They’d been on the road for almost two hours. Blake spent the first hour trying to get Ben to talk. He told him about where they would live. He talked about all the things there were to do. He promised to teach Ben how to fish and sail. He asked what kind of dog he wanted.

All efforts to draw out his son failed miserably. Blake started to think maybe he should just let Ben come around in his own time and stop trying to force things. It might or might not be the right choice. Short of commanding the kid to talk, which would no doubt add to the boy’s anxiety, Blake didn’t know what else to do.

Another half hour passed and neither said a word. Ben continued to stare out the window, his nose barely clearing the bottom of the frame.

Blake grimaced. He knew little to nothing about raising a kid. What if he screwed up? Maybe he should take a drive to the mall tomorrow and pick up a book on child rearing. He glanced across the seat again and felt his stomach churn.

“Are you hungry?” he asked. “We can stop for something to eat.”

Ben shook his head and continued to look out the window.

“Do you need to go to the bathroom?”

Ben gave another silent head shake.

Blake sighed. How could one little boy make him feel so incompetent? There had to be something he could do to earn his son’s trust.

“Look Ben, I know all this might seem scary. You haven’t gotten a chance to get to know me yet, but I promise you everything will be all right.” Blake darted another look across the seat. His son hadn’t moved.

“Ben,” he tried again, “Ben, you don’t have to be frightened of me. No matter what you were told, I’ll never hurt you, son. Okay?”

Ben gave a slight nod against the window.

Blake raked his fingers through his hair. The kid just needed some time. That was all, he just needed time.

Fifteen minutes later Blake pulled into a rest stop.

“I need to use the men’s room. We’ll grab some lunch while we’re here.” He parked in front of the building.

“Stay put, Ben.” Blake said when his son shifted in the car seat. “I’ll come around to get you out.”

After lifting him out of the cab, Blake carried the boy on his hip until they reached the front door.

“Keep hold of my hand.” Blake felt a surge of protective urges he’d never known before. All of a sudden he remembered accounts of kids getting kidnapped from rest stops, grocery stores, malls, stories he’d never realized he’d even paid attention to at the time.

When they went into the men’s room, Blake led Ben to the wall of urinals.

Ben pointed to the row of stalls. “Laney lets me go in the rooms.”

Blake hadn’t stopped to consider that Ben might never have been in a public men’s room before. Of course Delaney wouldn’t have let such a young child go into one alone. She would have taken him into the ladies’ room with her where she could ensure his safety.

“Big boys use these.” Blake indicated the urinals. He felt more comfortable keeping Ben within sight. He might lack experience with kids, but he did know it only took one careless moment for one to get lost, or worse.

“Laney lets me go in the rooms,” Ben repeated stubbornly.

Blake shot a glance to the stalls on the opposite wall. The man at the next urinal looked at Blake and smirked.

“Okay Ben, but don’t come out until I tell you.” Blake watched Ben walk to the last stall and go in. He shook his head then turned back to the urinal. The man next to him snickered.

“His mother usually takes him,” Blake lied. He washed his hands, glancing over his head several times as he did. He dried them against his jeans as he walked back to Ben’s stall.

“I’m right outside the door, son. You can come out as soon as you’re done.” After a couple of minutes, Blake tapped on the door. “Is everything okay, Ben? You’ve been in there a while.”

Ben didn’t respond. Blake grimaced. He hadn’t taken his eyes off the stall for more than five seconds so he knew Ben hadn’t come out.

“Ben?” No response.

“Come on Ben, time to come out.” After another minute that seemed like ten, Blake realized he’d just encountered another dilemma. His son had locked himself in a bathroom stall and wouldn’t come out.

He stepped back far enough that he could see under the door. Great, no feet. Were his son’s legs long enough that his feet would touch the floor if he were sitting in there?

What if Ben had climbed under the partition to the next stall? He could have gone under all of the other partitions until he reached the end and then scooted out the door without Blake realizing it. A wave of apprehension gripped him.

“Damn,” Blake cursed under his breath as he got down on his knees. He stuck his head under the door and looked up. Ben was standing on the commode fully dressed.

“Did you finish your business?” Blake asked in the calmest voice he could manage.

Ben nodded.

“Okay, great. Well then, how about we get going.”

Ben shook his head.

“Look Ben, you have to come out now.” Blake backed his head out from under the door then glanced toward the urinals and saw two men watching him. He could just imagine what they were thinking. He hitched his head toward the stall.

“My kid, he uh, got locked in.”

The two men looked away and rolled their eyes at each other.

The way Blake figured it he had two choices, over or under. Under would be real tight. He’d have to slide on his belly. He looked at the small space between the bottom of the door and the questionably clean bathroom floor. He’d go over.

Giving it one more shot before committing himself to that course of action, Blake leaned his mouth close to the door. “Son, I’d much rather you come out of there on your own, but we really need to get back on the road. If you don’t come out, I’m going to have to come in and get you.”

Blake listened for a sign that Ben might make this easier for him. Not even a rustle.

