thirteen
The food arrived and the three of them ate at the coffee table. While Max and Zeke debated the merits of burgers versus chicken nuggets, Julia argued in favor of turkey sandwiches. The only tension in the room was in her mind, where the Oh, by the way speech waited patiently to be delivered. If Max fell asleep, she could tell Zeke in a bland tone that wouldn’t wake her son or stir up too much drama.
When Max yawned, she stacked the ketchup-stained plates, then fetched the sweater she kept at her desk and covered him with it. “Someone’s sleepy,” she murmured.
Zeke yawned too, either to influence Max or because he was worn out from an early golf lesson and a busy day. Max slumped against Zeke’s side, and they both closed their eyes.
She didn’t have the heart to disturb Zeke, especially to deliver a speech that would taint the day, so she kicked off her shoes, hugged her knees, and considered how much they had both changed. His features were sharper now, more acute, as if parts of his youth had been chipped away. Julia too had endured the hammer and chisel of change. She didn’t trust her heart at all, but she knew God loved her. She could barely fathom it, but Zeke did. He loved God more than any person she knew.
Her phone broke into her thoughts with a text. As Zeke and Max opened their eyes, she skimmed it. “It’s my mom. They’ll be at the cottage in about twenty minutes. I better go.”
Zeke lumbered to his feet and stretched.
Julia turned her attention to Max. “It’s time to go. Say thank you to Zeke for lunch.”
Max’s lower lip pushed out. “I want to see the rocks again.”
“Not now, big guy.”
His face puckered into a pout. Julia couldn’t blame Hunter for this one. Max was tired, fussy, and acting like a four-year-old.
Pushing to her feet, she held out her hand, a clear signal to obey. “It’s time to go.”
He made a mad dash for the bookshelf holding the geodes. “I want to see the red one again.”
She marched after him. “No, Max. It’s time to leave.”
Ignoring her, he pushed up on his toes, grabbed a shelf for leverage, and tried to climb.
Zeke bolted forward and swept the boy up to his hip. “Hey, Max. Your mom makes the rules.”
“No, my daddy does.” Max wrenched around and stared at her, Hunter’s mini-me in every way.
Zeke put Max down but kept a grip on his hand. “Your mom makes rules too. Good ones that keep people safe. You don’t want Grammie waiting outside, do you?”
Max thought a moment, then shook his head.
“Now—” Zeke waited until Max met his gaze. “You and I are going to open the door for your mom, because that’s what guys do for girls.”
The idea seemed to hang in the air, then Max nodded. “Okay, but can I come back and see the rocks?”
“That’s up to your mom.”
Max spun toward Julia. “Can I?”
“May I,” she corrected. “And yes, you may, but only if it’s okay with Zeke.”
Max scampered to the door, stopped short, and turned back to Julia. “You go first cuz you’re a girl.”
Smiling her gratitude to Zeke, she stepped through the door and waited until Max scrambled past her and out of earshot. There wasn’t time for the full conversation about Hunter, but she could start it. Dreading the entire prospect, she forced the words from her tight lips. “I want to tell you about Max’s dad. Not right now, but soon.”
Zeke glanced at the back of Max’s head. He was six feet away, pretending to be a T. rex. “Anytime.”
“Maybe tomorrow. At lunch.”
“Mommy!”
Zeke answered for her. “Hold on, Max. She’ll be right there.” He lowered his voice again. “Whatever works for you. Just let me know.”
“Thank you.”
“In fact”—he sounded dead serious, but his eyes twinkled—“when your mom’s up and around, how about dinner at IHOP?”
Julia couldn’t help but smile. “If you’re under fifty-five, that’s not a date.”
“Then we’ll go somewhere else.” His voice came out husky, just the way she used to love.
Idiot. She had no business blurring the lines between them.
Sobering instantly, she dropped the smile. “Just to be clear, this won’t be a date. It’s more of a—” Confession.
“Mommy, hurry.” Max started to bounce on his toes. “I have to go potty.”
Zeke laughed. “Someone needs you. We’ll sort out the details later.”
It was just like Zeke to put Max first. And her too. No pressure. Just patience. “Thanks for everything, Zeke. You made today easier than it should have been.”
“I’m glad.”
“About tomorrow morning . . . I can’t leave Max with my mom on crutches. Is it okay if I work from the cottage?”
“No problem.”
“Mommy!”
“Go,” Zeke said, chuckling a little.
