For the Love of Summer

Chapter 13

Erica sat alone in the stands, trying to focus on the game. Summer’s team was up by three in the second inning.

She tugged her trench coat more tightly around her body, once again grateful she’d remembered to wear pants and low-heeled boots, along with a turtleneck and blazer. Suitable attire for both a high school softball game and a visit to prison, she thought, still processing her meeting with Peter.

She’d spent less than twenty minutes with him and still felt traumatized by everything that had happened. No, she amended. Not everything. The part where he’d begged.

No man had ever gone on his knees to her before. When Peter had proposed, it had been on a beach in St. Barts. They’d been walking along, after a wonderful dinner. The sky had been the cliché of an artist’s sunset paint palette, the air warm. She’d been happy, content and maybe a tiny bit drunk.

“I wonder if you’d like to marry me.”

She could hear the words now, slightly hopeful, a little chagrined. No wild declaration of love, no promise to make her the happiest woman in the world. Just Peter being Peter. Or at least the man he’d presented to her and the one she’d fallen in love with.

She’d looked at him, surprised by the unexpected question. “You’re proposing?”

He’d given her that lopsided grin of his. “Badly, if you have to ask. I have a ring back in the room and I was going to do the whole champagne-flower thing, but you’re just so beautiful here on the beach and I want us to be together.”

“You bought me a ring?”

“Yes. Your mom helped me with the size.” The bashful expression returned. “I hope you like it.”

She’d faced him then, taking his hands in hers. “I love you, Peter. So much.”

“I love you, too.”

He’d kissed her then, in that way of his. Kissing him had always given her butterflies in her stomach. Even years later, when she’d sensed he was distant but didn’t know why and didn’t have the time to find out, she’d felt the flutter. Shortly after that, he’d announced he wanted a divorce—shocking enough but not as horrifying as his cruelty as he severed every connection between them.

He’d certainly never begged her for anything, had never declared that she was his princess—something to be treasured. Maybe he’d never loved her at all, but he did love Allison.

She tried to figure out what she was feeling. She didn’t want him back. She just couldn’t stop wondering how things would have been different between them if just once he’d loved her enough to beg.

The crack of a bat brought her back to the game. Summer’s hit sailed over second base, allowing her to make it to first and two teammates to score.

Crystal made her way across the bleachers and sat next to Erica.

“At this rate, we might be done early,” the other softball mom said with a faint smile. “You doing all right?”

Erica didn’t know what to do with the question. “I’m fine. How are you?”

“Good. I was just wondering how you were handling everything. I know it’s been tough. Poor Summer, with her dad and all. She’s staying strong, but the whole family has to be shattered.”

Erica stared at her, wondering how Crystal had ever found out what was—

Of course, she thought, mentally slapping herself on the forehead. Crystal and her friends were the mothers of Summer’s friends. Her daughter would talk to her girlfriends about the trauma of her father’s arrest and what was happening with Allison. The teens would tell their mothers, who were also friends and would talk.

She glanced past Crystal and saw the other mothers watching them. When her gaze met theirs, they quickly looked away.

“I don’t know him well,” Crystal said in a low voice. “Peter, I mean. I’ve met him. We all have. Dropping off our girls at his house or when he dropped off Summer on the weekends. And of course from before the divorce. I always thought he was just a regular father. One of the guys. It’s shocking.”

“It is,” Erica admitted. “I don’t know very much. Peter and I have been divorced over four years.”

“You had no idea about his—” Crystal paused, then dropped her voice to a whisper “—criminal intentions.”

“Do you think I would have stayed married to him if I thought he was breaking the law?” Erica snapped. “Do I strike you as that kind of person?”

Crystal cringed. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I’m saying this all wrong. I’ve never known anyone who did anything like this. I just wanted to say I’m sorry and ask if I can help.”

Erica held in a sigh. None of this was Crystal’s fault. As for Erica being the object of curiosity and pity, well, that couldn’t be helped.

“Thank you,” she said, trying to sound gracious. “This has nothing to do with me beyond how it affects Summer. I’m fine. I just want to make things right for her.”

“Of course. I know she’s worried about her stepmother. I guess she’s pregnant and really scared.”

“Wouldn’t you be?”

“Yes. It’s an impossible situation.” Crystal offered her an awkward smile. “Anyway, I just wanted to say I’m here.”

