Maybe that’s what Chloe was seeing when she said I was different. She was seeing a mother who allowed herself to feel and possibly even hope for the true desires of her heart. But that couldn’t be with Miles, even if I was different around him. Even if, like Chloe said, I did like him. I liked him very much. How could I not? There he sat with my daughter giving her priceless wisdom along with his time. He valued my opinions and treated me with respect. He even endured my criticisms of him and tried to change. He was different than any man I had ever known. But he was my boss. And that’s all he would ever be.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Inestledintomypillows, ready to finally dig into the manuscript. I’d tried while Miles was helping Chloe, but the two of them were more compelling than his book, and that was saying something. From the snippets I had gotten in, I knew it was going to be good, but watching Miles help Chloe had a profound effect on me. Not only did I wish for someone like that for her, but it made me realize Henry was in good hands. Miles had the makings of a great father. He was patient but he knew when to push, like when Chloe just wanted him to tell her how and why Henry VI came to be the king of England and France. He nudged her to look it up, telling her she would retain the information better if she read it for herself. He even had her make notes to further commit it to memory. I smiled when I thought of the great introductory line they came up with together.Henry VI, well intentioned fool or whimpering ninny?
Before Chloe went to bed, she reiterated some of the same sentiments she had so boldly declared to Miles, but this time she asked me directly if I liked him. I told her I did like him, that he was a good friend to us. She wrinkled herbrow at the word friend. She expressed herself how much she liked him and liked living here.
I hadn’t counted on that. I mean, I knew she would like to live back in Carrington Cove, but I didn’t expect either of us to feel so comfortable basically living with Miles and Henry. Yet while that was true, I had also never been more uncomfortable. At least with myself, that was. I didn’t know who or what I should be anymore. I didn’t want to be that lonely woman my daughter saw. But how did I change that without Miles? Why couldn’t it be Miles?
Ugh.I sank farther into my pillows. I couldn’t think like that. I needed to read. Do my job and read his book. Right. Job. This was my job. I needed this job.
I opened the folder to read his glorious words only to have my phone ring. It was a Texas number. One I didn’t recognize, but it was the same area code as Leland’s number, so I decided to answer even though it was late.
“Hello?”
It was quiet on the other end, so I was about to hang up, but then I heard a quiet voice with a hint of a drawl. Not Shelby Southern drawl, but definitely a bit of twang to her tone. “Is this Aspen?”
“Who’s asking?” I kind of already knew and my defenses were up.
“This is Faith. I’m . . . well . . . I suppose I’m Leland’s wife.”
Once upon a time I supposed myself the same thing. I wasn’t sure what to say.
“You are probably wondering why I’m calling.”
Yes. Yes, I was.
“I feel like I owe you an apology.”
I wasn’t expecting that. “Why?”
Shewas sniffling on the other end. “When I met Leland at the beginning of last year, I thought he was everything I’d ever wished for. Handsome, charming, loyal.”
I coughed. Loyal was a laughable word in relation to him.
“I know,” she commented on my less than tactful interruption. “I used to think you were an awful person, keeping his daughter away from him and kicking him out just because he talked to an ex-girlfriend.”
I held back my derisive laugh. “Is that what he told you?”
“Yes, and I believed him for a while. Then I got pregnant and we got married.”
I knew how this story went.
“Things were good until Ruby, that’s my baby,” she sniffled, “was a few months old. He couldn’t keep a job, which meant I had to go back to work even though he promised me he would take care of us. I left a really good job as an account manager for a tech firm here in Austin. Thankfully, they let me come back. But when I would come home at night, I’d find that Ruby had practically spent all day in her swing. He wasn’t feeding her and changing her like he should. Then . . .” she choked, “I found some messages on his phone from—”
“Kylie,” I interrupted.
“Do you know her?” Her voice hitched.
“We all went to high school together. I hate to tell you this, but . . . I saw them together.” She needed to know the truth for her sake and her daughter’s. My daughter’s sister. What a weird thought that was.
“I figured,” she cried. “I’m so sorry I ever belittled you and forced Leland to get back in contact with you. I thought I was doing a good thing for your daughter. I wanted my baby to know her.”
I couldhardly blame her. I knew the kind of lies Leland was capable of telling. “Please don’t apologize, you had no idea.”
“Oh, I don’t know. I think I did, deep down. My daddy warned me about smooth talking men, but I didn’t listen.”
“I’ve been there. I still beat myself up over him. I’m sorry for the pain you are going through.”