Being a tall man made it more difficult. Blake’s hands rested on top of the door with plenty of room to spare. That meant he either had to push off with his legs or bend his knees and hang, then pull up with his arms.

He ended up doing a little of both. Gripping the top of the door, he bent a knee to lower his body to one side then pushed off with the other leg, pulling himself up at the same time. He managed to hook his right leg over the top of the stall next to Ben’s.

“Weirdo,” someone muttered from behind him.

Blake ignored the comment, continuing his efforts until he got the other leg up and over. He was now sitting on the top of the partition between the two stalls with both legs dangling inside Ben’s stall. He looked down to see his son watching him with wide eyes and open mouth.

Taking hold of the top of the metal door, Blake lowered his body down to the floor. Ben just stared, his expression one of disbelief.

Blake unlocked the door, turned, and lifted Ben off the commode.

“I guess we can go now,” he said. Carrying the boy to the sink, he helped Ben wash his hands then led him out of the men’s room.

After picking up some lunch at one of the fast food restaurants, they returned to the truck. Although Delaney had made it look simple, it took Blake a couple of attempts to figure out the mechanics of the car seat before he felt comfortable he’d gotten it right.

Without a word about the men’s room incident, he pulled out of the rest stop and continued south on the Jersey Turnpike.

Okay, so his kid locked himself in a bathroom stall. It wasn’t the end of the world.

Blake took a hamburger out of the bag on the seat between him and his son. Maybe Ben’s behavior was normal for a kid his age.

“Here’s a burger.” He leaned over and laid the sandwich on Ben’s lap. Kids did weird things sometimes, especially when they were upset. It was probably best just to let the matter pass without making a big deal of it.

“Don’t you like hamburgers?” Blake asked when Ben made no move to eat the sandwich.

Ben wiped his sleeve under his nose. Blake heard a suspicious sniffle. He leaned forward and took a closer look at the face turned toward the window.

“What’s the matter, Ben?”

Tears the size of peas slid down his son’s cheek. Why was he so upset now? Blake had tried not to let his frustration show when Ben refused to come out of the stall. He hadn’t scolded the boy, or spanked him, nothing.

He thought he’d handled the whole thing fairly well for someone who didn’t have a clue what the hell he should do. So why was Ben crying?

“I wish you’d tell me what’s wrong, son.”

Ten minutes later Ben still hadn’t said a word, and the tears still hadn’t stopped. Blake had never felt so helpless in his life.

He pulled over to the side of the road and turned off the truck. How could he concentrate on driving while his son sat there bawling? Ben had been quiet the entire trip, but until the stall scene, there hadn’t been any tears.

“Ben.” Blake tried to make his voice as gentle as possible. “I’m not sure why you’re crying. I’m not upset about what happened in the bathroom if that’s what’s wrong.”

Ben started crying harder, and Blake closed his eyes in frustration.

He hadn’t anticipated anything like this. Should he just let Ben cry until he got over it? Hadn’t he heard somewhere that you should let crying babies lie? Was that right? Should you let crying kids cry? He knew there was something about babies or kids crying. Or had it been something about sleeping dogs? Hell!

“Ben, please,” Blake coaxed, “tell me why you’re upset. I promise you don’t have to be afraid. Whatever it is, I won’t get angry. I hate seeing you so unhappy, but I don’t know what to do to make things better if you won’t help me.”

Ben sniffed and wiped his nose on his sleeve again. He darted a glance at Blake through wet spiky lashes, his lower lip quivering.

“I wanna…go…home,” he stammered.

“We are going home.” Blake knew that wasn’t what Ben meant but hoped his son would accept it.

“Laney’s home,” Ben broke down. He gulped in air, his little body convulsing with sobs that tore at Blake’s heart.

“Ben, please.” He reached across the seat and touched the boy’s shoulder. “You’re going to live with me now, in Maryland. I know it’s all new, and a little frightening, but I’m your dad and once you get used to—”

“No.” Ben’s voice caught on another pitiful snivel. “I want Laney.”

Blake let his head fall back onto the headrest and closed his eyes. Ben wanted Delaney. Blake wanted Delaney. How could he explain that Delaney couldn’t be a part of their lives anymore without making the boy hate him?

He could only hope that over time Ben would start to forget Delaney. In a couple of years he might not even remember her, or if he did, the memory would be vague.

Blake squeezed his eyes tighter. Maybe someday his own memories would be no more than occasional shadows flickering through his head.

He heard Ben whimper. His son’s short life hadn’t been easy so far. As the boy’s sorrow squeezed Blake’s heart, he thought he’d be willing to do almost anything right now if he could only make Benjamin happy.

Turning his head slowly, he gazed over at his son. Ben’s tear filled eyes lifted hesitantly to meet Blake’s.

“Ben—” Blake started to reach for the boy.

Ben turned away. “I want Laney,” he whispered against the window.

TIMOTHY BRANNIGAN was surprised, although not shocked, when he answered the doorbell later that afternoon to see Blake Morrison standing stone-faced on the front portico. He held Benjamin securely on his right hip. The resemblance between father and son was so striking Blake’s paternity could have been confirmed with nothing more than a glance.