“I appreciate that.”

She told herself Crystal wasn’t the problem and blaming her was silly. She should accept the offer in the spirit in which it was meant. If Crystal and her friends also got a little thrill from the salaciousness of it all, who could blame them?

“If you hear Summer say anything that catches your attention, please let me know. If she seems overly upset or worried. She’s only sixteen and this is a lot.” And Allison was taking advantage of her willingness to listen.

“I will,” Crystal promised. “Absolutely.”

“Thank you.”

They smiled at each other. Erica was about to mention she could stay here for the rest of the game when Crystal said, “I’d better get back.” She paused. “I won’t tell them what you said. I know this is a private matter.”

“I appreciate that.”

The promise was nice, but Erica couldn’t help wondering how long it would be until Crystal broke it. She didn’t care what the other women knew. They could talk about Peter and his issues for days. As long as word didn’t get back to her kid, they could talk about her and Peter and Allison, speculating as they liked. Just leave Summer out of it.

Allison paced in her living room, glancing at the wall clock every time she made a circuit. In exactly two minutes—assuming Erica was going to be on time, and didn’t she seem the type?—her husband’s first wife was going to show up to talk to her. At least that was what Erica’s text had said. Or more precisely:

I’d like to stop by tonight after Jackson’s in bed. How’s 8?

Allison had wanted to say that wasn’t a good time. That they had nothing to say to each other, etc. etc. But she hadn’t because Erica was Summer’s mother and she’d offered to find out about the business. Maybe she had good news. Maybe a bunch of clients had paid and Erica had managed to intercept the money before it got deposited in the bank, where it would sit, frozen and inaccessible.

A few hundred would really help. A few thousand would mean she could try to rent a small apartment by paying a six-month lease in advance. She had the ten thousand from the scary guy and she had her credit card, but until she got paid again, that was it. She had medical insurance to worry about, co-pays for the doctor and hospital. Assuming she could somehow convince someone to rent her an apartment, she had to pay for movers and ask Liz if she would please keep Jackson during the birth. All of which assumed she could keep working the whole time and nothing went wrong.

What if she was put on bed rest? What about after Bethany was born? How was she supposed to survive with two kids under the age of two? Day care would be prohibitive, but she needed day care to work.

The familiar panic returned. She told herself to take a couple of breaths, to relax so she faced Erica calmly and in control. Unfortunately just then there was a light knock.

She opened the front door. Erica offered her a tight smile as she walked in, looking put together in a turtleneck and blazer, with expensive-looking pants and gorgeous boots. She was tall, thin, and had perfect hair and makeup. Plus the designer handbag. Allison, on the other hand, had nearly outgrown all her maternity clothes and hadn’t even thought about doing something with her appearance. These days it was all she could do to stay upright.

“Thank you for seeing me,” Erica said, moving to the sofa. “We have a few things to discuss. I’ll be brief. I’m sure you’re exhausted and would like to get to bed early.”

Bed sounded wonderful—if only she could actually sleep instead of worrying and missing Peter.

They both sat.

“Do you have news on the business?” Allison asked eagerly.

Erica stared at her blankly. “The business? Oh, yes. I spoke to Gail, the office manager. She’s the one who turned in Peter. She found out about the illegal activity and reported it. The day the police showed up, she resigned.”

Allison stared at the other woman, unable to process the blunt words. “Why would she do that? She’s worked with Peter for years.”

Erica looked away. “I can’t possibly know all her motives, but as I said, she figured out what he was up to and wasn’t willing to ignore it.”

“You’re saying you think Peter committed a crime? You’re wrong. He said it was a mistake. When he gets the right lawyer he’s going to—”

“Do you actually believe that? No one with any resources simply sits in jail, waiting for the justice fairies to free him. Of course he’s guilty. I don’t know what all he’s done, but it’s enough that your bank accounts are frozen. That should have been your first clue.”

“He’s innocent,” Allison protested, fighting tears, knowing Peter was a good man. He had to be. They loved each other, they had dreams. “He would never hurt me.”

“Yet here you sit.” Erica sighed. “I don’t mean to be blunt.”

“Yes, you do.”

Erica gaze sharpened. “Maybe it’s because right now you’re not one of my favorite people.”

