Chapter 15
ANITA HADN’T REALIZED SHE’D MISS Wyatt Davis so much. For the past two weeks, she and Carly had visited Mr. Davis, but never when Wyatt was there. He’d called once, about a week ago, just to say he was still waiting for the mailings to come from Nevada. They’d agreed that when it arrived, they’d set another time to get together.
Phyllis had brought up Wyatt at their shared lunches, when they were sitting on the back patio overlooking one of their gardens. But Anita maintained they were friends and that she didn’t have any extra information to offer. Besides, she wasn’t going to spill any of the thoughts circulating in her head about the man anyway.
But when the phone rang a short time after one of the lunches, she answered to hear Wyatt’s voice on the phone. She knew immediately why he’d called.
“You received records from the city office?” she asked.
“I did.” Wyatt’s voice was warm, deep, and made her stomach do a little somersault.
“Anything look interesting?”
“It’s hard to tell without making the calls,” he said. “But there’s more here than I expected.”
“Ms. Anderson really came through,” Anita mused.
He chuckled. “She really did.” He paused. “What’s your schedule like in the next few days?”
She walked over to the calendar on the wall. She knew the schedule, but looking at the date boxes with the handwritten details in them helped her focus. “Carly started in the school band and has practice three days a week after school.”
“Oh, that’s great she’s involved with band. What does she play?”
Anita smiled at his enthusiasm. “Uh, the french horn for now. It’s all new. She’s doing it with those new friends she made.”
“Were you in band?”
“No.” She laughed. “I was an art geek. What about you?”
“Uh, no musical talent for me.”
She waited, and when he didn’t continue, she said, “What did you do in high school?”
She heard his sigh on the other end. “Cross country.”
She could easily picture him running. He probably still ran. That would explain his lean physique. “Oh, do you still run?”
“I do.”
“I don’t think you could pay me to run for fun,” she said, twisting the phone cord around her fingers. “The last time I ran was for a PE class in high school.”
“You probably didn’t give it a chance,” he said. “The more you run, the more you want to do it.”
“That makes no sense.”
Wyatt laughed, warm and deep. “It’s too hard to convince someone unless they actually try it.”
Anita found herself smiling. “I hope you don’t think I’m willing to be your guinea pig, because I’m not.”
“Suit yourself.”
She was still smiling when she hung up with Wyatt. They’d agreed to meet that afternoon. Carly wouldn’t have band, so it would work out time-wise. It wasn’t that she had to be with them, but she’d be upset if she were left out. She’d asked multiple times over the past two weeks for updates.
Anita grabbed her keys and decided some grocery shopping was in order. Just in case Wyatt stayed for dinner again. She headed to the store, grateful for the sunny day. Everything seemed brighter for some reason. The colors of the vibrant green bushes, the scarlet blooms, a shiny sky-blue car...She didn’t realize she was smiling to herself until an older woman pushing a cart full of potato rolls greeted her in the grocery aisle.
“You’re having a good day,” the woman said in a friendly tone.
She blinked. “I guess I am.”
The woman nodded and continued on her way. Anita looked about the aisle, not sure what exactly she wanted to fix for dinner. She headed to the meats section and decided on stir fry. She had the time to marinate the meat. Next, she picked up salad fixings, then paused by the bin with corn on the cob. She wondered if Wyatt liked corn. She picked up a few, deciding that most people liked corn.
“Anita?” a man said from behind her.
The back of her neck prickled. She’d know that voice anywhere. Yet it was impossible to hear it in her local grocery store. Maybe she’d misheard another person talking.
“It is you,” the man continued, coming around the other side of the bin.
Anita’s heart sank as she looked into the brown eyes of her ex-husband. “Bobby?”
“Robert. I go by Robert now.” His brows pulled together as he studied her.
She studied him right back. His dark brown hair was short, with a hint of gray at the temples. He wore a brand-name golf shirt that sat snug around his stomach paunch, revealing the weight he’d gained over the years, but clearly he’d never changed his shirt size. A gold chain winked at his neck, and he wore one of those watches that looked expensive. Even from here, she could smell his dose of cologne. It had been a long time since she’d seen this man...how long exactly? Ten years.
“What are you doing in . . . Seattle?” she managed to ask.
“You’re looking really good, Anita.” Bobby’s open gaze perused her as if he had all the time in the world to be staring at her in a grocery store.
“What are you doing in Seattle?” she repeated.
His eyes flicked back to her face, and he flashed his white smile. “I’m visiting my parents.”
She nodded and gripped the handle of her shopping cart. “How are they?”
“Fine.” His brows quirked. “Where’s Carly?”
She felt immediately annoyed by the question. “She’s at school, Bobby. With all the other kids her age.”
“Right, right.” He rubbed a hand over his chin, which had some stubble.
She’d forgotten him always saying his little catchphrase of Right, right.
“Are you single?”
Anita opened her mouth, then closed it. This man had no right to any information about her personal life. Especially not after completely disappearing from Carly’s life. Instead of answering, she said, “Are you still married?”
