Chapter Twenty-Four
“L iam?” His mother wore her favorite coat, an ancient shearling that she swore was still warm. Liam didn’t think so. He thought she wore it because it was the last Christmas present she’d gotten from his father.
“Yeah, Mom. I’m with Blackjack.” Grooming his big stallion who had been very frisky lately. He and Val had talked about breeding him to Starlight once she was ready.
His mom came into the stall and watched him for a little while. She had a bit of a speculative look on her face. “At first I worried about you and Val. I hadn’t ever seen any evidence that you were in love with her. I was sure she was in love with you but—”
“Wait a minute. You thought Val was in love with me? Before we got married?”
“Oh, Liam, it was obvious. I’m sure I’m not the only one who knew. That girl always thought you hung the moon.”
He didn’t know what to say. Val loved him? Had loved him for a long time? Why didn’t he know? Why hadn’t he realized it? And if she did love him, why hadn’t she said anything when he’d told her he loved her?
“I was worried about you. You didn’t act like you were in love. Until recently.”
Because he hadn’t been. Not at first. But it hadn’t taken him long to fall for her hook, line, and sinker. Even though it had taken him much longer to admit it to himself.
“You are in love with Val, aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
“Then why do I feel like something’s wrong?”
“Let me finish up here and I’ll meet you inside.”
“So, there is a story.”
“Yeah.” Not one that he could tell her, though. Still, he had to tell her something.
When he went up to the house a short time later, he found Maureen in the kitchen. Velma had gone grocery shopping so they were alone.
“I need coffee,” Maureen said. “Do you want a cup?”
“Thanks.” What he really needed was a stiff shot of whiskey but since it wasn’t even noon that wasn’t happening.
His mother poured two cups, left one black and doctored hers with milk and sugar, and brought them to the table.
Liam took a big sip, burning his mouth in the process. “Val’s been having some trouble with a man she dated before we married.” His hands fisted. He hadn’t seen Harvey yet, but when he did, the first thing he was going to do was punch him for talking shit about Val, not to mention putting his hands on her.
“You look like you want to kill him. Or punch him at the least.”
“I do. I’m going to have a talk with him and explain that Val is married to me, and he needs to leave her the hell alone.”
“You didn’t love Val at first, did you?”
He didn’t answer her.
“Why did you marry her, Liam?”
“I had my reasons.” Reasons he wasn’t ready to tell his mother.
“How do you feel now? Was it a mistake marrying her?”
He shook his head. “Not for me. I love her.” He drank more coffee. “I didn’t expect or even want to fall in love again. After Caroline, I figured it wouldn’t ever happen again. Didn’t want to, honestly. But then I married Val and within a couple of weeks I was totally gone over her. I hadn’t expected it.”
“Does she know?”
“I told her, but she didn’t believe me. Maybe because she doesn’t want to believe it because she’s not in love with me.”
Maureen shook her head and laughed. “I had no idea you were so dense. Of course she loves you. And since you love each other you’ll work out the other problems.”
“Love conquers all, huh?”
“Yes.”
“What about you and Clint?”
Before she could answer someone knocked on the kitchen door. Liam got up to answer it. “Speak of the devil,” he said, when he saw who stood there. “Guess who’s here?” He opened the door wider to let him in.
Cowboy hat in hand, Clint stepped inside. “I missed you something fierce,” he said to Maureen. “I thought I could live without you.” He shook his head. “I can. But I sure as hell don’t want to.”
Liam started to leave but he was curious about what was going to happen, and they weren’t paying any attention to him, so he didn’t.
Maureen stood. Her expression was one he hadn’t seen on her face in a long, long time. Pure happiness. “I missed you too. So much.”
“Then for God’s sake, Maureen, marry me.”
“I will.”
“When?”
“As soon as you want.”
Clint stepped forward and swept her into his arms. Liam decided he didn’t need to stay for more.
*
Liam tracked Trent down at his apartment. The rumors were going to persist. Trent thought he wanted to claim the baby, but that was because he hated Liam. Otherwise he’d bet the bastard wouldn’t have ever stepped up. Liam wondered if the man knew what claiming the baby entailed. He’d bet the ranch he didn’t.
Liam suspected Val wouldn’t have asked for child support either, especially given the way Trent had acted originally. She’d told Liam before they married that she wanted nothing to do with the man.
“What are you doing here?” Trent asked when he opened the door.
“We need to talk.” Not waiting for a reply, he shoved open the door and stepped inside.
“The only thing we have to talk about is you staying the hell away from my kid. If you think you’re going to raise my kid, think again.”
“Why do you care? You sure as hell didn’t when Val first told you.”
“Why are you so anxious to claim my kid? You can’t seem to keep a woman, so you moved in on Val when she told you her sob story. Did she tell you I didn’t want the kid?”
“She said she told you, and you questioned whether it was yours and told her to get lost.”
“She was lying.”
He couldn’t help it. He laughed. “She told me the whole story. You’re the liar, not Val. But all that is beside the point.” They were still standing but Liam didn’t plan to stay long, anyway.
“What is the point?” Trent sneered.
“Val’s having a baby. I want to raise the baby with her. Since you’re the bio dad you have rights. But responsibility goes along with those rights.”
“What does that mean?”
“You realize if you do claim the baby you’ll have to prove it. Which means you’ll have to pay a lawyer and take Val to court. Even if you get a judge to sign off on it, Val doesn’t have to have a paternity test done until after the baby is born.” He let that sink in before adding, “Have you even talked to a lawyer? Do you have any clue what a lawyer’s hourly charges are?” Even in Marietta they wouldn’t be cheap. Marina had given them a break, but the price still was nothing to sneeze at.
“I haven’t had time.”
Bullshit. But he let that pass. “Once you prove paternity did you know you’ll be responsible for child support?” He could tell by Trent’s expression that he hadn’t thought about that. “Child support. Every month. For eighteen years.”
Trent stared at him.
“Have you thought about the baby? About what’s best for the baby?”
“I’m the father. I’m what’s best.”
Not a chance. “Do you plan to ask for shared custody?”
“What I do is none of your business.”
“You’re wrong about that. I’m married to Val. And until the baby is born and paternity is established, the baby is legally mine. So yeah, it is my business.”
“From what I hear you and Val got married about five minutes after she told me about the kid. Which means you only married her because she was pregnant. With my baby.”
“The baby you denied was yours. Think about it, Trent. Do you have any idea how to care for a child? Do you really want a child? Or are you just mad because you don’t want me to have something you consider yours?” He was thinking of the land. He bet Trent was too. He walked to the door. “Think carefully before you do something you can’t undo. And one other thing. Stop telling people Val is pregnant and you’re the father. Not everyone knows she’s pregnant and we’d like to keep it that way.”
“Why should I?”
“Because I asked you to. If you continue, I’ll have to say you’re lying. Now who do you think people around here will believe?” He knew his credit was a lot better than Trent’s.
He couldn’t guarantee Trent would listen to him but at least he’d tried.