Secretly Smitten (32 page)

“I’m sorry about that. It’s been so busy at the shop.”

“That’s a good thing, right?” Michael said.

“Yes, very good. The word is out about the sheep, and women are getting excited about the spinning classes. I guess it’s a good thing I told Mr. McCreedy I’d keep the sheep.”

“I guess so. By the way, do you want to go check on them after dinner? Or better still, we could go out to dinner and then go? I have something to tell you.”

Alarm shot through her. Normally a positive person by nature, she wasn’t sure why she would automatically think there was a problem. But usually when someone couldn’t say something over the phone . . .

“Sounds good. But let’s save dinner for another time. I’m not all that hungry.”

“You okay?”

Anna could hear faint music and people talking in the background. It sounded as though he was shopping somewhere. “Sure. It’s just that I’ve been snacking on leftover Christmas goodies all day.”

He chuckled low and soft in her ear. “Okay, Mountain Perks then. I’ll pick you up around seven. Does that work?”

“See you then.” Anna clicked off her cell phone and spotted Tess’s car in the toy store parking lot. Maybe she’d get a chance to visit with her and Sophia, Ryan’s daughter. That little girl would be her granddaughter if Tess and Ryan got married—that was something to think about.

Anna pulled her car into a parking space. Once out of her car, she walked to the door, and the person coming out the door practically ran into her.

It was Michael carrying a toy trike. A young man was with him.

“I’m so sorry. I wasn’t watch—Anna! How great to run into you here. No pun intended.”

She smiled. “Looks like your hands are full.”

“Can you walk with us out to my car?”

“Aren’t you a little big for that?” Anna meant it to sound teasing, but she had to swallow down her questions. Heather’s little boy would be about the right size for the trike.

“I never got one as a toddler, so I decided it was time. Better late than never.” He grinned. “Actually, this is for Heather DeMeritt’s little boy, Charlie. We’ve sort of bonded, so I wanted to get him something.”

Bonded
. “That’s nice,” Anna said, not meaning a word of it. Trying to ignore the growing jealousy in her belly, she turned to the young man. “Hello.”

“Hi.” He extended his hand.

“I want to make the introductions,” Michael interrupted. “Let me dump this trike first.” He opened the trunk of his car, placed the trike inside, then turned to Anna. “Anna, I would like you to meet Christopher Conners . . . my son.”

Anna gasped. Then she smiled and held out her hand. “Christopher, so very nice to meet you.” She glanced at Michael. “Was this what you wanted to tell me at the coffee shop?”

He smiled and nodded. “Sure is.”

The two men filled her in on Christopher’s story. Anna welcomed him to town, then got into her car. She suggested they not meet for coffee so Michael could spend time with his son. Besides, she needed time to think. Obviously Michael had some sort of connection with Heather and her son. Anna didn’t want to jump to any conclusions, but with the facts staring her full in the face, she struggled to let go of her fears.

She fought to keep thoughts of Joe’s hurtful words far from her mind, telling her how bad she looked, how he couldn’t be happy staying together, but lately, those words had bombarded her.

Had she been a fool for giving her heart away . . . again?

CHAPTER EIGHT

A
s much as Anna loved the holidays, she was thankful they were over and she was back into her usual routine. The middle of January had practically sneaked up on her. The Valentine’s Day dance was just around the corner. She rang up a customer’s order with a slight sigh. Her body went through the motions, packaging the yarn, smiling and thanking customers for their business, while her mind tried to sort out what was going on with Michael.

They hadn’t seen each other much over the past couple of weeks. Michael was busy with his son, but also she made up excuses when he tried to meet her. She’d been taking care of the sheep on her own. She knew she was acting like a schoolgirl, but she had to protect herself. She refused to play second fiddle to another woman ever again. If a man didn’t love her and her alone, she wanted no part of it. She’d just give Michael some time and space to see what he wanted, and if it was Heather, she’d leave them alone.

After work Anna stopped by to see her mother. She stepped inside the house and was about to call, “Anybody home?” when she heard voices speaking in serious tones.

“I’m so sorry, Rose.” An unfamiliar softness, a sort of pleading, laced Aunt Vi’s tone.

Anna didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but she wasn’t sure how to interrupt.

