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A long, miserable week passed. Cathy tried to work but was unable to concentrate. Her new contract arrived, and when she tried to read it, the words swam and ran together. She seemed on the verge of tears much too often, even though she told herself she had nothing to be upset about.
Dave was the traitor. He’d let her think everything was on the up and up, and even made love to her when he didn’t love her. He’d never said he loved her, had he?
He couldn’t love her, she reasoned, because love involved sharing and trust. And he was not trustworthy. He was a first-class rat. Or should she say last-class rat? She tried out a fat gray blob on her canvass. It looked as dull and drab as she felt.
Maybe she should try painting a fat gray rat into her next book. But her editor wouldn’t go for that. It certainly didn’t fit the author’s story. She heaved a sigh.
Or she could make Dave a long, green, slimy snake! Yes, that was more his style. A slimy, slippery snake. He’d made her fall in love with him, when all he wanted was her son. Nothing but her son.
His son, too, her conscience whispered as she dabbed a long green streak on her canvas, then added a red forked tongue. Cory’s part of Dave’s flesh and blood, even though the adoption papers say he’s now your son. But he doesn’t have any of your blood. He looks like Dave, not you, her conscience taunted.
The next afternoon, Cathy was again at work in her studio when her doorbell rang.
She stilled, then when it rang again, put down her brush and went to peek through the eyehole. If that was Dave, taking advantage of her emergency yesterday to try to renew their relationship, she wouldn’t answer it.
But a bright red convertible sat in her driveway, and a tall, slim lady with perfectly coiffed dark hair stood on her doorstep. Who in the world? Was it another committee-woman Jody or Jane had sent to coax her into working on yet another community project? She had to learn to say no. She was getting too far behind on her work.
She pasted a polite smile on her face and opened the door. No, the woman was carrying a gift-wrapped box. “Hello.”
The woman’s smile was wide, and she looked vaguely familiar. Had they met in town in some recent women’s group meeting?
“Cathy?”
“Ye...es,” Cathy said cautiously. Even salespeople knew your name nowadays, so that meant nothing special.
“I’m Angela Langer, Don’s mother. Do you remember me? We met at Don and Jenny’s wedding and again at their funerals.”
“Oh. Mrs. Langer. Of course.” Cathy stared at her in shock. What in the world did she want? To see Cory, Cathy realized. She was carrying a gift because she was Cory’s grandmother, she remembered belatedly.
“May I come in?”
Cathy gulped and stepped back to allow her guest entrance. “Of course, do come in. I...you surprised me, that’s all. I’m a mess, I mean I was working and I wasn’t expecting company.” Of all the times to be caught in her old work jeans and with paint on her hands.
She closed the door and led the way into the Great Room, waving at the sofas. “Make yourself at home.”
Which was a stupid thing to say. This had, after all, been Mrs. Langer’s home until she’d given it to her sons. Yikes, did she know what her twins had done, that Dave was Cory’s father instead of Don? If so, how did she feel about Cathy adopting Cory? Would she say anything?
“I’m sorry, I should have called,” Mrs. Langer said, sounding sincerely apologetic. “I just got in from Florida, and I was so anxious to see my grandson. How is he?”
“Cory’s fine. He should be waking up from his nap any minute.”
“May I just peek at him? I promise I won’t wake him.”
Cathy smiled and waved a hand at the bedroom. “Sure. He’s in his crib in there.”
Cathy went to the kitchen sink and washed the paint from her hands.
Mrs. Langer was back with a big smile on her face. “He is a cutie, isn’t he?”
“Yes, he is,” Cathy agreed. Drying her hands, she asked, “Would you like something to drink? Coffee? A cola?”
“Ice water with a drop of lemon if you have any, please.”
“Of course.” Cathy nervously dropped ice in a glass and cut a slice of lemon. Fixing another glass for herself, she went to hand one to her guest and sat in the opposite chair.
Mrs. Langer wore a lovely, blue cashmere sweater and slacks. She looked slim and trim, much younger than she must be, even if she’d had the twins when she was very young.
After a few minutes of small talk, Cathy began to relax. Angela insisted on being on a first name basis. She asked to see any pictures they’d taken in the past few months, so Cathy got out her album and they pored over it, with Cathy explaining when and where each picture had been taken.
Angela seemed especially interested in the ones Dave had taken at the zoo and the ones Cathy had taken at Jody’s house. Cathy was glad now they’d exchanged copies of the pictures.
