Star-Crossed Parents. C.J. Carmichael

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СКАЧАТЬ son. And in case you hadn’t noticed, they’ve—”

      “I noticed,” he said quietly.

      “Then how can you even suggest this isn’t a good time to talk? What kind of father are you? Those kids—”

      “Are adults.” He hesitated, and for the first time, uncertainty shaded his dark blue eyes. “You did say Taylor was eighteen, right?”

      “Yes. Just out of high school. We were going to have a party….” She glanced down at her dress, so inappropriate for the situation she found herself in right now, but she hadn’t wanted to waste a minute changing.

      Leigh swayed and immediately felt Sam’s hand at her back.

      “Let’s sit down.”

      She planted her feet where they were. “I need to talk to my daughter.”

      “You will. Give them a minute to sort themselves out. Come on, let me get you a drink. You look like you’re about to pass out.”

      Since that was exactly how she felt, she conceded her position and followed him into the kitchen. She sank onto a stool and folded her hands on the butcher-block counter.

      Taylor’s words were still ringing in her ears. What are you doing here? What if I don’t want to talk about it?

      Her daughter did not speak to her this way. She simply didn’t. Clearly, this boy, Sam’s son, was to blame.

      Sam slid a glass of orange juice in front of her. She glanced up at him.

      “Hope that’s okay. Only other choice is beer.”

      That’s what he’d picked for himself. She watched as Sam twisted the cap off a bottle of lager, then took a long swallow. She considered asking for a beer, herself, then decided against it and had some of the juice. The beverage slid down easily, and she realized that she was starving. It was almost nine o’clock and she hadn’t had anything to eat since lunch.

      Sam settled onto the stool next to hers and she was struck by the breadth of his shoulders, the size of his arms. In a flash she saw that she’d been just as foolhardy as her daughter. She’d followed a stranger to a remote location, put herself totally at his mercy.

      Logically, it had been a very stupid thing to do. And yet she couldn’t summon the energy to feel afraid, or even slightly nervous.

      She didn’t know Sam Wallace was a decent person. But she thought that he was. If only she could say the same for his son.

      At the sound of steps on the stairs, she turned. Her daughter and PartyMan were dressed and coming to face the music. She studied Taylor’s face for signs of contrition and was dismayed to see none.

      Before she could say a word, Taylor started.

      “I don’t see why you had to drive all this way. I’m just visiting Josh for a few days.”

      “Visiting? It seemed to me you were doing more than that. ”

      “ Mom. ” Taylor sounded mortified.

      “If you wanted to come to New Hampshire, you should have asked.”

      Josh put his arm around Taylor’s shoulders. She smiled at him gratefully, but the smile dropped away when she turned back to her mother.

      “You know you wouldn’t have let me. Anyway, I don’t need your permission anymore.”

      “Maybe not,” Leigh conceded. “But I would have hoped you’d have at least had the consideration to discuss this with me. Or, at the very least, waited an extra day.”

      “I am sorry about the party, Mom. But you can’t blame me for that. I didn’t even want one.”

      Taylor’s words stung, mostly because they were true. Taylor had tried to talk her out of the party, but Leigh had convinced herself that Taylor really did want it. But maybe she’d just been projecting her own wishes on her daughter.

      Leigh had never had the chance to celebrate her own high school graduation. She’d been a new mother-to-be by then, taking her remaining credits by correspondence. She’d so much wanted to give her daughter the party she’d never had.

      “Look, Mom, I am sorry. But there was no other way. You never listen to what I say. You don’t trust me.”

      “Maybe for good reason.” Leigh waved a hand at Josh. “You’ve never even met this young man. How could you travel all this way to visit him? He’s a stranger. I thought you had more sense than that.”

      “He isn’t a stranger. I love him.”

      Love.

      A silence left the word lingering in the air. Josh looked overwhelmed, then he recovered and pulled Taylor closer.

      “Love,” Leigh repeated. “This is the first time the two of you have met and you’re telling me you love one another.” Sam hadn’t said a word since the kids had come on the scene, but now Leigh turned to him, certain that he had to support her on this point at least.

      “Maybe we should leave these kids alone for a bit.”

      “What?” As far as Leigh was concerned, their discussion had barely started.

      “Just give them some space,” Sam added, holding out a hand as if he expected her to go with him. “I’m not leaving without my daughter. Come on, Taylor. We can continue our discussion in the car.” The keys were still in her hand. She didn’t relish tackling the freeways in the dark, but she supposed she would have to manage.

      She started for the door, then stopped when she realized Taylor wasn’t following. “Taylor?”

      “No.”

      Josh moved behind her, planting both of his hands on her shoulders. Leigh took a deep breath. “Okay, we don’t have to go back to the city. I’ll find us a room and after we have a good night’s sleep we’ll be able to—”

      “No, Mom. I won’t go with you. Josh invited me for the weekend.”

      “Taylor, this is crazy. We don’t know these men. Come with me and—”

      “No, Mom. I’m staying. You want me to, right?” She glanced over her shoulder at Josh.

      “Sure.” He cleared his throat nervously. “Mrs. Hartwell, we haven’t officially met, but—”

      “Ms. Hartwell. Not Mrs.” Leigh tried not to be swayed by the boy’s charming smile. It was a lot like his father’s, without the crowded bicuspids. He’d probably had the braces his father had done without.

      “Oh. Sorry. Anyway, we haven’t met, but I’m Josh Wallace and I do care about your daughter. I didn’t trick her into coming to Jefferson. She wants to be here.”

      “Josh, you’re a nice-looking kid and I’m sure you have a lot of friends who think you’re great, but what you’re doing with my daughter isn’t right.”

      “I СКАЧАТЬ