His gaze flicked with something unreadable. “Gloria and I are separated.”
Gloria... had Anita ever known his second wife’s name? “Sorry to hear that,” she said stiffly. How else was she supposed to reply?
“You didn’t answer my question.” He gave that white smile again—the one in which he expected to always get his way.
Why couldn’t there be some sort of interruption? Maybe another person needing to pick out corn? Or an announcement about a sale on cucumbers coming over the PA system? Or maybe she could have arrived at the store fifteen minutes later and avoided all of this. “I’m still single,” she said.
He nodded as if he weren’t surprised at all. “That makes things easier,” he said, moving a few steps around the corn bin.
“Makes what easier?”
“Visiting Carly,” Bobby said. “I miss her.”
Anita wanted to laugh. Or cry. “How long has that been going on?”
He cocked his head. “What? Missing my daughter? I’ve missed her since the day we parted ways.”
Anita folded her arms. “Carly hasn’t seen you in ten years, Bobby. And don’t tell me a couple of cruddy birthday cards count.”
For the first time, he looked uncomfortable. His brows tugged together as he rubbed the back of his neck. “Things have been very busy and complicated. I’m sure you understand.”
“Not really.” Anita’s mind raced as she wondered what Bobby was really about. Was he going to contact Carly, then ditch her again? Would it be better if there were no contact at all? Anita didn’t have the legal right to keep them apart since they technically had joint custody, although he’d never taken his half seriously.
“I’ve never skipped child support,” he continued. “So you can’t paint me as a deadbeat dad.”
Anita had so many responses to that, but she only spoke one of them. “Carly doesn’t even know you, and you don’t know her. So I guess that speaks for itself.”
Bobby’s gaze shifted to the floor. Had she really gotten through to him? And if he missed their daughter so much, why had he been so AWOL? When he raised his gaze, she saw a flash of who he used to be when they were younger. She pushed back any affectionate memories.
“Look, when I was with Gloria and her kids, things were tricky. If I even brought up visiting Carly, I’d get the cold shoulder for days. And when I came to visit my parents, she came too. I could have at least sent more cards, but I kept hoping I could visit in person.”
Anita stared at him for a moment, wondering if he was sincere. Was she supposed to believe that Gloria was so cruel as to keep a man from his kid?
Bobby lifted a hand. He still wore his wedding ring. “Look, why don’t I give you my parents’ number. You can talk to Carly, and if she wants to see me, have her call me. That way we can go by her schedule.”
It actually sounded kind of fair. Anita would never keep Carly away from her own father, but there were definitely going to be emotions. And she would support her daughter’s decision; she was old enough to know her own mind.
“All right.”
Bobby’s expression brightened, and his smile returned. “Great. Let me find something to write the number on.” He fished a wallet out of his back pocket.
“It’s fine,” Anita said. “I already know that number. Unless it’s changed?”
He paused. “No, it’s the same. In fact, nothing about their house has changed. Not the furniture, not the faded pink flamingos in the flower beds, and not the bent red flag on the mailbox.”
Anita shared a smile with him, something she didn’t know was still possible. “How are they? Still healthy?” It was a personal question, she knew, but she wanted as much information about Bobby and his family as possible before turning Carly over to them.
“Mom’s great. Staying busy as usual fussing over everything and everyone. Dad has diabetes now, so he’s trying to adjust to that. He’s not much for exercise, so Mom’s trying to get him to take walks about the neighborhood when it’s not raining.”
“What about mall walking?”
“Mall walking?” He stared at her as if she’d suddenly broken out into a foreign language.
“Yes, it’s popular with seniors,” Anita said. “The malls open extra early for people who want to walk the mall. The stores aren’t open yet, but you don’t have to worry about weather issues.”
“Interesting,” he said. “I had no idea.”
She shrugged. “Your dad might like it.”
“Thanks, I’ll tell him about it.” Bobby paused. “I might be the one driving them to the mall. Neither of them like to drive too far out of town.”
“I understand.”
Bobby seemed to run out of steam, or conversation. He suddenly looked antsy, shifting from one foot to the other. “I’ve got to get back home.” He nodded to the basket at his feet with a few groceries inside. “Mom is waiting.”
A surreal moment to be sure, since when they were in high school, the last place Bobby spent any time was home. His parents were strict and conventional and stuffy. They’d never liked Anita—an artist—but she also knew that their divorce was completely disgraceful in their eyes.
“I’ll talk to Carly and let you know what she says,” she said, even though she dreaded the conversation with her daughter. Maybe it would be all right, though. Years had passed, and soon enough Carly would be an adult and would have to eventually figure out her relationship with her father.
“Thank you, I appreciate it,” Bobby said in a perfectly polite tone. His gaze moved over her for a few seconds. “It was great to see you, Anita. I’m glad you’re doing well.”