When they got to the ones she’d taken of Dave helping Cory build a tower with blocks, Angela said, “Why, these look like my twins’ old blocks. They’re very distinctive.”
Cathy nodded. “They probably are the same ones. Dave said he found them in his closet and wanted Cory to have them.”
Angela smiled. “I’m glad. George brought them to the twins after a trip when they were small. A client made the blocks himself, he said. George is a lawyer, so he didn’t have to travel much. He hated being away from the kids for any length of time, so he’d always bring them a present when he did go.”
“I see.” Dave’s father was a lawyer? Yikes, Jenny had never mentioned that. Did Angela had an ulterior motive in coming here today? Had she dropped in unannounced to observe Cathy’s home life and check if she was taking good care of Cory? They might be considering trying to take Cory away from her.
Cathy’s heart pounded at the thought. She moved restlessly in her chair and couldn’t think of a thing to say. She gulped some of her water to ease her suddenly dry throat. Fortunately, Angela didn’t notice and chatted on.
Cory awoke, and Cathy escaped to the bedroom to tend to him.
When she brought him out to see her, Cathy said, “Cory, this is your Grandma Langer. Say hello to Grandma.”
“Gamma.” Cory grinned at her, then hid his face in Cathy’s neck.
“Hello, sweetheart.” Angela held out her hands to him. “Come to me?” Cory hid his face again. Angela sighed. “Maybe later, then.”
“He’s a little shy with strangers. He’s started walking and can get into everything so fast now,” Cathy said, putting Cory down on the floor between them. “I’ve had to put everything he can’t have out of reach.”
“My, how you’ve grown. Cathy, he’s doing wonderfully,” Angela said with a smile.
“I think so, too.”
“Grandma brought you a little present, Cory.” She put it down on the carpet in front of him and reached down to help Cory tear open the package.
“Truck,” he squealed in delight as they revealed a red dump truck. “Rrrr,” he said and pushed it along in front of him, crawling after it.
Angela laughed, picked up the wrappings, and carried them to the kitchen wastebasket, then returned to her chair and sipped her glass of water. “Children all seem to be able to imitate the sound a truck makes, don’t they?”
“Yes, they do.”
Cory pulled himself up on the coffee table. Once on his feet, he walked to the patio doors and patted the glass, looking out at the lake and leaving little fingerprints all over the glass.
Angela laughed. “He keeps you busy chasing him, I’ll bet. Let’s see, how old is he now? Almost a year?”
Cathy nodded. “Next Wednesday.”
“I’m terrible with remembering dates, but I knew his birthday was coming soon. We must celebrate. I have pictures of all of mine on their first birthdays.”
“Celebrate? But...but I hardly know anyone here,” Cathy objected.
“No matter. We have the family, that’s enough.”
The Langer family included Dave. She could hardly have a party and not invite him. They couldn’t, of course. She’d have to invite him, no matter if seeing him hurt her. She could do it.
She glanced at Angela, wondering if she’d talked to Dave. Was she aware they’d quarreled? Or she might not even know they’d been seeing each other. How close were they? Had Jody told her anything? With an effort, Cathy pulled her attention back to what Angela was saying.
“Do you want Cory’s party here? Or would you like me to ask Jody to have it? Or we could do it in a restaurant, though that’s not as comfortable as a house party.”
Ask Jody? She couldn’t do that. Jody had done so much for her already. “Don’t bother Jody. I...I’ll have it here. I just hadn’t thought about it...” Cathy’s voice trailed off. Food. There wasn’t enough money in her budget this month for a party.
“Then it’s all settled. We’ll just have Dave and Jody and George and me. Is six o’clock on Wednesday all right? I’ll bring everything, birthday cake, balloons, and music. Dave loves to cook on the grill. He can bring the steaks, and I’ll bring the rest.”
“Oh, but I can...” Consternation about having the party at all warred with relief that Angela had shouldered the expense.
“Nonsense, you’ll provide the house and beverages. And food for Cory. I’ll ask Jody to bring a salad. That’s enough. Don’t forget film for your camera, so you’ll have pictures for his baby book.”
Cathy was trapped. She couldn’t avoid it. Well, she and Dave were both adults. She could survive a few hours in his company. He did, after all, have a right to come to his son’s first birthday party. She couldn’t deny him that, even if they were on the outs.