“I don’t understand,” Anna’s mother said, her voice quavering. “You had those dog tags all along? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“You were married, so I wanted to protect you. Think what would have happened if you’d known he was alive. And you were pregnant with Anna.”

“You weren’t looking out for me.” Rose raised her voice. “You wanted him for yourself. That’s why you didn’t tell me.”

“It’s true I thought I loved David and told him so, but you were married, Rose. What could you do about David then? I didn’t tell you he came back because I thought it would cause you more pain.”

“And this doesn’t? Knowing my sister lied and kept it a secret all these years? You could have told me after Martin died, but you didn’t. You knew how much I loved David, and yet you let me believe he was dead. I suppose you didn’t want another man in my life because you’ve never had one.”

Anna wanted to leave, but her feet were rooted to the floor. Her heart pounded in her chest.

“Do you hear yourself? You were married! Would you have allowed David back into your life to break up your marriage?”

Anna didn’t dare breathe till she heard her mother’s response.

Her mother sighed. “No, of course not.”

“I love you, Rose. You’re my sister. And I’m so sorry I hurt you. I’ll do anything to make it up to you.”

“You can never make it up to me. I can’t talk about this anymore, Violet. How can I ever trust you again?”

Slowly, silently, Anna eased back out of the house with a heavy heart.

The next morning as Anna sleepily poured herself a cup of coffee, the phone rang.

“Good morning, beautiful.”

Anna smiled at Michael’s greeting.

“Did you hear the news?”

“What news?” Surely her family’s disagreement wasn’t already on the gossip chain.

“RailAmerica has decided not to come through Smitten.”

“Oh no! The town has been counting on it.” Anna inwardly said good-bye to all the would-be tourists she’d thought would visit her shop.

“I knew you’d be disappointed. But we knew bigger towns were bidding, so it was a long shot.”

“Yeah.”

“Say, would you like to go ice skating tonight in town? Might cheer you up.”

She couldn’t face him, not with so much on her mind. Not when she didn’t know what his relationship was with Heather. “Oh, um, I don’t know . . .”

“Anna, you haven’t seemed yourself lately. Is something wrong?”

“Not that I know of.”

“Great. I’ll pick you up at seven.”

Sighing, Anna hung up her phone as her head began to pound. It couldn’t go on this way. She had to know the truth.

By six thirty her migraine had only intensified. Anna punched in Michael’s number. “Michael.” She adjusted the wet cloth over her eyes. “I’m afraid I won’t be able to go ice skating tonight. I’ve come down with a migraine.”

He didn’t answer at first, then sighed. “Are you sure about this, Anna? I mean, I’m sorry you have a headache, but you seem to be finding excuses a lot lately. Do you still want to see me? Are we still on for the dance?”

“Sure we are. I really do have a migraine.”

“Okay, I’ll talk to you later. Hope you feel better soon.”

He didn’t sound convinced, but there was nothing Anna could do about it. Maybe it was just as well.

Michael thought about checking on Anna the next morning, but decided to leave her alone for a while. She seemed to want some distance between them, so he’d give it to her. Maybe just check in a time or two before the dance. Maybe by then she’d have worked through whatever it was that was bothering her.

Christopher walked in, hair askew, T-shirt sagging over his pajama pants. He let out an enormous yawn.

“Well, you’re a sight for sore eyes,” Michael said with a laugh. “How about some cereal?”

“Sounds good.”

They gathered some bowls and poured the snappy rice cereal into them. “So how are things going with you and Heather?” Michael grinned as he poured a little more milk in his bowl.

“Going all right. She’s a nice girl.”

“Yes, she is.” He looked at his son and wondered what all he’d missed in his life over the past five years. “Listen, Christopher, I know we’ve said our apologies, but I’m sorry I wasn’t around home more when you were growing up. I was just set on making a good life for us.”

“And you loved your job.”

“Yeah, that too.”

“I always thought you loved it more than me.”

Michael’s heart squeezed. “I never meant to make you feel that way. Forgive me.”

“It’s over and done,” Christopher said. “I’m just thankful we’re back on track.”

“Me too.” Michael whispered a prayer of thanks in his heart for the miracle of reconciliation with his son.