worldly wise than Maddie, who was a few years older. “That’s not possible.” She leaned down and kissed Hannah’s cheek one more time before following Maddie downstairs.
“Emma, I’m not asking if it’s going to happen. I’m asking what happens if she
Emma accepted the cup of coffee her friend offered and thought of a good answer. If Cain found out about their daughter, she might do something unpredictable. “I don’t know how to honestly answer that question. Cain is like two different people. I fell in love with one, and the other one scared me enough to come running back here.”
“Is there a chance you could lose Hannah?”
“If we were in Louisiana I wouldn’t have a chance. That’s why I’m here. Cain’s reach is long, but even her power has its limits, or at least I hope it does.”
Maddie put her hand over Emma’s and squeezed it. “I want you to be careful, Emma. I just have a really bad feeling about this. You do what you have to do, and don’t worry about Hannah. We’ll take care of her as long as you need.”
The loyalty made Emma smile. “I know you will, but don’t worry so much. Kyle’s got everything under control.”
“How’s Hayden?”
She felt like a ray of sun as she thought about the young man, a smile breaking across her face. “Maddie, you wouldn’t believe how big he’s gotten. He’s just like Cain—tall, you know—and smart. When he talks to me I have to keep reminding myself he’s only eleven. We’ve had a rough start, but I think we’re making headway. The biggest surprise in all this has been Cain. I don’t think I’d have had much time with him if she hadn’t prodded him to cooperate. She’s been a good mother.”
“You sound like a woman in love. Are you sure about all this? It isn’t too late to change your mind.” Maddie squeezed her hand and smiled.
“I can’t go back now even if I wanted to. At one time, Cain would’ve forgiven me anything, but this…” She looked up the stairs. “This she won’t forgive.”
Chapter Eighteen
“Ready to head home in a couple of days, buddy?” Cain and Hayden sat in the same booth she and Ross had occupied the day before.
The cafe in Haywood was like a throwback in time. Oak floors, scuffed by time and heavy foot traffic, needed a coat of finish, and the countertop was a dated avocado green color, though clean. Their waitress completed the atmosphere with a ruffled apron.
Cain ignored the nostalgia of the place and studied the anger brewing just under the surface of her son’s face.
“I’m ready to go now. I don’t understand why we have to stay longer.”
“Hayden, what’s wrong? And don’t tell me it’s nothing. I can see something in there eating away at you.” Cain tapped her finger against the side of his head, making him smile a little.
“I’ve been taking all these long walks with Emma, you know?”
“Yeah, what’s wrong with that? I know you’re mad at her for leaving and not getting in touch with you, but I’ve got to believe there’s just one little part of you that’s been dying to see her again. It’s all right to admit that, son. Feeling that way isn’t an insult to me. For better or worse, Emma’s your mother, and in her own way she loves you. She gave you life, Hayden. Never discount that.”
“It’s just she never answers any questions directly. I’m trying to get to know her like you said, but it’s like she won’t talk to me. She doesn’t treat me the same way you do. I know I’m a kid, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have a brain.”
“You want me to talk to her?”
Hayden slumped his shoulders a little more because he wanted nothing more than to answer no. If Cain was forever running around fixing his problems, she would never start to confide in him more about the business. “Can I give it one more shot?”
“You can give it shots for a month of Sundays, boy, if that’s what you want. Good answer, by the way. You’re growing up on me faster than I think is fair.”
That got him to crack his lips in a genuine smile. Praise from his mother was something Hayden treasured more than anything else. “Thanks, Mom.”
“You want to take a walk with me, or are you all walked out?”
“Are you going to talk about your feelings and how I should be playing with kids my own age more often?”
The sarcasm gave Cain some insight into how Emma had spent their time together. “That would be no. I want to walk down to Roy’s and make sure your grandfather’s all set for the winter. I don’t want to see him have to sell off any of his…” Cain paused and tried to find the right word.
“What, land?”
“No, I was going to say ‘flock,’ but that’s not right when it comes to cows. It’s ‘herd,’ right?”
“You’re looking at someone who’s allergic to manual labor,” joked Hayden. Actually he had enjoyed his time with Ross the most during his visit. His grandfather talked about different things, not to just fill the silence, but probably because he thought he should know a little about the other part of his family. Ross never seemed to expect anything from their time together, and Hayden had opened up in turn.
“Remind me to buy you an axe when we get home, then, son. Your new job will be to split logs for the fireplace.” The two laughed as they got ready to leave.
The waitress ran over and asked if she could get Cain a cup of coffee to go. Haywood had never seen such a heavy tipper. She was used to the couple of quarters her regulars left on the counter, which wasn’t an insult to the