Cory had crawled to the sofa and now climbed up on her knees and demanded attention. Cathy smiled at him, gave him a hug, and pulled him up to sit in her lap.
“Well, I must be going,” Angela was saying, rising and holding out her hands to Cory. “I enjoyed our visit very much. Come give Grandma a hug and kiss goodbye, Cory, honey.” Angela held out her arms, and Cory went willingly into them. “I knew I’d get to hold you before I left,” Angela exclaimed and hugged him. “You’re such a cutie!”
Cathy walked to the door with her. “It was nice to see you, Angela.”
The doting grandmother reluctantly handed Cory back to her, kissing him again. “I’m staying at Jody’s for the next few days, Cathy. Call me there if you need anything. Otherwise, we’ll see you on Wednesday. It’s just family, so don’t go to any fuss.”
“Thank you. ’Bye.”
With a sigh, Cathy went back to her studio. She put Cory down in his playpen and picked up her brushes to clean them. She began again where she’d left off when Angela had arrived. But she couldn’t keep her mind on her work.
Angela doesn’t know, yet. But Dave will tell her soon.
What would Angela think when she found out about Dave and Don’s deception? Angela had seemed to accept her adoption of Cory. But will she feel differently about it when she knows he’s Dave’s son instead of Don’s?
Cathy shuddered. When Angela and George found out his real father was still alive, they might convince Dave to try to take Cory away from her. As if he would need much convincing.
Cathy closed her eyes in frustration. Don’t cross your bridges before you come to them, she scolded herself. Dave might tell Angela he was happy with her having Cory. Yeah, right. Fat chance of that happening.
Cory sense her tension and began to whimper. She put her brushes away and took him for a walk along the lake, careful to take her key with her this time.
He held her hand and toddled along beside her. She walked slowly along the grassy shore, inhaling deeply of the fresh, clean air. Sunlight shimmered off the smooth surface of the blue lake, and she squinted against its brightness. There was very little beach here—the lake wasn’t big enough for the wind to make waves large enough to bring up sand.
A short distance away, she could see Tess’ white house. Had she been subconsciously heading there? She hesitated. It wouldn’t be very polite to drop in on Tess uninvited. She hadn’t appreciated it when Angela had dropped in on her today.
Cory whined, and she bent to pick him up and carry him. His legs weren’t strong enough yet to walk very far.
She was about to turn back toward her own house when she heard a call.
“Hello, there.”
Turning, she saw Tess on the patio of her house, beckoning to her.
“Hi.” She walked over, carrying Cory. She needed someone near her own age to talk to right now.
“Come and sit down.” Tess moved up onto the porch and patted the seat next to her on the padded bench. “How’s my boy today? You are such a cutie, Cory. You look just like your daddy.”
“Yes, doesn’t he?” Cathy said, wondering what Tess would say if she knew he was Dave’s son instead of Don’s. Would Dave be telling people now? How would they react to the news?
Tess went on, “I heard Dave’s mom is up from Florida. Was that her car I saw at your house a while ago?”
Cathy had forgotten how neighbors in small towns always paid attention to what was going on in their neighborhood. Had Tess seen Dave’s car when he’d spent time there with her too? Surely Tess hadn’t noticed he’d stayed overnight a few times?
She pulled herself back to Tess’ question. “Yes, Angela is staying at Jody’s. She just dropped in today,” Cathy said.
Tess smiled. “That sounds like Angela. She likes to see the ‘real person,’ as she calls it.”
“Do you think so?” Cathy asked. Or had Dave told his mother they’d quarreled? She flushed in embarrassment at the idea that Angela might have known she and Dave had fought when she’d been there.
“She was anxious to see Cory. She was very friendly.” Cathy couldn’t help feeling a jealous surge of dismay at the familiarity in Tess’ voice when she mentioned Dave and his mother.
Cathy eyed her neighbor, wondering again what her relationship was to Dave. She was tall and slim, but well developed in all the right places, a woman who could attract men.
“Dave and Jody and their parents will be coming on Wednesday for a little party to celebrate Cory’s first birthday. It was her idea.”
“Oh, I must call Angela. I’d love to see them again.”
On impulse, Cathy asked, “Why don’t you join us for Cory’s party? It’s only going to be a small group.”
Tess smiled. “Thanks. I’d love to.”
Cathy rose. “Great. Come about six o’clock on Wednesday.”
“May I bring something? A salad, maybe?”