“Is Delaney still here?” the younger man asked in clipped tones.

“She’s upstairs. Would you like me to ask her to come down?”

Morrison looked down at Ben then frowned. The boy’s cheeks were streaked. His eyes were puffy and red. Morrison didn’t look so hot either, but Tim hadn’t missed how some of the hard edge seemed to soften when Blake looked at his son.

“If you don’t mind, I’ll go up.” Morrison glanced toward the stairs. “I need to talk to your daughter in private. Would you keep an eye on Benjamin?”

“Come here, kiddo.” Tim reached out and took the boy. He met Morrison’s gaze. “Go ahead, although I’ll ask you not to upset her anymore than you already have.”

The guy flinched. His eyes hardened again as he looked away and started toward the staircase.

“Should I tell my wife to plan on you and Ben for dinner?” Tim called after him.

“No,” the man snapped without turning around, and then sprinted up the stairs.

Tim had the image of a warrior charging into battle. He didn’t believe for a second the man would cause Delaney physical harm, but whatever his reason for coming back, it was raging one furious assault against his will.

Ahhh, life was an interesting journey, he thought, and so much more rewarding when one lived it with passion. He had a feeling everything would work out just as it was meant to in the end. With two strong-willed people like Blake and Delaney, the road ahead would hold some bumps, but oh, he smiled to himself, what a journey they were going to have. Not unlike the one he’d enjoyed.

He turned around and closed the door. Smiling down at Benjamin, he ruffled the boy’s silky black curls.

“Why don’t you and I go into the kitchen and see if we can talk the boss into some milk and cookies?”

“YES,” DELANEY called at the sound of the knock, “come in.” It was probably Mom again checking to see if Delaney wanted anything.

She wiped the tears from her cheek as she turned away from the window, gathering what strength she could to put on a courageous front.

“Blake,” she gasped when she saw who stood in the doorway. Her heart started to pound so hard she could feel it in her ears.

He’d left with Ben hours ago, but here he was, standing right in front of her, looking…what…furious?

“Pack your things,” he said. “You’re coming back to Maryland.”

“Excuse me?” Delaney stared back, momentarily stunned, totally confused, but unable to deny the spark of hope that flared at his words.

“Look, I’m not in any mood for an argument, and you owe me this. Ben was practically hysterical in the truck.” Blake looked so full of pent up frustration Delaney half expected to see smoke pour from his ears.

“You’ve got to come back until he’s more comfortable with me. I couldn’t even get him to eat a hamburger, and like I said, you owe me.” He stood with his legs braced apart, arms crossed over his chest as if prepared to do battle, and win.

Delaney had no desire to argue. Without realizing it, Blake had just answered her fondest dream. She could help Ben through the transition, giving Blake a chance to gain his son’s trust. And if she was lucky, she’d have time to try and regain Blake’s.

She didn’t know what kind of odds she was up against, but a million to one still meant she had one chance. That was better than she would have believed an hour ago.

“How long were you thinking?” she asked, trying not to let him see how anxious she felt.

“A couple of days.” He gnawed his lower lip. “I don’t know…maybe a week.” He threw her an uncertain glance, as if he thought she’d balk. “It all depends on Ben. I wouldn’t be asking if it weren’t for him.”

“Of course not.” He hadn’t needed to qualify for her. It was obvious he didn’t want anything to do with her again. It didn’t matter. She’d already made up her mind.

“I’ll come on one condition.”

Blake had come to her. For the moment, a rare moment which might never occur again, she had the advantage, an advantage she had to use if there was any hope things could be set right. And to set things right she’d need time.

Blake shoved his hands in his pockets. “You’ll come period. Like I said, you owe me.”

“On one condition.” She hiked her chin, not feeling any of the confidence she tried to display.

“Okay, let’s have it.”

“One week won’t be enough. Benjamin will need at least two weeks to get comfortable with you.”

“No way!” Blake shook his head. “A couple of days will be bad enough.”

Delaney swallowed. Even at a billion to one, she still had that one chance.

“Take it or leave it, Blake. Two weeks. Haven’t you ever heard it takes two weeks to form a new habit?” She bit her lip.

Every muscle in his face twitched. She held her ground.

“All right, two weeks, but I’m giving you fair warning, Delaney. When Ben’s not around, stay the hell away from me. The less we have to deal with each other, the better for both of us.”

She gave a stiff nod. She had no intention of keeping her distance, not as long as she had breath to try and make him understand.

“I’ll be downstairs.” Blake turned to leave the room.

“I have to stop by my place,” Delaney said, halting his exit for a moment. “I need to pick up a few things.”

Delaney saw his shoulders slump, as if feeling confronted with a concession he didn’t want to make but would. She heard him drag in a sigh.

“Fine,” he agreed without turning back around. “I’ll go get Ben.” He stopped with his hand on the knob. “By the way,” he said quietly, “I’m not a habit; I’m his father.”

The door closed with a gentle click. Delaney remained in the middle of the room. Her eyes began to water again as she stared at the spot where Blake stood a second before.

“Thank you,” she whispered, “thank you so very much.”