"Okay, let's find that snack." Listening to Londyn's dissertation of her father was heart-wrenching, even for her, and she knew the story. Plus, this was not a conversation she was prepared to have with Tyson this soon, and she hoped that her nervousness got him to leave.
Instead, it seemed to strengthen his resolve to stick around. He sits at the small table in the cabin while Londyn went to her room to put Elfred down for his nap.
"How have you been, Ty?"
Valerie hoped that if she could remain in control of the conversation, she could steer it away from herself. Her heart sank when she saw him raise his brow in that old familiar fashion when he knows that she's not going to like the answer that's coming.
"Well, Val, that's a loaded question. And all these years later, why do you care how I'm doing now? I was doing just fine before you left, but it took me a really long time to be doing anything close to fine after you left. Where'd you go, anyhow? I searched for you for months, and not even a clue. No one at the bank knew, you left no forwarding address for mail, nothing."
She tried to avoid the bait. "So, no wife? No kids? You were always a family man. I figured you'd be married with children by now."
"That was our plan, remember?" He was not going to make this easy for her. "And just because you took off and started over, obviously, doesn't mean that anything changed about how I felt. I never felt the ability to just forget about you and carry on as if you had never existed."
Her temper flared a little bit. "You don't know my story, Ty, so don't be making a whole bunch of assumptions." She hated the fact that her heart did a little flip flop that he was still single. It also broke a little more that apparently he had waited for her.
"Then why don't you tell me." His dark eyes pinned her to his will, and she almost blurted out the entire story. But the timing wasn't right, and he wasn't ready for what she had to say. With the way Randall was, she had to make sure that she did everything absolutely spot on.
"One day, Ty. But not today. And not here. Not with Londyn right here."
To her relief, he nodded. "I can understand that. I can even respect that. But don't think you're off the hook. There are plenty of babysitters around here."
She held her ground and forced her feet not to move backwards when he rose and advanced on her. He stopped when they were almost nose to nose, and he kept his voice low and quiet.
"You destroyed me, Val. Right down to the core. You rejected me, you left without a word, and until now, you just left me raw and hurting. You owe me."
"I never rejected you. Not the way you mean."
"Ghosting me is the ultimate rejection. You could have had the courtesy to say goodbye."
"I've always hated good byes, especially with you."
Years of her own pain and suffering culminated at that moment. Instead of answering, she closed the gap between them and pressed her lips against him. At first he stiffened in shock at the kiss, but within seconds, he had recovered and engaged. Hot, possessive kisses followed, and her entire body melted as she remembered every nuance of his embrace. Her arms snaked around his neck, and he pulled her hard against him. Their bodies fit just as they always had, and thought vanished as their bodies remembered.
Valerie felt as if she were floating on a cloud. For years she had yearned for this, wanted this. Wanted Ty. And from the way he responded, she knew that he didn't hate her. She never wanted this moment to end.
But then reality leaked in. She was married and was now in another man's arms. She told herself that the divorce papers had been filed, but it still felt wrong, even under her circumstances. She started to pull back.
A crash in the other room broke the moment as Londyn cried out. Valerie yanked away from Tyson, appalled at her own behavior. They both rushed into Londyn's bedroom to find her laying on the floor with a suitcase on top of her.
Tyson grabbed the case while Valerie dropped to the floor. "What happened? Are you okay?"
Londyn struggled to sit up. "I was trying to put the suitcase up there." She pointed to the top of the closet. A desk chair laid on its side nearby.
Valerie helped her up and checked her over. "No broken bones, nothing bleeding. Looks like just your pride has been bruised a little bit."
They spent a long time checking her out and making sure she hadn't hit her head before they let her stand. Londyn had no dizziness, no lumps on her head, and no blood anywhere.
Tyson chuckled once he realized she was fine. "You are just like your mama. Stubborn, impatient, and driven."
"What does driven mean?" Londyn hugged her mother. "I wasn't driving anything. I was standing on the chair."
Tyson patted her on the head. "Driven means you'll find a way to get it done, no matter what." He stood and picked the suitcase up. "I'll put this up here for you, okay? And when you want it down, you come get me. Don't try to do it yourself, little lady."
"I know I'm too little, but I was just trying to help so Mommy didn't have to do everything. She gets really tired all the time."
"Are you sick?" The look of concern on Tyson's face made her heart skip a beat. "Is that why you're here?"
Londyn's little face scrunched up. "Mommy's sick? I didn't know she was sick."
