Oklahoma Reunion. Tina Radcliffe

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СКАЧАТЬ He tore his attention from the picture. “Yeah. I liked recess best.”

      Jenna laughed.

      Ryan looked around the room, and his glance caught a pile of books on a desk next to the bed. “Are all those schoolbooks yours?”

      “Yes. I have lots of homework while we’re here.”

      “What grade are you in?”

      “Second.”

      Second? Why did he think Jenna was younger? Ryan frowned. Then again, Kait always did look younger than her years.

      “I’m going to be eight next month.”

      “November?” He murmured the word.

      “Uh-huh. November 25th. Momma says I’m her ‘Thank You, Lord, Thanksgiving baby.’”

       November.

      A tremor raced through him as his mind began a panicked gallop backward.

      Kait left in March eight years ago. Ryan could barely breathe as he slowly did the math. He gripped the bureau for support as his knees threatened to buckle.

      “Thanksgiving baby.” Ryan whispered the words aloud as he looked into Jenna’s sweet face. His gaze skimmed over the dark eyes, the freckles on the bridge of her nose—a nose just like his own.

      The penny fell into the slot.

       Jenna was his daughter.

       Chapter Four

      Ryan paced back and forth on Kait’s porch. He shivered as the cool evening breeze whipped past.

       November. Thanksgiving baby.

      What a fool he was—eight years the fool.

      Conflicting emotions pummeled him. He was as thrilled as he was heartsick. Mostly he was plain ashamed.

      Closing his eyes tightly, he recalled the details of the crayon drawing on Jenna’s wall. It was of a family holding hands and looking out at the future.

       All that that little girl wants is a family.

      As if it was yesterday, he remembered one of his and Kait’s last conversations so long ago. They’d discussed their plans after college—graduate program, then marriage and a family.

      Ryan and Kait. Forever.

      He’d kissed her tenderly beneath the soft light of this very porch before leaving her at her front door at the start of spring break.

      What happened? How had it all become so convoluted?

      He was a father. Jenna’s father.

      The words raced round and round in his head like a wild mustang desperate for a way out. Panic gripped him, choking his throat and clutching at his gut.

      What did he know about being a father? It couldn’t be nearly the same as owning a cat or a dog. If he made his beast dog Jabez neurotic, well, it scared him to think about his effect on a little girl.

      He ran a hand over his pounding head and slammed his fist on the porch rail as his emotions swung wildly between despair and hysterics.

      There were way too many questions and not nearly enough answers. His head ached as much as his heart.

      And why had Kait kept it from him? Yeah, that was the big question. Unfamiliar rage welled up inside, threatening to erupt.

      As if on cue, Kait opened the screen door and stepped onto the dimly lit porch.

      “I’m sorry that took so long.” She rubbed her arms with her hands. “It’s gotten chilly. Do you want to come inside? I can make some tea or coffee. I have a fresh pumpkin loaf.”

      Kait’s voice disarmed him for a moment. For all his self-righteous anger, he didn’t know what to say. He couldn’t even look at her. He turned away.

      “Ryan? What’s wrong?”

      He tried to answer, but the words wouldn’t obey him.

      “Ryan?” she asked again. This time her voice sounded almost afraid.

      Silence stretched until he couldn’t hold back the question any longer. He turned from the rail as the words burst from his lips, the pain ripping him apart.

      “Jenna’s my daughter, isn’t she?”

      Kait’s eyes rounded and her face paled. There was another long, painful silence. She swallowed.

      “Yes.”

      Ryan turned back to the rail. Eyes burning, he hung his head.

      “Are you going to give me a chance to explain?”

      “You’ve had eight years to explain, Kait. Eight years.” He gripped the wood tightly, blinking away emotion as he stared ahead into the settling twilight.

      “Oh, Ryan,” Kait whispered. Dear Lord, this wasn’t how I planned for him to find out.

      She sucked in her breath and automatically moved closer, reaching out to touch his hand. The contact started a frisson of electricity that surprised her.

      Ryan jerked away. Once again, his back was to her. Several times he closed and opened his fists, finally shoving his hands into the pockets of his jeans.

      “Does Jenna know I’m her father?”

      “Yes.”

      “How can she know I’m her father when I didn’t even know?”

      “It was only fair to talk to Jenna before we left Philly.”

      “Fair,” he muttered the word.

      Her stomach in knots, Kait watched him pace.

      He came to a sudden halt and faced her. “Why did you come back to Granby now?”

      “My father died, and I hoped that maybe this was the right time to talk to you.”

      “Just like that.”

      “Yes, just like that.”

      Ryan was spoiling for a fight that she didn’t intend to give him. She could afford the luxury of being calm. After all, she’d had a long time to think about this. She understood his anger—yes, he had every right to be mad.

      Finally, he raised his head and met her gaze. Kait flinched at the raw pain in his eyes. Ryan shook his head. “Why didn’t you tell me you were pregnant?” The accusation lingered in the air.

      “It’s not like I didn’t want to tell you. The timing wasn’t in our favor.”

      “Timing?” СКАЧАТЬ