*
How could he have treated her so badly? It wasn’t like him but he’d felt trapped as if his whole life was mapped out for him. He’d overreacted and lashed out at the one person who loved him unconditionally. Now he had to take the consequences and try to make the best of it.
“I’m so sorry. What else can I say?”
“I’m sorry too, Ethan. We both made mistakes. But we have a child together no matter what you believe and that’s the most important thing in my life right now. It’s the reason I came back. If you want to keep being mad at me, that’s fine. I’ll deal with it but I won’t let any of that impact on Noah.” She put her hand on his arm. “If you want to do a paternity test, go ahead. I won’t take it personally but don’t go pushing my buttons too hard. If anyone does anything to hurt that child, they will see how much of a bitch I can be. He’s the most important person in my life right now.”
“Understood and you know I didn’t mean that. I did the math. It all fits and I believe you.” He leaned his head back on the wall and sighed. “I’m sorry. I tend to lash out when I’m hurt and it’s unforgiveable.”
“I get you’re angry, Ethan. I would be too. But we need to work through this as best we can for everyone concerned.”
“I’m not angry at you but I still have questions that need to be answered. Even if we agree that we both made a mistake that night and I understand you not getting in touch, there’s still the secrecy about you and Rake. Those issues need to be dealt with.”
“Fair enough. Although you’re not going to get all of your answers now. Some things need to be discussed with other people first. Things that don’t really concern you.”
“He was my brother. Of course they concern me.” How could she possibly believe they didn’t?
Mari fiddled with a bandage that had come unstuck on one corner of her ankle. She pressed it down before continuing. “Before Rake took his life, he gave me a plan and I promised to follow it. I owed him a great deal, Ethan. He took me with him when he left and looked after me when I didn’t have anyone else. If it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t be what I am today.”
“So how long am I expected to wait for answers?”
“Not too long, I promise and it’s nothing that will impact on our relationship.”
“Can we call a truce then? I want to get to know my son, and I’ll do whatever it takes.”
“I’d like that.”
He reached out and ran a finger over her hand. “I missed us when you left. Despite what happened, it was like half of me went away too.”
“I understand the feeling. We’d been so close for so long. Remember when we spent the whole day sitting up in that big old tree near the back of the farm?” Her lips curved into a delightful smile and for a moment he forgot the widening gap between them. “And we were so sick! Your father was so angry at us and your mother, oh my goodness. How on earth did she not lose her temper with us? We were so ill that day.” She laughed. “I don’t know how I manage to eat cherries again after that but I still can’t resist a bowl of them.”
Ethan twisted his fingers through hers. “You should come out and pick some cherries, bring Noah with you.”
She tensed and moved to pull her hand away but he didn’t let go.
“If you’re going to win Dad over, you need to face him. We need to get this family on track so we can be a family. That means facing him and dealing with whatever it is that you need to sort out. I’ll be with you so you don’t have to face him alone. I wouldn’t do that to you again.”
“I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”
He felt bad for her but now they were both adults, his father shouldn’t have that much of a hold over them. “You’re a big girl now. He can’t control you, take away your television privileges, or ground you. If anything, he’d probably respect you for standing up to him. Might not agree with, but respect, yes.”
“No.”
“Why, what’s stopping you?”
“Mom.” Noah’s voice came from the back door. The school bus had dropped him off.
“In here, honey.” She withdrew her hand from Ethan’s. “Talking with Ethan. Come on in and join us.”
“I’m sorry, Ethan. I thought I was ready for this but I don’t know if I am. Today was enough to rattle me, more than I thought it would. If your father’s the same as he was ten years ago, I think it’ll be enough to make me back off for good. Let me calm down and get over this fiasco and we can talk about it later when Noah’s not around.”
“Fair enough. But I don’t think that’ll be enough for Mom. She’s desperate to see this guy.” Ethan broke off when Noah skipped inside. “Hey, buddy. How’re things?”
Noah pushed his way in beside his mother and rested his head on her arm before he answered his father’s question. “Tired. It was a big day at school today, Mom. I handed in my project too.”
“Good boy. I’m proud of you, Noah. I think it’s time for a bath and then you can watch television while I make dinner. Relax a little. What do you say?”
“Okay. Is Ethan staying for dinner?”
Ethan put his bottle on the table and stood up ready to leave. “I’d better get home too. Mom left me a pot roast simmering away, I believe, but thank you, Noah, for asking. We’ll have