“If you’d like to.”
Taking her leave, Cathy walked home, wondering what had possessed her to invite a stranger to Cory’s party. But Tess wasn’t a stranger to Dave and his family. She wanted to know how well Dave knew the luscious Tess.
What an underhanded thing to do. But she did want a friend, and Tess seemed very nice. Cathy wouldn’t let her feelings for Dave interfere with finding a friend. She missed having someone to talk to, to go to lunch with.
If only she could have afforded to remain in California where she had friends. Essentially a loner at heart, she’d always had a hard time making new ones.
The next afternoon, Jody called to remind Cathy she’d promised to collect tickets at the local theater for their club’s fundraising show.
“Oh my gosh. I may have to beg off. I forgot to find a babysitter,” Cathy said.
“No need,” Jody said. “Dave said he’ll watch Cory for the afternoon. He’ll pick him up at noon, tomorrow.”
“Oh!” Cathy swallowed her dismay. How could she explain their fight? She couldn’t just blurt out the truth if Dave hadn’t told his family yet. To say they’d quarreled and she didn’t want Dave to babysit would sound petty. Besides, she couldn’t deny Dave access to his son; that would be cruel. And foolhardy, too. It might even force him to think about legal action against her.
“All right, I’ll have Cory ready for him,” she agreed.
* * * *
Dave was miserable but had stayed away from Cathy as she’d told him to. At least, that’s what “get out and stay away,” had meant to him. He missed her and Cory with a gut-aching passion he couldn’t remember feeling before.
Everything people said seemed to remind him of her or his son. He’d never heard so many references to love or babies in people’s conversations before. Had the references been there before, and he hadn’t noticed? Was he suddenly extra sensitive?
When Jody called and asked him to babysit Cory so Cathy could help with their fundraiser, he couldn’t believe his good luck.
“It’s your afternoon off, isn’t it? I know Cathy’s nervous about asking some of the girls I recommended,” Jody said. “She doesn’t know them yet. She’ll say she couldn’t get anyone and try to stay home with Cory again. She needs to leave the house once in a while.”
“Did you ask Cathy if it was all right with her if I take him? She’s not too happy with me right now,” Dave noted cautiously. She might say no.
His heart fell at the idea of her refusing to let him see his son. Surely she wouldn’t do that to him. His stomach clenched at the idea of having to go to court to explain this mess and ask for the right to see his own child.
“No, I haven’t asked Cathy, but I’m sure it’ll be fine,” Jody said breezily. “She can’t say no to letting Cory see his own father. Then you’ll do it?”
“Yes.” Was Jody right? Would Cathy agree? He sure hoped so!
“Dave?”
“Yeah?”
“I haven’t said anything to Mom about you-know-what yet. I thought I’d leave it for you to explain.”
“Thanks, Jody. When’s Mom arriving anyway?”
“She got here this afternoon. Dad’s coming in on Monday. He’s playing in a golf tournament this Saturday and didn’t want to miss it. Mom called and said for me not to pick her up. She said she would rent a car and go straight out to see Cathy and Cory.”
“She could have called and let me pick her up at the airport.”
“I think she wanted to surprise Cathy. I mentioned you’d been seeing her, and that you’d quarreled. I suspect she didn’t want to call and give Cathy a chance to refuse to see her.”
“I’ll bet it worked for Mom. But that strategy doesn’t work for me. Cathy still won’t see me, even if I drop in on her.”
“Well, Mom should be back pretty soon, so we’ll hear how it went. I’ll tell her you’re waiting for her call. Maybe you’d like to come out for supper tonight?”
“No,” Dave said. “I want to talk to her alone. How about I take her out for supper? Tell her I’ll be there at six. I hate to say you’re not invited, but...”
“But I’m not invited, right, Bro?”
Jody sounded like she was grinning, so he knew it was okay with her. Or maybe she just didn’t want to be around when he told his mother the truth about Cory.
“Right, Sis. Thanks.”
* * * *
At six, he arrived at Jody’s and picked up his mother.
Angela told him all about the delightful visit she’d had with Cathy and Cory. Pleased to hear it had gone well, he let her ramble on, not sure how to begin telling her what he had to.
He drove her to her favorite restaurant, an exclusive seafood place that had lots of nooks and crannies perfect for private conversations. He’d been there enough times that the hostess took him to the table he’d reserved in a quiet corner. A hovering waitress soon brought them drinks and menus.