“What does that mean?”

“Summer is sixteen years old. I understand your situation is dire and you’re afraid, but you have no business dumping on her. You shouldn’t be sharing all the details with her and you shouldn’t be asking her for help. She’s not your child, but she is still a child and this is way beyond what she can handle.”

Allison felt her face flush as a rush of shame washed through her. Erica was right—of course she was. Peter wasn’t just Allison’s husband, he was Summer’s father. The teen was worried about him, about her little brother, all of it.

“I didn’t mean to hurt her.”

“Now you sound like Peter.”

“If you’re going to act like this, then we have nothing more to say to each other. You’re right about Summer. She shouldn’t be handling this, but I didn’t set out to tell her. It’s like she knows when there’s a crisis and she shows up. It’s hard to keep the truth from her when she walks in on me curled up on the floor sobbing. You can believe me or not, but that’s what happened.”

Erica stared at her. Allison had no idea what she was thinking. According to Peter, the woman was heartless—only caring about business—something she’d always believed. Until now. She could see Erica loved her daughter very much.

Allison sagged against the sofa back. “I love her and I wouldn’t hurt her. I’m sorry for what happened. It’s just been so hard. Everything’s happened so fast and I don’t know what to do or how to manage. Peter won’t tell me everything.”

“He wants to protect you.” Erica sighed. “I saw him today.”

“What?” Allison leaned toward her. “You did? But it’s not a visiting day.”

Erica brushed away that comment. “I wanted to look him in the eye and find out the truth.”

“Did he tell you?”

“No. He was concerned about our conversation being recorded, plus I’m not exactly someone he wants in his life.”

There was something about the way she spoke the words—as if there was more going on than Allison could know, but had no idea what.

“His bail’s been set at a million dollars. He’s not getting out of jail anytime soon.”

Allison felt herself starting to crumble as her hopeless situation just got worse. “That much? I didn’t know.” A million dollars? That was impossible.

“Bail requires ten percent in cash, plus someone to guarantee the rest, so basically a million dollars is at risk.”

“No one has that kind of money,” Allison whispered, then pressed her lips together. “He’s never coming home, is he?”

“He will. I just don’t know when,” Erica said, meeting her gaze. “Try to remember he loves you and he would do anything for you.” She paused. “What is your plan for Jackson when you go into the hospital?”

The question caught Allison off guard. “I, ah, am going to ask a friend to take care of him.”

“Does this friend know she’ll be asked?”

“Of course.” Allison had never been a good liar and wasn’t sure she’d pulled off this one.

Probably not, she thought when Erica didn’t look convinced.

“And your living situation? Isn’t the lease ending a couple of weeks before your due date? Where are you going?”

Allison raised her chin. No way she was showing weakness in front of this woman. Well, not more than she already had. “I’ll be fine.”

“You’re not answering the question.”

“I don’t owe you an answer.”

“You’re not in a position to have attitude.”

“Right now attitude is all I have.”

Erica stared at her for a long time, then rose. “You need to get your rest. I wanted to tell you about seeing Peter. Whatever happens, the man loves you.” She offered a faint smile. “He called you his princess.”

Allison tried to find comfort in the words as she struggled to her feet. “I’d rather have him home.”

“I know. I wish I could make that happen. Believe me when I say I want nothing more than Peter back in regular life.”

“Why would you care?”

“Because of Summer. She’s very worried.”

“Right. I am sorry about telling her too much.”

“I know.” Erica walked to the front door and pulled it open. “Get some sleep. You need it and so does the baby.”

With that, she was gone.

Erica walked into Killion’s kitchen still groggy from oversleeping. She was usually up before him, but last night she’d been restless. He sat at the table, drinking coffee. He was already showered and dressed and the smell of coffee mingled with the scent of something with cinnamon baking in the oven.

“Good morning,” he said when he saw her. “How do you feel?”

“About how I look.”

“Then you feel good.”

She laughed before collapsing on a chair at the table. “I hate when I wake up looking my age but I’ve reached the point in my life where sleep really matters.”

He poured coffee from the carafe and set it in front of her. “You did have trouble settling.”

“I told you I should go home. I didn’t mean to keep you up, but you were warned.”

He flashed her a sexy smile. “It was worth it. I like when you spend the night.”

