Chapter 29 #2
He took his hat off and ran his hands through his hair. And as if he could sense his owner’s discomfort, Wayne got up and rested his head on Josh’s knee.
“I thought the baby was mine,” he said softly. “I was thrilled. Read the books, bought all the stuff. All while she drifted farther apart.
“After her first ultrasound appointment, when we could see the baby, hear its heartbeat, Allie broke down. Told me she had been having an affair with her boss and that the baby was his.”
The admission knocked all the air out of my lungs.
Josh had always worshipped our father. Wanting to be just like him, settling down with the love of his life and having a houseful of kids.
He was a wonderful uncle to Jenn’s and Jess’s kids and led school field trips around the farm, teaching students about maple sugaring.
“It almost killed me,” he rasped. “That the woman I loved had cheated and then had led me to believe she was carrying my baby.”
“But it could have been.”
“That’s what I thought. Hoped, really. So we did testing.” He hung his head. “It wasn’t mine.”
I swallowed past the lump in my throat. “So that’s why you left.”
He looked up at me, tears in his eyes. “I wish it was that easy. I had a breakdown first. Blew up my career, my life, my finances. But this place.” He scanned the trees.
“It saved me, gave me a purpose. Helping Mom, helping Uncle Ed and Aunt Suzie out so they could finally retire, it was what I was meant to do. This land and this farm mean so much to our family and this town. Spending my life here is a privilege.”
I nodded, even as I choked on the guilt and sadness pummeling me. “I agree,” I said softly when I found my voice. “But it’s okay to want more too.”
He shook his head and uncapped his water and took a swig. “I’m good. This place and Wayne are all I need.”
With a huff, he stood and started to clean up.
“Should we work on the west side next?” I asked as I did the same.
“Not today. I’ve got to go over to the cabin and fix a few things.”
“Did you finally list it on Airbnb?”
Josh had put months of work into an old cabin on the property, transforming it into a bright and comfortable home for Jess and her daughters. They’d planned on moving here last summer, and he’d put in a ton of effort to make the place perfect for them.
But plans changed. Jess met Brian, and her oldest, Kit, was accepted into a prestigious music school in New York, so they decided to stay. They spent summers here, but rather than take over the cabin, they were converting Mom’s old barn into their dream house.
So the cabin mostly sat empty. Aside from the odd guest now and again, like the Glovers.
“No. But Callie’s been hounding me. Apparently the school hired a woman from out of town for the upcoming school year, and she’s looking for a house to rent starting next month.”
“All the way out here?”
“Yeah. Sounds like she’s got kids, so she wants room for them to play outside rather than trying to cram into an apartment in town.”
Lips pressed together, I nodded. “Sounds like a good deal for the both of you.”
Josh stretched. “Not really. I still don’t love the idea of having tenants. But Callie is insistent. And the other night, I was at the brewery, and Faith started in on me. According to her, the school is desperate to fill this spot. They really need her to take the job.”
“I wouldn’t cross them.” I chuckled. “You know teachers. They are ruthless and organized.”
“True. And the last thing I need is the Maple Street Mafia joining forces with them and making my life hell.”
I grinned. Fearing a cabal of Patagonia-clad old ladies was the stuff of pure Vermont small-town life.
“Can I help?”
“Nah, go back to Evie and Vincent. Enjoy your time with them.”
I coiled the tubing and put the tools away, then got my ATV packed. “Didn’t think I’d ever hear you say you were proud of me,” I teased.
Head down, Josh packed up his own tools. “Didn’t say I was, dumbass. Just said Dad would be.” He sighed, and under his breath, he added, “But yeah, I am proud of you.”
A lightness grew in my chest. “Guess we’re both growing.”
“Suppose so. Now don’t let it go to your head.”
I headed back to the barn and got my things put away quickly, eager to get back to Evie. I had to work tonight, but a couple hours with her and Vincent would do me some good. When I’d woken up in her bed this morning, my world had felt completely right.
As I exited the barn, I was hit with a whiff of my own sweat, so I headed for the house, figuring I’d grab a shower and clean clothes before driving back into town.
I was approaching the door to the mudroom when a familiar red Jeep rolled up and parked, and my cousin hopped out.
“Hey, Gabe.”
He was dressed in his customary slacks and dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up. It was hotter than Hades out, yet he looked totally cool.
Maybe it was a skill he’d learned in law school, because after a morning outside, my T-shirt had liquefied against my skin.
“Glad you’re here.” He gave me a big white smile. “Got those papers we discussed. Though Brian did a lot of the work, since I’ve been dealing with town stuff.”
Confused, I stepped toward him. “Papers?”
“Yeah, I’ve been driving around with them for days. Just haven’t had time to drop them by. Figured I’d eventually run into you.”
He held out a dark brown stretchy folder.
“There are petitions in there.” He nodded at the file. “Some printouts regarding Vermont law and paternal rights. Child support guidelines. And the request for a paternity test.”
The folder suddenly felt like a cinderblock, its weight too much to carry.
“I don’t need this,” I said, pushing it toward him.
Rather than take it, he ran his hands through his hair. “I have a call with the governor in an hour. I don’t have time to discuss this again. Read through it. Think about it. You don’t have to do anything right now. But promise you’ll read everything.”
The stress etched into the lines on his face was hard to miss. My cousin was overwhelmed. Shit. With the murder still unsolved, of course he had more important things to worry about. And he and Brian had done all this free legal work for me.
“Of course,” I said, tucking it under my arm. “I’ll read through it, but I’m not ready to make any decisions yet.”
He clapped me on the shoulder. “Great. Text me with questions. I gotta find Josh.”
He took off at a light jog toward the main barn, leaving me in the dusty driveway, confused and frustrated.
I ambled over to my car and tucked the folder under the passenger side visor. I’d read through it tomorrow during my downtime at work. I also had more important things to do right now, mainly visiting my girl and my son.