After they’d ordered, Angela Langer looked at her son quizzically over her glass. “All right, Dave. You haven’t said ten words. What’s up?”
He sighed and gave a little laugh. “What makes you think something’s up?”
“Well, for one thing, you’re never this quiet. And you brought me here and ordered my favorite wine, which makes me think you want to get me in a good mood.”
“Did I succeed?”
Her lips quirked. “Perhaps. Second, you had us stuck back here alone. That makes me think you want to tell me something in private.”
He let out a nervous little laugh. “You can still read me like a book, can’t you, Mom?”
“So, what is it?” She waited, swirling her white wine in the glass.
Now that the moment had come, he didn’t know how to tell her. He started in a roundabout way. “Don and I were always close.”
“Identical twins usually are,” she said, her eyes misting over at the mention of her lost son. “I still have trouble believing he’s gone. But that isn’t what you want to tell me.”
He shook his head. “A couple years before he died, Don flew to Minneapolis to see me, alone.”
“So? You guys flew around all the time.”
“That time he wanted a special favor and left Jenny home on purpose. You remember he had mumps as a teen?”
She nodded. “I was scared to death the whole time he was sick. Your father and I were sure we’d lose him and that you’d get them next.”
“I know. That episode left Don sterile.”
Angela’s head snapped up. “I remember the doctor said it was a possibility, but then they had Cory...”
“Cory was conceived by artificial insemination.”
“Yes. But Jenny told me they used Don’s sperm, that the count was just very low...”
He nodded. “That’s what Don told her. He’d flown to Minneapolis that time to tell me that Jenny wanted a baby bad, and he couldn’t bring himself to admit he couldn’t give her one. Being sterile made him feel less of a man. That was so important to him.”
“Yes,” Angela murmured. “It always is.”
“He asked me to father a child for him. I couldn’t turn him down.”
She stared at him. “You didn’t...didn’t have an affair with Jenny?”
He flushed. “Of course not, Mom, but I was the sperm donor.”
It took a moment for the implication to sink in. “You’re telling me you’re Cory’s real father? But Jenny said...”
Nodding his head, he said, “Don didn’t tell Jenny or the doctor. He didn’t want her to know. So, I...I flew to L.A. and pretended to be Don when I went to the doctor’s office to donate sperm.”
“Dave. Oh dear.” Angela covered her mouth and shook her head. “You pulled your old switcheroo game.”
He nodded again. “I know it was wrong, but Don convinced me it was what he wanted. We had the same DNA. Don felt it would be the same as having his own son. He assured me he’d claim the baby, that I’d never have to take any responsibility.”
“The best laid plans of mice and men...” his mother murmured, shaking her head.
The waitress appeared with their food. Angela leaned back to allow the waitress to place steaming plates of seafood in front of them. They thanked her and waited for the girl to leave before continuing.
“And it’s my own fault,” Dave said morosely, digging into his food. “I had just broken up with Diane and didn’t even want to think about having a family. But we should have made some contingency plans in case something happened...like what did happen. You know, a legal agreement.”
“And now you’re sorry,” his mother guessed. “I shouldn’t say I told you so, but I always hated deception in any form. I’ve never known lies to come to a good end.”
He nodded. “Dad’s a lawyer. If we’d only had him draw up something in writing, I could have contested Jenny’s decision to give Cory to her sister instead of to me.” He poked at a plump shrimp with his fork.
His mother stared off into space. “Or if Jenny had lived long enough for you to explain it to her.”
“She probably wouldn’t have believed me anyway.” He ate a forkful of the seafood and sipped his water to force it down. “You know Cathy’s already legally adopted him?”
She nodded. “Don’s lawyer called Dad months ago.”
“I should have tried to stop it, I suppose. He told me after the funerals that Jenny had asked Cathy to do that. But I wasn’t thinking straight for quite a while, and I wasn’t prepared to cope with an infant.”
Angela watched his face. “Except? Now something has happened to change things?”
He nodded. “Yes. Cathy’s mom and dad were going through Jenny and Don’s stuff. They found a letter Don had written to Jenny and left in his safe to be opened in case of his death.”
“And in it he confessed what you two had done, so your secret is out?” Angela guessed.
He laughed without any mirth. “Too late to do any good. Cathy’s mom told her and sent the letter to Cathy, so now she knows and she’s furious and not talking to me.”
