her notes when she hadn’t been there. Now that she’d made the decision to tell him the truth, she hadn’t yet mustered the courage to face him.

“Peanuts?” a kid asked, holding a tray. “It’s to support our school.”

“Thanks.” But Jenna froze. Behind the kid and three rows over from her, sat the man who’d single-handedly set her life on its destructive path.

Her old school principal. Her mother’s ex-boyfriend. Rand Ridgeway.

Fear nearly suffocated her as the image of him leering over her, his stern voice ordering her to be good…and his hands, God, his hands, roaming in a way that made her want to cringe even now, all these years later.

Her vision actually faded before she realized the student selling peanuts was still standing in front of her, hand out, waiting for his fifty cents.

“Sorry,” she whispered, pulling the change out of her pocket with shaking fingers. Somehow she managed to keep breathing when all she wanted to do was run.

Stop it, she ordered herself. No way could Rand recognize her, no way at all. Still,