Chapter 23
“THIS WAS MY MOTHER’S RECIPE,” Susan told Carly as a gentle breeze brought the fragrance of flowers from the yard. “I thought Sam would appreciate something from our childhood.”
“I think he does,” Carly told the older woman. They both glanced over at Sam and Lila, who were taking a tour of the garden.
“I used to garden,” Susan said on a sigh. “Lila’s taken over now, and she does an excellent job. I miss it, but my bones aren’t what they used to be.”
“My mom uses her garden in her art,” Carly said.
“Oh?” Susan turned her bright gaze upon Anita.
“I do, in fact.” She explained her artwork and process, and Susan seemed fascinated.
“I’d love to see your work,” she said, then her brow furrowed. “Or maybe you can send me a photo?”
“I could do that,” Anita said. “Can you travel at all?”
“Not for a long time now...” Susan’s voice trailed off, and her attention redirected to where Sam stood with Lila. They seemed to be in deep conversation about something.
Wyatt came out of the house, where he’d insisted on doing all the cleanup so the others could visit. His gaze held Anita’s for a second as if to silently ask her if things were going all right. She nodded. She’d guessed he needed some time alone to process all that his grandpa had said about his mother not being biologically related to him.
Wyatt moved past the table and walked into the yard on the opposite side of where Sam and Lila stood.
Since Carly seemed perfectly content to chat with Susan, Anita rose and followed Wyatt. She stopped near him where he stood by a fruit tree.
“Are you all right?” she asked in a soft voice. “Your grandpa’s news was a lot to take in.”
Wyatt nodded, then sighed. “I don’t know why it was kept secret. Maybe in their era that was how things were done, but waiting this long? How do I tell my sister?”
“Do you think she’ll be upset?”
“No idea. Shocked, of course.”
It might be a bold move, but Anita wrapped her arms about his waist. Wyatt didn’t hesitate, pulling her into a tight hug.
“I’m sorry for all the hard things going on,” she said.
He rested his chin atop her head. “Thanks for commiserating. I think it’s good to get everything out. To get the truth spoken. I can tell Susan has suffered because of the misunderstandings.”
Anita drew away and dropped her arms. “Maybe this trip will give them both the peace they’re looking for.”
Wyatt’s eyes were steady on hers. “I believe it will.” He glanced over at his grandpa. “I don’t know where everything will go from here—if they’ll stay in touch—but I’m glad we came this weekend.” His gaze returned to Anita. “And I’m glad you came with me.”
She lifted a shoulder. “It’s been great for Carly. She’s made a new best friend.”
Wyatt chuckled. “Looks like it.” He reached for her hand and rubbed his thumb over her skin.
Anita could stay in this spot all day, among the fragrant trees, holding Wyatt’s hand. She could also kiss this man, but now wasn’t the time or the place. Every argument she thought up about dating him quickly died. Carly enjoyed him, and well, Anita enjoyed him too. He’d received a hard blow today, but was handling it with grace. He was attentive and interested in her life. He wasn’t put off by a teenager and seemed to genuinely like Carly. And he wanted what was best for his grandpa.
“Looks like Gramps is taking his spot again next to Susan,” Wyatt said.
She looked over at the patio. Sam settled into the chair next to her and they leaned toward each other. “I can almost imagine them as teenagers.”
Carly laughed at something Lila said.
“Maybe we’re missing out on all the fun,” Wyatt said.
She nudged him. “I’m kind of having fun right here.”
He squeezed her hand. “Me too.”
They spent another hour at Susan’s home, and by the time they headed back to the hotel, Anita could tell Sam was exhausted.
Wyatt aided him out of the car and into the hotel lobby, and they all shuffled along the hall to their rooms.
“What are you going to do now, Sam?” Carly asked. “Visit each other once a month?”
He chuckled. “We’re going to be pen pals. And maybe have a few phone conversations. But I think we both know that we have our separate lives. Have had for a long time.”
Carly frowned. “But she came back for you.”
“She did,” Sam said. “And as sweet and hopeful as that gesture was, I think she was just running from her decision about Clyde. She couldn’t bring herself to not marry him unless she had some grand excuse. She was going to use me as her escape, not because...”
When his voice trailed off, Carly asked, “Because what?”
“Not because she was in love with me the same way I’d been in love with her.” He patted Carly’s arm. “Love is very complicated. And I know, or at least I hope I know, that I would have still chosen Norma. My relationship with Susan was important and full of light when we were together. But we let too many years and decisions come between us—too many times we chose other things over each other. I discovered in my marriage that choosing each other should always come first.” He paused. “I didn’t have that with Susan.”
