He doubted it. The way his friends talked, women always wanted to discuss every little thought and feeling. He would never get away with silence all the way home,especially when it was probably clear to her that something was wrong.
Forcing himself to relax the tension in his jaw, he pulled the car out and headed down Park toward Princeton.
Just breathe,he told himself.
He felt Evangeline’s eyes on him, searching, but he didn’t have it in him to turn to her and smile or say a kind word. He left his eyes locked on the road, his energy focused on survival.
After a moment, she leaned forward and turned on the radio.
It was tuned to the local station that played all Christmas music all the time during the holiday season. Elvis Presley was singing “The First Noel” and the sweet sound filled the space instantly.
Leo made a funny squeaking sound in the back and Grayson glanced in the mirror to see his son looking amazed, his little mouth open.
“Do you like this song?” Evangeline asked him. “Do you like the music?”
Leo blinked at her and smiled a great big smile.
“Should I sing?” she asked. “You don’t want me tosingdo you?”
Grayson found himself paying close attention to what was going to happen next. His panicked feelings weren’t forgotten, but they seemed far away now, which was strange. Normally, once he started going down that dark road it took a while to fight his way back out of his own haze.
“Ahh,” Leo said, clearly also locked into what Evangeline was saying. “Ahh.”
“Okay, then,” she replied with a big smile before breaking into song.
She wasn’t the best singer. Truth be told, she was singing a little off-key and alottoo loudly. But Grayson thought he’d never heard a sound so sweet. And her performance had Leo chuckling and waving his arms in delight.
As the first song wrapped up and she started singing along to the next one, Grayson was surprised to find that he was actually feeling better.
He drove on, through the little town and out into the suburbs and the farmland beyond while Evangeline sang and Leo chuckled and chirped.
I don’t know what we did to deserve her,he thought to himself,but we sure got lucky.
9
EVANGELINE
Evangeline looked at herself in the bathroom mirror that evening, trying to come to terms with the idea that the pretty girl reflecting back was actuallyher.
Ana had insisted that she take the long, plaid, woolen skirt and cream-colored sweater, so she’d added them to her pile after a quick try-on in the dressing room.
But seeing them now, together with her cute new boots, she felt like someone new—someone serious. Maybe even someone who belonged at the table of a dinner party at an inn by the lake.
She was still nervous though, and hoping Grayson would let her take care of Leo tonight. Focusing on the baby would help her feel less self-conscious.
Thoughts of Grayson reminded her of their ride home today.
The man was a mountain of kindness and confidence. Until he wasn’t.
She’d pretended not to notice, but it seemed like hewas practically imploding in the car today. She prayed she hadn’t done anything wrong. He’d seemed so pleased that she got Leo that mirror, and the baby had been so happy…
Did he feel insulted that I bought something Leo needed?
Did he not like that I spent so much of his money on clothing?
Grayson didn’t strike her as that kind of man, but then she didn’t know him very well yet.
Now she was heading off with him to a nice dinner, and she still wasn’t sure if things were okay between them.
