Chapter 27
Chapter
Twenty-Seven
Over the past few days, Lana had tried to act as if she were fine and nothing had changed. Apparently, she sucked at faking happiness. Jasmine and Brittany tiptoed around her with sympathetic expressions, and even the most rambunctious kids behaved.
By Friday she was a basket case, in need of a friendly ear. After a quick SOS to Kate, she went directly from work to her friend’s apartment for pizza and sympathy.
“Our dinner should be here soon,” Kate said when she let Lana in. “Sit down and tell me what’s wrong.”
Out of habit, Lana placed her hand over her stomach, but even the beloved child growing inside failed to bring her comfort.
Kate’s eyes widened a fraction before she gave Lana a stricken look. “You’re okay, right?”
“The baby is fine,” Lana assured her, and counted her blessings that at least that part of her life was going well.
“That’s good.” Her friend blew out a big breath. “So, what’s the matter?”
Where to begin? “For starters, I’m in love with Sly.”
“That’s obvious. He wants to be part of the baby’s life, right? He even showed up at your doctor’s appointment the other day. You can’t ask for more than that from a commitment-phobe. We haven’t touched base since before the appointment. How’d it go?”
“Great. Sly and I got along so well that after the doctor’s appointment, he invited me to his ranch and showed me around. He fed me dinner, too. He doesn’t do that with just anyone.”
“No wonder we haven’t talked all week. Sounds to me as if Mr. Single is getting serious. Go on.”
“We had sex.”
Kate gave her a funny look. “He disappointed you?”
Lana shook her head. “Sly is the best lover I’ve ever had.”
“Lucky you. That sounds pretty darned perfect. So, what’s the problem?”
“Everything was wonderful—then my mother phoned.”
“You answered her call when you were with Sly? Are you nuts?”
“I’m beginning to think I might be.” Lana gnawed on her thumbnail, or what was left of it. “We were in the kitchen, grabbing a snack.” They’d been happy and relaxed. “It was later than she usually calls, and I was worried.”
She wished she could go back in time and switch off her phone or at least ignore the call. Unfortunately, that was impossible. “It wasn’t an emergency. She wanted to tell me that someone had poisoned Cousin Tim’s cows. One even died. My cousin is blaming Sly and countersuing.”
“No.” Kate’s jaw dropped. “Sly would never do anything like that!”
Lana envied her friend’s instant certainty. If she’d reacted with the same outrage, Tuesday night would’ve ended very differently.
“That’s a pretty sad face you’re making,” Kate commented. “Things can’t be that bad.”
“You haven’t heard the whole story yet.” Lana’s head hurt, and she massaged her temples. “I really screwed up, Kate. When I heard about the poisoning, I couldn’t help but wonder whether Sly had done it.”
“After all the great things you’ve said about him, you really believe he’d do something like that?”
“Not in my heart. It was sort of a gut reaction.”
Kate shook her head. “And you said this to Sly?”
“I didn’t have to. He saw my face, and you know, what an open book that is.” Dropping her head to her hands, Lana groaned. “It was horrible of me to suspect him, even for a moment.”
Wonderful friend that Kate was, she didn’t comment, instead sat quietly and waited for Lana to pour out the rest of the miserable story.
Lana gave her all the awful details. “I’d do anything to change those seconds of doubt,” she concluded. “I wish there was a way I could convince Sly that I believe in him, and that I’m absolutely certain he would never do what my cousin is accusing him of.”
“You didn’t ask for my opinion, but if I were you, I’d tell him what you just told me. If he’s as good a man as you claim, he’s bound to forgive you.”
“You weren’t there. The way he looked at me.
..” With shuttered eyes and a cool disdain, as if he were seeing her for the first time and didn’t like the woman he saw.
She wanted to sob. “Trust doesn’t come easy to him, but I’m pretty sure he was beginning to trust me.
And I blew everything by not trusting him.
I hurt him, Kate.” She hung her head. “I lost my chance with him.”
Now Kate became glum, too. “There must be something you can do.”
For the life of her, Lana couldn’t come up with anything. “Like what?”
“Well...” Kate tapped her finger to her lips and appeared pensive. “Invite him over and cook his favorite foods. Then apologize and swear you’ll always believe in him.”
“He’s angry at me. I doubt he’d come. Besides, words and a meal wouldn’t prove anything.
It has to be something important.” An idea popped into her mind that she needed to test on Kate.
“What if I go to my parents’ house right now and tell them about Sly?
Then I could drive over to Cousin Tim’s and convince him that Sly would never hurt his animals. ”
“Great idea,” Kate said. “It’s about time your parents knew about you and Sly. As for your cousin, he doesn’t strike me as a man easily swayed by anyone else’s opinion. How will Sly even know you went to bat for him?”
Lana wasn’t about to let that stop her. “I’ll pound on Sly’s door and make him listen. If I want a chance with him, I have to restore his trust in me and prove that I trust him.”
“Wow, lady, you’re on fire.” Kate thought a moment. “I hate to bring this up, but what if it doesn’t work?”
