The Return of Brody McBride (4 page)

“I’ve done just fine on my own.”

“The operative words are
on your own
. Brody owes you. He’s their father. Responsible for them financially, if nothing else.”

“I don’t want his money.”

“Maybe not. But it wouldn’t hurt. The girls are getting older, the things they want and need are more expensive. College will be here before you know it.” She frowned and the lines on her forehead deepened. “Take today to think of all the possibilities Brody’s return presents for you.”

“The only possibility concerning me right now is the possibility he’ll hightail it out of town faster than he did the last time,” she said under her breath. Both girls ate their breakfast, not listening to them.

“I don’t think you have to worry about that, darlin’. I do believe my brother has made it plain, he aims to have you back.”

With that, he kissed his nieces on the tops of their heads. Rain’s astonished gaze followed him as he walked out the door smiling.

Chapter Three

R
AIN WALKED INTO
the garage bay alone after dropping the girls at school. They’d asked her a hundred questions about Brody and what she thought about him coming home. They worried Brody would try to take them away from her, and would he want to see them and be their dad. She didn’t have the answers to those hard questions and tried to explain to the girls as best she could what might happen. She needed to prepare them, but she didn’t want them to spend the next twenty-four hours worrying themselves sick over it.

Maybe she should go straight out to the cabin and confront Brody. Nerves raw, her mind scattered. Her heart betrayed her memories, calling out, “Yeah, Brody is back.”

She’d loved him once upon a time, and that love bloomed back to life at just the thought of seeing Brody again. She fought hard to tamp down her feelings and concentrate on important matters. Her girls. Her heart could just take a flying leap, because she couldn’t afford to be a foolish girl, pining for lost dreams, wishing for happily-ever-after, when she had two seven year old hearts to consider. If Brody didn’t want to be a part of their lives, she’d deal with a hurt unlike anything she’d ever felt herself over Brody leaving her. Autumn and Dawn would be devastated. This could change things for them forever. It was one thing to know your father was out there somewhere, oblivious to your existence, but to have him come home, find out about you, and deny you his love and affection was another matter entirely.

If Brody McBride did that to her girls, she’d kill him. No way she’d let him get away with hurting her babies.

But first, she needed to tell her father. Pop had been there for her from the day gossip circulated that Roxy hooked up with Brody and when Brody left. He’d supported her decision when she told him college was out of the question—she was pregnant.

She hated letting her father down, tossing all his dreams for her to the wind. He’d never said he was disappointed, but how could he not be when he’d worked his whole life to ensure she’d have the means to go to college and be whatever she wanted to be. Instead, she’d used her college money to right a wrong. As much as it must have hurt him to see her miss out on college and a different kind of life, he had told her one night over her daughters’ crib, them sleeping soundly, he was proud of her and the woman and mother she’d become.

It might not be the life he’d dreamed for her, or she’d dreamed for herself, but she’d made the most out of it. She was happy being a mother. If being a mechanic and helping her father run his garage wasn’t as fulfilling as she’d like, it was a good, steady job that allowed her flexible hours to be with the girls when they needed her.

She found Pop in the office going over invoices. Flutters tickled her stomach, spreading out across her taught nerves. He looked just like he had her whole life. That same red ball cap on his dark-haired head, black T-shirt stretched over a broad chest and belly that had only slightly expanded over the years. She knew just how those strong arms felt when they wrapped around her. He’d always made her feel safe and protected.

She leaned her shoulder against the doorframe and crossed her arms over her chest. She took a minute to just look at him before she royally pissed him off. “Hey, Pop.”

An easy smile spread across his face. “Hey, yourself. Get the girls off to school?”

“Yep.”

“What’s with the look?”

“What look?”

“The one you give me every time you have something to say and don’t want to say it. So, what is it this time? You need time off to spend with the girls?”

“No. Nothing like that. Um, I had a visitor for breakfast this morning.”

Pop sat back in his chair and gave her a knowing grin. “Got a new man in your life?” he teased, knowing there hadn’t been a man in her life since Brody. Though he’d hinted, cajoled, and outright told her to go out and find a man, or at least get laid. This, from her own father. He had her best interests at heart, wanted to see her happy and have a full life.

