With that in mind, as they were driving toward the Sweet Spot, she said, “If you want to talk about what I told you earlier, I don’t think we should do it in public.”
He slanted her a glance and said, “Yes, I want to discuss it. So, if that’s how you feel, what do you suggest?”
“Let’s just go to the beach. We can walk and discuss.”
But if he thought he was going to berate her for keeping the news to herself, he’d better have a damn good argument, because she was loaded for bear.
The moon was waxing, almost full. The scene at Rickard’s Cove, with its backdrop of coconut trees, would have been romantic if Mina wasn’t simmering with annoyance.
Kiah waited while she took off her sandals, and then they walked silently together down toward the water. It occurred to her that, before they’d slept together, they’d probably have been holding hands, or Kiah would have put his arm around her shoulders, and the memory made her suddenly sad.
“You think I’m upset because you didn’t tell me what was going on, but that isn’t true.”
She’d been so lost in melancholy reminiscences his voice startled her, but it also brought her back to the moment, and her anger.
“Really?” Injecting skepticism into her tone wasn’t difficult at all. “So what is your problem then? Because it sure seems like you’re sulking for having been left out of the loop.”
“That’s not it, Mina.” There was a note of frustration in his voice. “Sure, I was annoyed that I had to hear about Hamilton’s offer at the hospital, instead of from you, but I have bigger concerns than that.”
“Like what?”
“Like Charm’s well-being. Yes, I want what’s best for you, and I know deciding what that is, is your job. It’s just not going to be easy, no matter what you choose. Especially for Charm. She heard us talking earlier, and is upset just at the idea of you leaving.”
Of course, he was thinking about the effect on Charm. What had happened between them didn’t come into the picture, at all.
Not for him, anyway.
“Kiah, no matter where I am, Charm is always welcome. In fact, I’d love to take her to Canada. I can’t think of anything more fun than the thought of showing her around Toronto, or taking her to Niagara Falls.”
“That’s another thought that fills me with dread,” he said, and she could actually hear it in his voice. “Charm in Canada.”
“Why? Don’t you trust me to take care of her?”
“Of course I do. I wouldn’t trust her with anyone else. It’s just...”
He stopped and stood facing the water, rubbing his hand across his cheek, the way he always did when upset.
“Just what?” She spoke gently, realizing they’d gotten far from the topic of her job prospects, but not minding. There was something deeper at play here, and she wanted to know what it was.
“I don’t want her seeing Mom, and don’t know that I can stop it happening, if either of them wants to see the other.”
His words rocked her back on her heels, and before she could formulate a reply, he went on.
“Mom’s toxic, Mina. You know that. She drove Roy to do what he did, and then had the gall to want to fight me for custody when it turned out Karlene and Roy had made me her guardian. You remember?”
“Of course I do,” she said gently, unable to stop herself putting her hand on his arm, out of sympathy, and a shared sense of remembered grief.
It had been one of the worst things she’d experienced. They’d all been shocked and horrified by the tragedy. All except Kiah’s mother, who’d told anyone who’d listen she’d known it was going to happen. That Roy was evil, and a wastrel who’d stolen her daughter from her.
Not trusting Warren, even then, to do it properly, Mina had found Kiah a lawyer who’d petitioned the court on his behalf. Somehow, he’d convinced Mrs. Langdon, or her attorney, not to pursue her own claim, and Kiah had gotten full custody.
Outside the courtroom door, Kiah’s mother had told him, flat out, she never wanted to have anything more to do with him, within earshot of Charm, Mina and everyone else.
It had been horrid and uncomfortable, and one more blow to him in an already tragic situation.
“I can’t let her poison Charm, Mina. Not when she’s just getting to the stage that she’s wanting to hear about Karlene and Roy. Mom won’t have anything good to say about either of them.”
He paused, his throat working.
“And she won’t have anything good to say about me, either. She never did.”
Now she was angry again, but not at him. At his mother, and the soul-sapping hold she’d always had on Kiah.
Mina tightened her fingers and shook his arm, hard.
“Hezekiah Langdon, you listen to me. You’re a wonderful man, an amazing doctor and a fantastic father to Charm. Nothing your mother can do, or say, can change any of that, you hear me?”
He chuckled, but it was edged in pain.
“You have to say that. You’re my best friend.”
“No,” she said honestly. “I don’t have to say that, and wouldn’t if it weren’t true. For instance, if you were a crappy doctor, I’d leave that bit out. Or if you were a mediocre father, I’d be nice enough not to mention it. But I don’t recall our friend contract stating anywhere that I had to lie to stroke your ego, so I’m not going to do it.”
His laughter was more natural by the time she was finished, just as she’d hoped, but she wasn’t prepared for him to turn to her, and say, “So you think I’m a wonderful man, eh?”
Caught in a trap of her own making, all she could do was shake her head and send him a scowl.
“Why’re you always fishing for compliments? It’s one of
