me.â
And then she broke down. Her body was sore, her feet rubbed raw, her emotions shredded. When Mac enfolded her in his big arms, she put her head on his shoulder and sighed. She hadnât realized until this very moment what a hole there had been in her life without his wise counsel and unconditional love.
He held her in silence for a few minutes, and then they went to his study and sat side by side on the oversize leather sofa.
Mac studied her face. âTalk to me, girl. Are you okay?â
Bryn managed a smile. âIâm fineâ¦really. All I need is a shower and some clean clothes.â
Then she bit her lip. âWeâre going to have to settle some things, Mac. I donât want to be away from Allen much longer. Youâre recovering on schedule. I know the grief is tough, but physically youâre doing well. With lots of rest and healthy food, youâll be back to your old ornery self in no time. But I canât be here with Trent. Itâs an impossible situation.â And with Jesseâs parentagenow in question her quest to secure Allenâs future might be a moot point.
Mac leaned back, his arms folded across his chest. âItâs my house,â he said gruffly. âI invite whom I please.â
She shook her head in desperation. âYou donât understand what he thinks of me, Mac.â
âHeâs wrong.â
Her heart caught in her chest. Did he really believe her? After all this time? She hardly dared to hope.
Macâs expression was bleak. âI suspected as soon as you left six years ago that I had made a mistake. But bringing you back to marry Jesse would only have made things worse. You deserved far better. And Jesse neededâ¦well, who knows what Jesse needed. So many thingsâ¦â
âDid you and Jesse ever discuss me?â
He shrugged. âNot directly. But I think he knew I was suspicious of his take on the story.â
âBut you never put him on the spot and asked outright if he had lied?â That was what hurt so much.
The conversation had tired him. He was gray in the face suddenly and clearly exhausted.
Though it frustrated her, Bryn put her own feelings aside for the moment. She was here to help him, not make his life more upsetting. She took him by the hand. âNever mind,â she said softly. âIt can wait a few more days. Letâs get you into bed for a nap.â
He allowed her to lead him back to the bedroom, but he was still agitated. âYou canât leave, Brynnie. Swear to me youâll stay.â
She tucked him in and smoothed the covers. âWeâll have to take it a day at a time, Mac. I canât promise more than that.â
Â
After settling Mac for his afternoon rest, Bryn retreated to her room. She had no desire to run into Trent. She was still aching from the knowledge that he believed she had seduced Jesse.
She spent part of the afternoon on the phone with Beverly.
Her aunt picked up on the tone in her voice. âWhatâs wrong?â
âWell, Mac seems to have softened. I think he believes Allen is his grandson, but I havenât had the heart to press the paternity issue yet. Macâs really frail, and Trent is either hostile or suspicious or both.â
âYouâd think that Trent would want the test to prove that youâre lying and let his family off the hook.â
âI think heâs afraid Iâll manipulate Macâs emotions and get him to change the will regardless.â
âI didnât get the impression that Mac was so gullible.â
âHeâs not, definitely not. But the heart attack has changed him.â
âIt will all work out, honey.â
âI hope so. But thereâs more. I found some letters that seem to indicate Jesse might not be Macâs son.â
Â
Dinner that evening was painfully uncomfortable. Macâs animated conversation was so out of characterthat Trent kept shooting
Kim Thompson
Alistair MacLean
Shantel Tessier
Dustin Mcwilliams
C.L. Richards
Jake Needham
M. S. Parker
Roberta Latow
Sparkle Hayter
C.J. Newt