Carly smiled, although it was a bit of a sad smile. “She’s a nice lady.”
“She is,” Sam agreed.
When they reached their hotel rooms across from each other, Carly asked, “Does anyone want to go swimming?”
“I’ll let you youngsters enjoy the pool,” Sam said. “You should go with them, Wyatt. No use sitting in the hotel room listening to me sleep.” He winked at Carly.
“All right,” he said. “I’ll meet you at the pool in a little bit.”
Carly grinned and turned to their door to unlock it.
“See you soon,” Anita told the men.
Once inside their room, she found her daughter sitting on the edge of her bed, hands folded in her lap. “Did you change your mind about swimming?”
“No...” Carly sighed. “It’s kind of sad to know that there’s not going to be a romance between Sam and Susan.”
Anita gave a short laugh. “What? Was that what you were hoping for?”
“Of course.” Carly folded her arms. “But all the stuff he said seemed right. Is that how it was with you and Dad? You didn’t choose each other, so things fell apart?”
Anita should have expected this question after hearing what Sam had said. “I think Mr. Davis is a wise man, and although we can’t compare relationships to each other, his words hold a lot of truth.”
She seemed to think about this. “I want to call Dad. Do you have his number?”
Anita did, but she was surprised that Carly didn’t have it. “I’ll write it down,” she said, picking up the hotel notepad. She wrote the number and handed it over.
“I know it’s long distance,” Carly said. “But it will be a short phone call.”
“Take whatever time you need.” Anita moved toward the door. “Do you want me to give you some privacy?”
“Okay.”
She stepped out of the room. She decided this was a good thing on Carly’s part, but that didn’t make her any less nervous about her daughter having her feelings hurt...again.
After about ten minutes, the door on the other side of the hallway opened. Wyatt came out, wearing a swimsuit. He had a towel draped over one shoulder. Anita tried not to check him out too much—it was rude, right? But she couldn’t help but notice that all his running had helped in the physique department. She wasn’t one to ogle a man like some of her high school friends did back in the day, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t appreciate Wyatt.
“Oh hi,” he said. “Are you . . . locked out?”
“No.” She felt her skin heat, and she tried to keep her focus on his face. “Carly’s speaking to Bobby, so I’m giving her some privacy.”
“Oh.” His brow furrowed, and she loved that he was concerned with the news. “Everything okay?”
“I think so.” Anita shrugged. “Your grandpa’s experience brought up some questions, I guess.”
Wyatt moved to her side of the hallway. “I think I was surprised—I mean, I wondered if this reunion would become a spark. I guess I was both worried and kind of happy for him—if, you know, there was going to be a love story.”
“Yeah . . . but I think they both got a lot of answers.”
He nodded, his gaze perusing her. “Still planning on swimming?”
“As far as I know.” Anita smiled. “I’m not really a swimsuit person, you know, since I’m not a runner like you.”
Wyatt’s brows raised. “What does that even mean?”
“It means that when we go to the pool, I read, and Carly swims,” she said. “It also means that I’ve worn the same swimsuit for like ten years.”
He smirked. “There’s no swimsuit competition going on here.” Then he paused. “That’s not how I meant it.”
“What did you mean?” she teased.
“I mean...” His gaze captured hers. “Whatever you wear, now or at a pool, you’ll look beautiful.”
She waved a hand. “You’re just trying to butter me up to go on more road trips with you and your grandpa.”
Wyatt laughed. “Yeah, that’s totally it.”
He was closer now, and Anita could practically feel the warmth radiating off his bare torso.
“For the record,” he said in a quieter tone, “I just like being with you. Road trip or not. But I would like to take you to dinner after this trip. The two of us—if that would be okay with Carly?”
“I think it would be okay,” she said, her stomach doing flips. “Would this dinner have a purpose?”
“Besides eating?” Wyatt asked. “It would.”
Anita waited.
“It would be the first of many, I hope?” His mouth curved into a smile. “I like you, and I think you like me too. And maybe...” His fingers grasped hers. “Maybe you’d let me kiss you?”
Her stomach did a full somersault. “That’s a possibility.” She inched closer. “But why wait?”
Wyatt’s brows lifted, then his eyes grew intense. “You don’t mind a hotel hallway?”
“I don’t.” It was the truth.
His smile grew, and his other hand slipped to her waist.
Anita wasn’t sure what she was expecting or hoping for when Wyatt kissed her, but it wasn’t supposed to be on her cheek.
