Mommy?
For reasons I didn’t fully understand, my blood ran cold. The dark windows didn’t allow me to really see the boy, but from what I could tell, he was her spitting image. My heart pounded as I tried to process the new information.
She has a child?
My brain couldn’t process the idea of Miranda being a mother. Felt my mouth hanging open. I shouldn’t have been surprised. A ton can happen in four years.
But hearing those tiny cries from the backseat baffled me.
How?
It didn’t seem right or fair.
Miranda’s voice pulled me from my trance, and I directedmy attention back to her in time to catch her saying, “I can call a cab. I have enough for that.”
“Mommy! I hunn-gy.”
She opened his door and unwrapped a granola bar, handing it and a sippy cup to the little guy. She cooed, “Here you go, buddy.”
He pushed the offerings away. “I want to get out!”
“Shh. It’s okay.” She offered him the cup again.
Miranda was a mother? It seemed unreal.
“Walk! Walk, Mommy, please?”
“We, uhm…” She looked over the top of her car toward the traffic yet again. “Not right now, okay?”
I shook my head, urging—forcing—myself to close my mouth.
She was uncomfortable, and I made it worse. Last thing I wanted was for Miranda to feel uneasy. I felt uneasy enough for the both of us. Man, those red flags were soaring. If she thought I would hop into the truck and bid them farewell, she was sorely mistaken.
Not only did we have to discuss the fact that we were co-heirs, there was something weird going on. I was getting all sorts of bad vibes from her. Vibes that had nothing to do with the lake house.
Regardless of our history, I still cared for her well-being. Wouldn’t ever wish harm on her. Wouldn’t ever abandon her if she needed me.
She had her head tipped so low, I couldn’t even stoop and see the tip of her nose anymore. The hair of my neck stood on end. Her demeanor was nothing like the bubbly, beautifully-happy Miranda Howard I fell in love with ten years ago.
Why was she hiding?
I tried not to let my mind entertain reasons too long. I wasalready scrambling to keep my head on straight. If someone hurt her, I’d…
My chest constricted and my fists clenched.
Before my brain had even filed through the ramifications, I ordered, “No cab. I’m taking you.”
She opened her mouth to protest.
“If you call a cab, I’m getting in with you.”
That stopped her.
“You can’t get rid of me at the moment, so save your money.”
“There’s a lot of stuff.” She motioned to the trunk.
“Open the trunk and I’ll get it. You get your—” I fumbled for words. “The, uh, kid.”