Something he requested she do every month or so. She tried to coordinate those visits with Summer’s frequent sleepovers. If that wasn’t possible, then Mara stayed with the teen.

“Despite your cutthroat reputation, you’re a traditionalist,” she told him.

“About some things, although I will point out there are very few straight men alive who wouldn’t want you in their bed.”

“You’re being kind. Certainly no one under forty.”

“You underestimate yourself.”

“And you’re being silly.”

“Only for you.”

A timer dinged. Killion removed two baking dishes from the oven and carried them over to the set table. He’d already put out a large bowl of cut-up fruit and glasses of water. Now he set down what looked like a vegetable frittata and a gooey, delicious-looking coffee cake.

“What is that?” she asked, telling herself not to calculate the calories.

“Sour cream coffee cake. You’ll like it.”

“I’m sure I will. Too much.”

He dismissed her concern with a flick of his fingers. “It’s one breakfast.”

“I was thinking I’d take some with me for later, so it’s two breakfasts.”

“Good.”

They served themselves. The frittata was perfect—light, flavorful and something she could tell herself was healthy—but the coffee cake was the real star.

“What time did you get up?” she asked. “It had to be close to five for you to do all this.”

“I’d prepped it last night, before you came over.”

She’d gotten to his place close to nine, directly from Allison’s house. Unfortunately, thinking the other woman’s name brought back memories of the previous day.

“What?” he asked. “You just thought of something.”

“I don’t want that woman living with me. There. I’ve said it and I’m sure that makes me a horrible person, but I don’t.” She set down her fork. “I feel like my life is a moving train that’s going faster and faster and I don’t know how to jump off. It’s not just Allison, it’s Peter and everyone else.”

“Who else is there?”

She grimaced. “The softball moms. Summer is friends with their daughters.”

He nodded. “She tells her friends and her friends tell their moms. Someone said something.”

“Crystal. She was very nice about it and I don’t care what they think, but you know what’s going to happen.” She changed the pitch of her voice. “Yes, my ex-husband’s second wife has moved in. How droll.”

“You don’t care what they think.”

“I tell myself that. They’re nothing to me. I barely know them and we’re not friends.” She looked at him. “But maybe I care a little. It’s all so complicated.”

His smile was gentle. “You know you don’t have a choice in this. Not anymore. Allison has nowhere to go and Summer wants her to move in.”

“So I should give my daughter everything she wants?”

“This time, yes. It will be difficult and messy and you’ll face questions and gossip, but that’s not the point. It’s the right thing to do, which is your default position. More important, it’s something for Summer to experience. She’ll always remember this. For the rest of her life, you will have done this for her. Years from now, she’ll look back and be in awe of your actions.”

“I wish. My daughter doesn’t feel awe when it comes to me.”

“She will this time.”

Nice words, but she wasn’t sure they were true. She was more inclined to believe that it was the right thing to do. She’d always had trouble walking away from that.

“I want to say no.”

“But you won’t.”

Erica felt the weight of the inevitable on her shoulders. “Did it have to be that woman moving in? Couldn’t I just give her a kidney?”

“You’re unlikely to be a match.”

“But I could offer and that would be my good deed for the year.”

His gaze was steady. “You’ll get through this, and I’ll help as much as you’ll let me.”

She laughed. “You make me sound difficult.”

“In a good way.”

“Why are you so nice to me? I’m not sure I’m worth it.”

“We’re good to each other.”

An evasive answer, she thought, unwilling to push. Right now she was already at her limit with the whole Allison issue.

“I really don’t want her in the house.”

“I know. Let me know the date and I’ll arrange for packers and movers.”

Erica cut herself a large piece of coffee cake. “Ugh. Details. Yes, I’ll need movers, but not just for Allison and Jackson. Summer’s going to move into the Jack and Jill guest bedrooms across the hall. Jackson will take one and she’ll take the other. So all that furniture has to be moved out and hers put in.”

She took a bite of the coffee cake and did her best not to moan. “This is delicious.”

“Thank you. Don’t forget about babyproofing the house.”

“What?”

“Jackson is only going to get faster as he grows. He’ll be into everything.”

She thought of her beautiful home and her comfortable life and that she didn’t even like Allison.

“I don’t want to do this.”

“I know. But you’re going to anyway.”