Stacia leaned on her knees and the let the tears flow. The only thing wrong with him leaving was that her heart had betrayed her, despite her best efforts. And if by some chance she could trust him, it still could never work out between them. He wanted kids and she could never give him that.
The only good part of the equation was that he hadn’t said anything about taking the kids with them to Houston. She needed to focus on that. Mason and Madison weren’t going anywhere.
She mopped her face, tried to pull herself together and followed the path home.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
A few minutes later, as she neared the house, Ross’s mom waved from the porch.
“Stacia.” Karen met her. “Are you all right?”
“Allergies.”
“Oh, I was hoping you’d go for a walk with me so I won’t get lost, even though you just went on one. But maybe you need to get inside away from all the irritants.”
“I’m fine. Let’s go.”
Karen linked arms with her. “I want to thank you for making this transition so easy for everyone. For allowing us to spend the day with Mason and Madison. My folks were thrilled to meet them.”
“You’re welcome.” Though it had ripped her heart in two.
“Madison is so grown-up, it’s amazing. And Mason is so full of—life.”
“Is that what it is?” Stacia chuckled. “He’s so much like my sister. A great kid, but don’t leave him to his own devices cause when he gets bored, look out.”
“Ron was the same way.” Sadness cloaked Karen’s tone. “And Ross was so easy. Like a little grown-up. Just like Madison, and I suspect you were the same. They’re complete treasures.”
“They are.” Guilt pierced her heart. The Lyleses had missed so many years of Mason’s and Madison’s lives. “You should have been in their lives from the beginning. I’m sorry I never tried to find out if they had other family members. Ron said he didn’t have any family and I wanted to believe him.”
“I understand, dear.” Karen gave her a soothing pat on the arm. “You love them and you were afraid we’d try to take them away from you. You still are.”
“A little.”
“You can relax. Madison and Mason are clearly happy, loved and well-cared for here with you. You and Maverick love them to the marrow of your souls. If they didn’t have a good home life or if they didn’t have y’all, it would be a different story. But as it is…” Karen sighed. “I’ve raised my children and apparently with a fifty-fifty rate of success. I’m completely content being a grandparent now and leaving the raising to you.”
“Thank you.” It was all Stacia could squeak out.
“Ron hasn’t been home to see us in years because we always hounded him about seeking treatment for alcoholism. He probably felt he was telling the truth about not having family.” She gazed off into the treetops. “He only came home this time because he needed a caretaker after his wreck. And after the trip here, he left again. I just hope he stays in the treatment center.”
“I’m sorry. All of that had to be rough on you.”
“I pray for him and hold on to Proverbs 22:6, ‘Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.’ I go to sleep at night repeating it silently. It gives me peace, helps me remember that Sam and I have done all we can. It’s up to God now. We were hoping the wreck would be a wake-up call.”
“It still can be. He did go to a treatment center.” It was strange talking about Ron this way since she’d feared him for so long.
“I pray so. But I know exactly how it feels to lose a child. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone and I certainly wouldn’t cause it by suing you for custody. Just keep taking care of them, put up with our visits and everything will be fine.”
“I can do that.” Except that she dreaded occasionally bumping into Ross for years to come.
“I hope you won’t lose Ross.”
“What?”
“He’s in love with you, Stacia.”
“You’re mistaken.”
“No. A mother knows these things. He doesn’t have ulterior motives, you know. He only wants to be an uncle to the twins with frequent visits. The look I’ve seen in his eye, is all about you.”
Flustered, Stacia’s skin heated. Could Karen be right? Even if she was, there was still her inability to have children to contend with. No, she and Ross could never work. No matter how badly she wanted it.
“I’m sorry to get so personal, dear. I just wanted to share a little insight. But on another note, last night Sam and I toyed with the idea of moving to San Antonio.”
“Really? That’s only an hour away.”
“We’ve discussed moving the store for years. San Antonio is only forty-five minutes from Sam’s folks in Hondo and we’re so very tired of hurricanes. With the twins in Medina, the scales have tilted in favor of the move.”
“That would be wonderful.” Since they’d finished their deep discussion and she was eager to see the kids, Stacia looped their walk back toward the house.
“Are you certain? We don’t want to crowd you.”
“The kids would love having you so close and visiting back and forth would be so much easier.”
“Aunt Stacia.” Madison jogged out to meet them.
But Mason passed her up and made it first. “We had so much fun with Nanny and Papaw.”
“I’m so glad.” Stacia really was glad and it almost made her teary to think about all of the new family members who could love the twins now. Or maybe relief, since it was finally beginning to sink in that she could keep her niece and