“Hey,” she protested.
He drew away, a grin on his face. “When I kiss you for real, it’s not going to be when we could be interrupted at any moment.”
She’d opened her mouth to reply, when the door opened behind her.
“All done,” Carly said, her eyes bright as she looked from Anita to Wyatt. Their hands were still linked, so there was no hiding what was going on. “Ready to go swimming?”
“Ready,” Wyatt said in a cheerful tone.
“We’ll meet you there in a few minutes.” Anita released his hand and headed into the room with her daughter.
Shutting the door, Carly spun and asked, “Were you guys kissing?”
“No,” she said immediately. “We were talking about it, though.”
Carly laughed. “Mom . . . you like him.”
“I do,” Anita replied, but she didn’t really want this to be the topic of conversation when her head was buzzing with all that Wyatt had said. “What happened with the phone call with your dad? How did it go?”
Carly shrugged. “It was fine. He’s not going to visit next week, which I’m not surprised about. But we agreed to talk on the phone every week.”
“Are you okay with that?”
“Yeah,” she said. “I don’t really know him, and I don’t want to all of a sudden be dealing with awkward visits.”
Anita blew out a breath. “Is there anything I can do?”
Carly raised her brows. “Get changed. I want to go swimming.”
Anita smiled. Everything about this trip had been amazing, even with the harder things. Her relationship with Carly had matured and felt stronger than ever. She was handling her absent dad situation with grace. Sam and Susan had found closure. And Wyatt...he was quickly finding a place in her heart, and she didn’t feel afraid about it.
Twenty minutes later, Carly and Wyatt were swimming against each other in some sort of very short lap race, and Anita sat on the edge of the hot tub.
She smiled when they finished, and somehow Carly was declared the winner even though from Anita’s viewpoint, Wyatt had finished several feet ahead of her.
“I’m beat,” he said, hoisting himself out of the pool. Dripping with water, he walked toward the hot tub.
Anita had trouble keeping her eyes off of his long frame and defined physique, but to be fair, Wyatt was looking at her too. “Nice swimsuit,” he said.
“Is that a joke?” she asked.
He chuckled. “No. Like I told you, you look beautiful in anything.”
Anita glanced down at her very basic black swimsuit with a sweetheart neckline. It was a bit frayed, but swimming wasn’t really her thing, so why should she invest in it?
Wyatt slipped into the hot tub. “Are you coming in?”
She moved lower in the water until she was sitting on the protruding bench.
A young family arrived at the pool, and the two young kids immediately started talking to Carly and asking her questions.
“Looks like Carly has some fans,” Wyatt said.
“She loves little kids.” Anita moved her fingers along the surface of the bubbling water. “I’ve always felt a little bit guilty that she doesn’t have any siblings. I mean, not that I wanted another baby with Bobby. But for Carly’s sake, she would have been a great big sister.”
“I get it,” Wyatt said, his gaze moving to those in the pool. “Does she babysit other families?”
“Once in a while.”
Somehow they’d migrated closer together, and their conversation felt almost private.
“I think a couple of kids would have been great, at least at one point,” Wyatt said. “I’m probably too old now.”
Anita scoffed. “Men don’t age out like women do.”
The edge of his mouth lifted. “True. Would you ever consider having more children, you know, if you found the right man?”
She knew her face had heated up, and not from the hot tub. “I don’t think so. I mean, I’m thirty-five and would be considered high risk.”
Wyatt didn’t seem fazed at her reply, so she wasn’t sure what all he meant.
“So . . . tell me about the woman who broke your heart.”
He raised his arms and rested them on the edge of the hot tub. “Cynthia was a concert pianist. She also had an ex-husband she was still in love with. After we broke up, she went back to him, or maybe it was the other way around.”
“Ouch,” Anita said.
“Yeah, ouch.” He held her gaze. “It was rough, but I think you’ve had it a bit rougher.”
“Heartbreak can’t be measured.” She turned toward him more. “I’m sorry for what she put you through.”
“I always thought I’d meet someone a lot earlier in my life and marry. You know, the traditional life.”
Anita smiled. “Nothing’s really traditional in life. At least not for everyone.”
“True.” Wyatt ran his fingers over her shoulder, and goose bumps dotted her skin.
In this moment, she wished they weren’t surrounded by other people at a hotel pool. She wished it were just the two of them. On the other hand, she wouldn’t trade these moments of Carly enjoying herself on a weekend trip and Sam finding closure on his past.