“No, not a new man. An old one,” she admitted reluctantly. His eyes narrowed with confusion, and she plunged ahead. “Brody’s back in town.”

“You saw him? He came to your house this morning?” Angry, his fists clenched on the desk.

“No. Owen came by to tell me he saw Brody this morning at the cabin.”

“Does he know about the girls?”

“No. He’s been discharged from the military, and he’s come home.”

“I see.” Pop clamped down his jaw so tightly the muscles flexed like a pulse.

“He told Owen he came back to find me,” she blurted out.

Pop leaned forward and rested his arms on the desk, staring at her intently. “Is that right? Are you going to take him back?”

Not wavering under her father’s steady gaze, she answered, “Whatever Brody and I had is over.”

“It’s not over. You share a child together, and you’re raising his other daughter as your own.”

“Then whatever relationship we can manage to have will be as parents to the girls. If he wants them,” she added.

“I can’t figure out if you’re lying to me, or just yourself.”

“What?”

“You love him. You’ve always loved him.”

“That was a long time ago. You never approved my seeing him, but knew it was what I wanted. Then. Not now.”

“Don’t kid yourself, Rain. You still love him. You know how I know that. Because I loved your mother the same way. When I was with her, even after she was gone, I loved her. Every other woman paled in comparison, and I could never see myself with anyone else.”

She gave her father a knowing smile, but he ignored it. He still loved her mother, but she knew he’d found a way to move on, even if he kept it a secret. To this point, she hadn’t managed to do the same.

“It’s been eight years, and I don’t think you’ve ever looked at a man, let alone thought about having a life with one if he wasn’t Brody.”

“That’s not true. I’ve been raising the girls and working here. There’s no time for anything else.”

“You’ve never made time for anything else. Guys come in here all the time, eyeing you and flirting with you.”

“They do not,” she said, her eyes wide with shock.

“You never notice. It’s like other men don’t exist.”

“I don’t get you. You’ve hated Brody all these years for leaving me, sleeping with Roxy, hiding away, never knowing about the girls. Now, you sit there, tell me I’m in love with him, and act like if he and I picked up where we left off, you’d be fine with it.”

“Don’t get me wrong, he’s got a lot to answer for, but more than anything, I want you to be happy.”

“He doesn’t make me happy. He makes me angry, furious, ready to kill,” she shouted.

“Sounds like a whole lot of passion.” He laughed outright when she glared and threw up her hands, pushed away from the door, and moved toward him.

“I remember how happy you used to be with him. When you were with him, you shined.

“You’ve got every reason in the world to be angry. I hope you give him hell and make his life miserable for a while. But then, I want you to answer something for yourself once and for all. Is what you had in the past still burning bright, or has it faded to a memory? If you still love him, can you forgive him? Or is it over?

“Don’t answer now. When you see him, take whatever time you need to discover who he is now, who you are now, and figure out if the two people you’ve become can make a life together work. Not for the girls, but for you.

“You deserve some happiness and love. If he can give you both, I’ll stand behind you like I always do. If he’s not the one, you can move on with a clear mind and a heart that’s finally free to love again.”

Tears filled her eyes and she sniffled them back. “Oh, Pop, I don’t deserve you. After everything that’s happened . . .”

“None of which was your fault alone. You’ve done me proud, working beside me, raising those girls, being the best you can be for me and for them. I couldn’t have asked for more.”

“You’ve been watching too many old sappy movies again.”

“I love you, honey. Doesn’t mean I’m not pissed about what he did.” The look in the man’s eyes told her just how much anger he’d harbored over the years.

“Kill him, or maim him?” he asked, no question he was serious.

“Well, don’t kill him. Autumn and Dawn want to meet him.”

“How are the girls taking this?”

“They’re scared he’ll take them.”

“Autumn, especially, I guess.” Pop understood the girls had been through a lot.

“She asked if Roxy was coming back, too.”

“Roxy’s got eyes and ears in this town. Once she finds out Brody’s back, she’ll make trouble.”

