He’d never told her he loved her. Even when she had blurted it out during their lovemaking, he hadn’t said anything in return. Her heart had withered a little at the time. Now the sorrow had spread throughout her body. She wanted to curl up and die. She had never seen herself as one of those girls who silently grieved while she watched the man she loved go on to other relationships. But that was pretty much what she’d done. Caught in her own inability to conceal her love, she had, by her admission, put their relationship in a very precarious setting. Had he grimaced when she told him she loved him? Surely she wasn’t the first.
And she wouldn’t be the last.
Sophie and her mother’s first stop was the hospital. Visiting with her father did wonderful things for Sophie’s self-esteem; he was just so excited to see her. And he looked great, considering what he’d just gone through. But even seeing that he was going to be okay hadn’t taken away all the pain she carried inside. She left with a promise to come visit him again tomorrow.
“You remember where your old room is,” her mom said as she and her sister carried her luggage inside the small white frame house. “I put fresh linens on the bed, gave the room a good cleaning and opened the windows to let in some fresh air. Both your and Susan’s rooms have been closed for a while.”
“I’m so glad you’re here.” Susan’s arms came around her. “I’ve got to get back to work in Indianapolis next week, but that will give us a few days together. Did Mom tell you the amazing news?”
Sophie frowned. “No.” She looked across the room at her mother. “She didn’t say anything about anything, really.”
“I wasn’t going to overwhelm you your first second home, but...” Sophie noticed the tears welling in her mom’s eyes. “I’ve been awarded my PhD. All those years of studying and research finally paid off.”
“Oh, Susan!” Sophie hugged her sister. “That’s so awesome! Congratulations!”
“That’s not all... I’m engaged.” She held out her left hand. On the fourth finger was an amazing engagement ring. While delighted for her sister, Sophie couldn’t help the tears that stung her eyes. “That’s wonderful news!” Sophie proceeded to put on an act like none other.
“We’re getting married next summer then flying to the Bahamas for the honeymoon. Grady said we will have to live in Indianapolis, but we’ll be less than an hour away from Mom and Dad. I’m hoping to get on the faculty at Purdue with Grady.”
“Isn’t that great?” their mother interrupted.
“It sure is,” Sophie agreed and smiled. If only Clay could be here to share the joy.
“So.” Susan looked at Sophie. “I hear you’re going to be a mother! That’s wild, Sophie. It’s good news, but strange to think of my kid sister having a baby.” She laughed and gave Sophie another hug. “Are you going to have it here or back in Texas?”
“Here.” She swallowed hard to keep the disappointment from showing. She would give anything to have her son or daughter in Royal, Texas, to raise the baby near its father. But it wasn’t feasible. Clay, if he cared, would have to come here. “After it’s born, I’ll find a job and rent a little house. Maybe I can do some substitute teaching between now and then.”
She hadn’t really thought this through but it made sense. She had enough in her savings to buy a used car and carry her for several months. If she could find a job in spite of what she’d done back when she was a senior in high school, it would work out okay. She was serious when she’d told Clay she wanted nothing from him. She wasn’t about to leave him one day and call him asking for money the next. She’d definitely want child support, but wouldn’t ask for a dime before then.
“Are you hungry?” her mom asked.
“I would love a bowl of cereal, if you have some.”
“Cereal? Is that all you want to eat?”
“Come on, Soph, I’ll help you find it,” Susan said. “I want to hear more about Royal, Texas. Did you really work for a billionaire? I’ll bet he was a hunk.”
The next few days slowly crept by. It was good being in her childhood home with her family. Her father did so well in recovery that he was released early from the hospital, and caring for him took Sophie’s mind off her troubles a little bit.
She realized she should’ve made the trip home a long time ago, for Christmas or another holiday. At first she’d avoided coming back to Tipton County because of what happened her senior year in high school. After that, she’d immersed herself in her new job, wanting to do the best for Clay that she could, especially after the accident. One month led to the next and the next until the years had passed.