Refusing to consider the possibility, Lana raised her chin. “It will. It has to.” She reached for her purse and stood.
“Now?” Kate frowned. “But what about the pizza?”
“Eat a piece for me. This won’t wait.”
As Lana rode the elevator down from Kate’s fourth-floor apartment, “Mama Knows” sounded from her cell phone.
She picked up right away. “Hi. I’m glad you called.” She could almost hear her mother’s surprise at that. “I’m on my way over to the house. I have something important to tell you and Dad. I’ll be there shortly.” Before her mother had a chance to question her, she disconnected.
She wasn’t going to reveal her pregnancy to her parents yet—one step at a time. Besides, she wanted to tell Liz and Eric first. Tonight was about Sly.
Thanks to the usual Friday rush-hour traffic, she didn’t pull up to her parents’ house for a good twenty minutes.
Which gave her way too long to imagine their shocked reactions.
A giant mess of nerves, she parked in front of their place.
Weeks ago, Sly had pointed out that she was afraid of them. Although Lana had denied it, she was.
Which was embarrassing for a thirty-two-year-old woman to admit, even to herself. She finally had to face those fears and move through them.
Not about to let that stop her, she squared her shoulders and entered the house.
Her parents were seated in the living room, obviously waiting for her. Mustering a smile she didn’t feel, she greeted them. Her mother had set out cookies and lemonade. Having skipped dinner, Lana was famished. She ate a cookie but was so focused on the task at hand she barely tasted it.
“Let me guess why you’re here,” her mother said. “You’ve found a teenage girl with a baby to adopt.”
“Actually, I’ve put the adoption idea on hold,” she said. Now would be a perfect moment to announce that she was pregnant, but first things first.
Her mother looked relieved. “Is that what this visit is about? I’m glad you finally came to your senses. I was beginning to—”
“Could you save it, Mom? I need to tell you and Dad something important.” Her mother shut her mouth. “I’ve met someone, a man I’ve fallen in love with.”
Her parents shared a knowing glance. “I figured that sooner or later you would,” her dad said. “But this seems a little sudden. I’d hate for you to get hurt again.”
Thanks to her own actions, Lana was already suffering. “Actually, Dad, we’ve known each other several months.”
“You kept something so momentous from your own parents?” Her mother shook her head. “How could you—”
“Michele,” her father interrupted, placing a warning finger against his own lips.
“I didn’t want to be judged and criticized for my choice,” Lana replied.
The pained expression on her mother’s face revealed that she was well aware of her own behavior. “I realize that occasionally I get on your and your sister’s nerves,” she said. “Surely you know I only want the best for you.”
“I get that, Mom. But I’m an adult, and I have been for a while now. It’s past time you and Dad trusted me to make my own judgments about what’s best for me.”
Lana’s father considered that for a bit, then nodded. “I agree.”
After staring at her hands, her mother raised her head.
“From the moment you were born, I’ve guided you toward where I thought you should go.
Not that you listen much anymore.” Her attempt at a humorous smile failed, and she gave Lana a pleading look.
“You’re my daughter and it’s hard to let go.
But you’re right, you’re an adult with a good head on your shoulders. ”
Grateful they understood, Lana nodded. “Thank you—both of you.”
“When will your mother and I get a chance to meet this mystery man of yours?” her father asked.
“How about at dinner this Sunday?” Provided she and Sly made up and he agreed to come. Lana wouldn’t let herself worry about that now.
Her parents glanced at each other again and shrugged. “That’d be nice,” her father said before letting her mother take over.
“What’s his name and what does he do for a living?” she asked.
Oddly calm now, and ready to test her parents’ resolve to trust her, Lana sat up tall and spoke with the confidence and certainty born out of her love for Sly. “His name is Sly Pettit. He owns Pettit Ranch.”
Her mother’s eyebrows jumped halfway up her forehead, and for once, she seemed at a loss for words.
Equally shocked, her father opened and closed his mouth.
“He’s a wonderful man with a good heart,” Lana said. “You’ll see that when you meet him.”
Her mother frowned. “I want to trust your judgment Lana, but I’m not sure Sunday dinner is the suitable event...” At Lana’s resolute expression, she broke off.
“I look forward to our weekly dinners and would hate to miss them—but if Sly isn’t welcome, I won’t come, either.” She paused and bit her lip. “All I ask is that you give him a chance.”
After a long, uncomfortable pause, her father cleared his throat. “If you really love him, then of course he’s welcome.”
Lana glanced at her mother. “Mom?”
“I won’t lie to you, Lana—this upsets me.” She sighed. “All right, Sly is welcome at our table. But I have no idea what your cousin will think.” Her worried frown encompassed both Lana and her father.
He shook his head, then shrugged. With that, they sat back.
Lana exhaled the breath she’d been holding. “Don’t worry about Cousin Tim. I’m going to drive over to his place right now and talk to him. In my heart, I’m convinced Sly didn’t go near his cows.”
“How can you be sure?” her mother asked.
“Because I know him. He’d never do that.” She kissed both her parents. “We’ll see you Sunday.”
Feeling several pounds lighter, she hurried to her car.