Julia thanked him with a quick smile, hurried to Max, and led him out the door to the ladies’ room, listening to his protests that he was a big boy and could go to the men’s room by himself.
“Not today,” she told him.
He gave in, but Julia ached with the knowledge of how badly Max needed a father. Someone like Zeke who’d teach him to hold open a door. Hunter would teach the same lesson, but when he did something nice, he expected to be admired for it. Zeke didn’t think that way. He put others first, which made her want to put him first. Or second, right after God.
When Max finished, Julia led him to the sink to wash his hands. She waved her own hand to turn on the automatic faucet, then held Max’s hand under the soap dispenser. His stubby fingers were covered with white foam and water when her phone meowed. Stifling a sigh, she instructed Max to finish rinsing and took the call.
“Hunter, this isn’t a good time.”
“It’ll just be a minute.”
“What is it?”
“My plans changed. I thought I’d spend the weekend with you and Max.”
“Here?”
“Sure, why not?” He sounded pleased, as if he’d bestowed her with an honor. “We can hang out at the pool.”
“No. I’m working.”
“Yes, on Saturday.” His tone irked her. “That’s when the bride and her stand-in mom will be here.” The faucet stopped. Julia started it again to keep Max occupied. “This isn’t a good time for you to visit. My mom sprained her ankle this afternoon. She’s going to need me.”
“I think it’s a perfect time. I can take Max off your hands.”
The offer made sense, but she didn’t want Hunter to visit Caliente Springs. She was free from him here, except for the techno-leash. “It just won’t work.”
“Come on, Julia. Be reasonable.”
“I am.” At one time in their relationship, she would have appeased him. Today she felt bullied.
Max cupped his hands under the faucet to make a fountain. Water sprayed everywhere, which he thought was hilarious. She couldn’t turn off the automatic faucet, so she moved his hands, which made the water splash on her beige slacks.
She spoke to Max instead of Hunter. “Let’s dry your hands—”
“What’s going on?” Hunter demanded.
“Hold on.” She set down the phone and led Max to the automatic dryer. After two swipes of her hand, it roared to life. She picked up the phone again. “Sorry. We’re in the bathroom. The faucet went a little wild.”
“Where are you, anyway?”
“Just leaving the office.”
“And you took our son to the ladies’ room? You baby him, Julia. He’s old enough to use the men’s room.”
“He’s in a new place and it’s unfamiliar.” Did Hunter have to criticize everything she did? Apparently so.
“Let me talk to him.”
As if she didn’t have enough to juggle. “His hands are wet, and we need to leave. We’ll call you tonight.”
Max turned to her, his face bright. “Is that Daddy?”
“Yes, honey.” Julia ignored his still-wet hands. “We’ll call him after we take care of Grammie.”
“I want to tell him about Zeke and the rocks.”
Julia held her breath. Please, God. Strike Hunter deaf for that one word.
Hunter chortled into her ear. “Did he say Zeke?”
“Yes.”
Hunter laughed even louder. “I haven’t heard that name since St. John’s. Zeke Monroe was a real wuss.”
Julia couldn’t let the insult slide. “Well, he’s not a wuss now. He’s the general manager of Caliente Springs.” When silence crackled in her ear, she indulged in some gloating. For once, she had surprised Hunter. “I’ll call you later. We can make plans for the weekend after this one.”
“I’m busy then.”
Julia doubted it. As usual, he was manipulating the circumstances to his liking.
“This weekend, babe. Plan for Saturday.”
“Hunter, no.”
The phone went dead in her ear. Shaking with anger, she leaned against the counter and massaged her temples. Across from her, Max waved his hands at the dryer. It roared to life and blasted hot air. What if Hunter showed up tomorrow instead of Saturday? The thought of him surprising Zeke sickened her. She needed to talk to Zeke now, at least briefly.
Gripping Max’s hand, she headed back to the office. If she left Max at her desk, she could tell Zeke quickly with the promise of a full explanation later.
She was almost at the door when her mom texted. At the cottage. Forgot my keys!
Pulled in four directions—between her mom, Zeke, Hunter, and Max—Julia decided her mother needed her most.
Gripping Max’s hand, she headed to her car, aware that Hunter hadn’t asked a single question about Ellen and her injuries. If that was how he treated people in need, what kind of father was he to Max?
Not the kind she wanted.
But what could she do about it? Hunter’s DNA trumped all her instincts to cut him out of her life. She could only hope God’s mercy, and especially his love, trumped Hunter’s DNA.