“It’s the one thing she does well. I’ve already thought of that. I just don’t know what I can do to prepare Autumn. As it is, she thinks Brody will take her away from me because I’m not her real mother, and he’s her father.”

“Brody won’t do that.”

It helped that Pop believed those confident words.

“I wish I thought the same. The fact of the matter is, he could very well sue me for custody of both of them.”

“He won’t. He’ll know they belong to you.”

“They belong to him, too. They’re a part of him. I can’t help but think he’ll want them in his life.”

“Of course he will. They’re his daughters. What you need to do is come together against Roxy. Don’t let her get to him and make a deal, or worse turn him against you.”

She spoke one of her deepest fears. “You don’t think he’ll be pissed I kept both his daughters from him all this time?”

“All he had to do was call. You. Owen. Anyone in this damn town, and he’d have known about those girls. You tried your best to find him. It’s not your fault he rambled around for the better part of two years before he joined the military. What was the point in looking for him when he didn’t want to be found?”

“I know you’re right. I can’t help thinking if it were me, I’d have wanted to know about them.”

“If that were the case, and it crossed his mind, even for a second he might have gotten you or Roxy pregnant, he should have called to find out.”

“What guy would think of that?”

“A guy who loved you and wanted to know if he had a way back to you,” Pop said bluntly.

“Well thanks. That just proves the point, he didn’t want to come back to me.”

“He was just too stupid to think a baby would be a damn good way to stay in your life. When he finds out about Dawn, he’ll kick himself halfway to hell for not thinking she was a possibility. Then, he’ll realize if he had, he could have had you both in his life all this time. When he knows what happened with Autumn, he’ll be angry. After you lay all your cards on the table, Rain, this will hurt him deeply.”

“You don’t know that. He could just as easily leave town again, never looking back. Worse, he could take Autumn with him, demand partial custody of Dawn, and take her away from me for weeks or months at a time.”

“You’re borrowing trouble.”

“Maybe so, but I have to be prepared for the possibilities.”

“You could go to him, find out what he really wants. Tell him about the girls and give him time to settle into the idea of being a father.”

“Owen will tell him where to find me tomorrow. Today, I need to be with my girls.”

“You’ve had seven years. You’ll have the rest of their lives.”

“But today, they’re all mine. I’m not sure I’m ready to share. I’m not sure they’re ready for Brody.” She fell into the chair in front of her father’s desk. “Everything will change tomorrow, and there’s nothing I can do about it.”

“Running from trouble was never your way. I know you’re scared and uncertain, but you know Brody better than anyone. You know your girls. You’ll know what’s best when the time comes. And no matter how hard it is, I know you’ll do right by those girls.”

Pop watched her while she sat contemplating just what might be the right thing for her girls. And wouldn’t you know, Pop knew just what she wasn’t thinking about.

“While you’re brooding over Brody and those girls, you might find some time to think about what it is you want for yourself. You gave up a lot to raise them. If Brody helped out on the parenting duties, you could get back some of what you lost.”

“Think Brody will babysit while I go on a date?” She teased, just to show her father some of her spunk was still alive and well. It would serve Brody right to leave him with two little girls while she went out on a hot date. Too bad she didn’t know any hot guys. Life sucked.

“If he’s still the Brody we know, he’ll kill any man who comes within ten feet of you.”

“He’s not like that.”

“You just never wanted to see it. You only had eyes for him. Face it, you gave him your heart nearly ten years ago. As I see it, this is your chance to either get it back and move on, or see if you still hold his as well and make something out of it.”

“Well, aren’t you just full of love and wisdom this morning? What’d you stir your coffee with, Cupid’s arrow?”

Pop laughed, stood, and came around the desk, pulling her out of her seat and into his arms. Ah, safety and warmth wrapped up with the smell of engine grease, oil, and coffee.

“I love you, Rain. But as your father, I am going to belt Brody one for leaving you the way he did. Then, I’ll stand behind whatever decision you make. It’s your life.” He kissed her on top of her head like he always did, and she felt better for it, despite thinking she didn’t need to be coddled like a child. Okay, maybe she did. Just once, she’d like someone else to make the hard decisions. Never a follower, she wasn’t about to start now.