He hadn’t even asked her how she was doing and didn’t ask her anything personal. She wasn’t surprised, and she didn’t want to tell him anything personal either. He’d always been that way—only focused on his own interests and needs. She supposed that in high school she was charmed by his daredevil personality. He was good-looking, and half the girls in school had a crush on him. So Anita had been flattered when he picked her out of the crowd.
A short time into their marriage, she realized he was really only interested in her when she made him look good or complimented him. He’d been attracted to her artsy personality since it was so opposite of his own upbringing, and he probably knew it would drive his parents crazy. Which it had.
Having a baby and wife at home had been too restricting. Too boring. He’d started to prioritize his friends over her, and that’s when things between them crumbled. She grew up, and he didn’t. That he’d married another woman with a kid was kind of ironic. Except Gloria lived the fast life too. Apparently she was all right with nannies and babysitters—not to further a career or go on a couple’s vacation with her husband, but to live a full nightlife as if she didn’t have a kid who needed a parent.
Anita knew she shouldn’t judge, but she supposed she was anyway. Especially because it was that type of mindset that had broken up her marriage. Or at least in part. If it weren’t for Carly missing out on a father, she would have been happy to have her relationship with Bobby over. Their dating in high school was fun and exciting, but for her, that didn’t translate to the rigors of adult life and responsibility.
Still...as Bobby walked away, she could see how much he’d changed. Physically especially. They all aged at some point, Anita decided. They all matured, and hopefully for the better. Maybe he would follow through with Carly. Maybe they could have a new beginning.
Turning back to the produce section, she stood for a few moments, unseeing. Emotions warred in her chest, and she couldn’t remember what she was planning on fixing for dinner. Then she remembered the corn. She loaded up on a few ears. She could do something normal like fixing dinner. And tonight, after Wyatt left, she would have a talk with Carly.
Somehow the rest of the afternoon passed, and it was time for Wyatt to arrive at her house. He was on time, and she found herself analyzing him as he came up the walk, carrying a box. She liked him, she knew that. Was this how it was with Bobby when she first met him? No, she told herself. Bobby had been a flashy personality—popular at school. Wyatt was subdued, serious, solid. Bobby wore his heart on his sleeve, whereas Wyatt showed his heart through his actions, his concern.
“Stop comparing them,” Anita scolded herself in a fierce whisper.
She opened the door for Wyatt, and he carried in the box.
“Wow, it is a lot of stuff,” she said.
“Yeah, I was surprised too.” He paused in the entryway, his eyes locking on her. “How’s your week going?”
“All right.” She knew it was just a casual question, but Wyatt always seemed to see her. To listen to her. To want to know more. “How was your week?”
“Better now.” He lifted the box a couple of inches. “Should I put this on the kitchen table?”
“Yes, sure.” She shut the door and followed him into the kitchen, where he set the box down.
He began pulling out folders. “Smells good in here.”
“Oh.” Anita moved to the other side of the table. “I have some meat marinating, so you’re probably smelling the sauce. It’s pretty strong.”
“Ah.” He fished out another folder.
“And you’re welcome to stay for dinner,” she said. “Carly will probably ask you.”
Wyatt set down the folder he held, the edge of his mouth lifting. “You don’t have to feed me.”
She gave a small shrug. “I don’t mind. The more the merrier.”
“I should have brought something. Dessert, at least.”
“It’s fine. I’m actually making a new recipe. Something I’ve wanted to try for a while. And the portion is too much for two people.”
Wyatt’s brows raised. “I’m happy to be your taste tester anytime.”
Anita might be blushing, even though she knew he wasn’t teasing her that way.
“Hey, is everything all right?” he asked suddenly. “If tonight’s not a good time, we can reschedule.”
“Oh yeah, things are fine.”
“Are you all right?” he pressed. “You seem . . . stressed?”
She folded her arms because her hands felt shaky, and her heart was beating too hard. Would it be terrible to tell Wyatt what happened today? Maybe it would be good to have an outsider’s opinion. It wasn’t something she’d discuss with any of her neighbors or clients. “I ran into Carly’s dad today. We haven’t seen or heard from him in years. He’s back in town staying at his parents’.”
“Wow. That’s a lot.”
“Yeah, and he wants to see Carly. So I’m telling her tonight.” Anita didn’t mean for the tears to fall. She hadn’t cried over Bobby in a long time.
“Hey,” Wyatt said in a soft voice. He walked around the table and pulled her into his arms.
She hadn’t expected him to hug her, and she hadn’t known how badly she needed a hug. Someone’s arms holding her, someone caring about how she felt, someone comforting her. It was nice.
“Sorry,” she whispered, wiping at her eyes. “I didn’t expect to blubber about it.”
He gave a soft chuckle. “You can blubber on me anytime.”
Anita drew away and met his gaze. “I’m sure you don’t mean that, but you’re very gallant for offering.”
Wyatt released her, smoothing a bit of hair from her face before stepping away. “Gallantry has nothing to do with my offer. I’ve been heartbroken before, so I want you to know there’s no judgment on my part. These things take time.”