While she tried to keep the smile on her face whenever someone was nearby, she knew her parents sensed her sadness. Thankfully, neither one said a word. But her mom knew. About Clay and the baby. About leaving him. About the turmoil and pain that was ripping through Sophie’s heart.
She had been on pins and needles every time her parents’ phone rang. And she faithfully kept her cell charged. But no call came through. By the fifth day, she was forced to accept the finality of the situation. Clay would never call. Maybe he’d finally had his security division run a check on her background and had found out her history. That, combined with the ball and chain she offered, was more than enough to keep him at a distance. At least until February, when the baby was due to be born. She believed he truly cared about the baby. It was just the kind of man he was. He would be a good father. Of that she had no doubt. But it would be fatherly time spent with his son or daughter when she wasn’t around. Tea parties in the grand salon if a girl. Riding his first horse and learning to rope if a boy.
Then one day, as she was heading outside to do some gardening, the tears sprang to her eyes before she reached the back door. This time there was no holding back. Dropping down onto the outside stoop, she gave in to the misery she’d kept inside for so long, until the sobs overwhelmed her and she could no longer feel or think of Clay Everett.
Fourteen
The rumbling sound of thunder filled the far-off horizon. Sophie looked up to see an almost cloudless blue sky. Odd, she thought. But then out here in the miles and miles of flat terrain of the farming communities, sound had a way of traveling great distances.
She was sitting outside the house under the shade of the large tree on the bench swing her father had built when she was only a child. She had so many memories, most of them good, of growing up in this small, rural American town with a population under a thousand. For eighteen years it had been her world. Then tragedy had struck and she’d spirited off to a college in a distant county. Ironically, her world had expanded. From there she’d taken a job working for a Texas rancher and part-time rodeo cowboy. Now she was back where she started. She’d come full circle. And she’d brought with her new memories, experiences she would always cherish, and soon a child who would grow up between two completely different worlds: the quiet farming community Sophie had always called home and the Texas ranch of the baby’s billionaire father.
The sound of the thunder grew increasingly louder until Sophie realized it wasn’t thunder but an aircraft of some sort. Whatever it was, it was big and headed in this direction. The numbing thought ran through her mind that it might be Clay. Would he come here? No. That was a ridiculous idea. They had said everything there was to say before she left. He had his corporation to run, Maverick to fend off and an entire ranching operation to manage. Although Clay had help with most of it, the responsibility still rested on his shoulders. He wouldn’t have time to come all the way to Indiana because of her. Even if the time was there, there was no reason.
She had to stop this. She had to let go of that last lingering strand of hope. It was over. Whatever they had at one time, imagined or real, was over. She needed to focus on the future. She needed to apply for a substitute-teaching position for the upcoming fall start to the school year. She had to find reliable transportation. She had to find a doctor, an ob-gyn. She really should find her own place to live but until the baby was born she might be of help to her parents if she just stayed here. Although it was a bit cramped, they had made the room.
The sound grew louder. Then, as though dropping out of the heavens, a helicopter appeared some few miles away. As it came closer, she could just make out the lettering on the side: EVERETT. It was Clay or someone from his company. Her heart rate sped up and she swallowed several times, her eyes glued to the aircraft.
The sheets and towels her mom had hung out on the line to dry in the fresh air began to move as though they were desperate to escape the storm that was headed their way. The trees swayed, the grasses parted as the helicopter lowered out of the sky.
Sophie didn’t know whether to stand there or run into the house. The turbulence caused dirt particles to swirl around her face, getting into her eyes and nose. With no landing pad available, the pilot had no choice but to land on the loosely packed earth of the plowed field directly behind the house. Giving the helicopter one last glance, she bolted toward the house. She didn’t need to stand there fighting the turbulence and she didn’t want to appear overanxious for Clay to step out of the helicopter. She didn’t want him here. She was making some headway in coming to peace with their parting and she didn’t want to face his questions and excuses. Still, part of her wanted to know what had brought him here.