“I see. Before Cathy learned about this, you two were getting along okay?”
He glanced at her. “More than okay, Mom. I thought we were becoming a family.”
She nodded. “Jody said she thought so, too. And now?”
He gave a strangled laugh. “Now Cathy says I lied to her, by not telling her this secret. She threw me out and won’t see me at all.”
His mother sighed. “Oh dear.”
The hurt and disappointment in his mother’s voice burned to Dave’s core. He hated hurting her. She’d had enough pain losing Don and Jenny. He wished he could make it up to her but had no idea how.
They ate in silence for a while. Dave’s broiled shrimp and scallops seemed to settle into a lump in his stomach, however delicious his tongue found them. He gulped some water in an attempt to soothe his stomach.
“I see only one solution,” Angela finally said. She sat back and put down her fork.
“Yeah?” Hope surged at the brightened look on her face.
“You said you thought you were becoming a family. So, become a real family. Marry Cathy.”
He laughed uncertainly, eyeing his mother. Had she guessed that he and Cathy had already been involved? He doubted Cathy would have told her or even hinted at it in any way. But Angela wasn’t joking. “You’re serious?”
“Why not? You were willing to be involved with her. Why not marriage? She’s a lovely, friendly, and talented girl and a good mother who clearly loves Cory. He adores her, too. And she still likes you, I can tell.”
“Likes me? Were you listening to me, Mom? I told you, she hates me. She’s not even talking to me. She threw me out of our house.”
“I heard you. I also heard the pain in her voice when I mentioned your name this afternoon. I think that means she definitely cares about you.”
“If she cared, she wouldn’t have turned on me so easily,” he said bitterly. “She wouldn’t even give me a chance to explain.”
His mother ignored him and went on, “It’s still half your house. I’m sure you can think of reasons to see her.”
He shrugged. “I tried going there, but she wouldn’t answer the door or talk to me. I’m thinking of talking to Dad about forcing her to at least give me visitation rights to Cory. It may take legal action. She can be very stubborn.”
His mother grinned. “I’d try the soft approach first. You can be pretty stubborn, too. Don’t give up so easily.”
“She’d never agree to marry me. Besides, I’m not a marrying man, Mom. You saw what happened with Diane. Our marriage was a disaster from the start. I’m not good husband material.”
“Nonsense. You can do and be whatever you decide to do. You just have to put your mind to it. Romance her a little and convince her. You don’t seem to have any problem doing that in your business or with other women.”
“You’re expecting a miracle from me, Mom.” But he hated the disappointed look on her face. He’d always caved in to her when she got that look.
“If that’s what it takes to keep in touch with my grandchild, then yes, I do expect a miracle. Will you at least give it a try, Dave, for me?”
He heaved a sigh, giving in as he always did with his mother. “Okay. I’ll try harder to make friends with her again. But no promises of more than that. I’m afraid it’s just not going to happen.”
She smiled in obvious satisfaction and waved to the waitress to order dessert. He’d have to try, for her sake. And, a little voice inside him said, because it’s what you want, too, and you know it. You’re not just doing this to please your mother. Though how he’d accomplish it was another matter entirely.
“Cory’s birthday is Wednesday,” Angela said. “I convinced Cathy to have the family over for a party. I volunteered you to bring the steaks and grill them for everyone.”
His head snapped up. “She said I could come?”
Angela grinned. “She didn’t say you couldn’t or object when I said you’d bring the steaks and grill them.”
“All right!” Hope surged through him.
“And I told her we’d bring everything, because she looked worried when I suggested a party. I got the impression money’s a bit tight for her.”
“I know. I tried to help, but she’s as independent as hell. She insisted on paying me rent for my half of the house. When I refused to take any, she got angry. So, I suggested she put it in Cory’s bank account. She won’t take any child support, either. I offered that and bombed out as well.”
“Hmm. Your dad will be here by Cory’s birthday. Maybe we can have a talk with her. I told her it would be just George and me and you and Jody at the party.”
Hope flared, and Dave grinned. “Jody got her to let me babysit Cory for her tomorrow while they work at some fundraiser too. You guys are a great help.”
But when he remembered the anger on Cathy’s face, he knew it would take more than his family’s manipulation to change Cathy’s mind.
He didn’t want only her polite tolerance. He wanted her willingly back in his arms and in his bed.
He truly needed a miracle, but didn’t have much hope of getting one.
