“We both have,” he said. “Especially for two kids who grew up without a home.”
“We had a home.” July kept her tone light. “A lot of different homes.”
“Houses, July, not homes. We had a lot of houses, but never a home.” A.J.’s voice grew loud again and she heard a guy in the background yell at him to keep it down. “How’s the baby boy doing?”
“He’s fine.” July didn’t even blink at the abrupt change in topics. Growing up with A.J. had taught her to expect the unexpected.
“Take good care of him.” The intensity behind his words puzzled her. “It’s not easy being a kid.”
A.J.’s voice broke and July realized he must be drunker than she’d first thought. It took a lot of beer to get A.J. emotional.
July’s heart rose to her throat, finding his emotion contagious. “I’ll do my best by him.”
“I know you will.” A.J.’s voice lowered. “I gotta go.”
July clicked off and sank into a nearby chair. She meant what she’d said to her old friend. She’d do her best by Adam. If she only knew what that was.
Chapter Eleven
July didn’t sleep much the rest of the night. A myriad of thoughts tumbled in her head. She’d be a good mother to Adam. She would.
He’d smiled at her again today, really smiled. Oh, Mary Karen had said it was a gas bubble. But when his dark blue eyes had locked on hers and his lips had turned up, there had been a connection. Adam knew her. Adam loved her.
Her head told her that her baby would be better off with his dad. David could give Adam so much more than she could, and not just materially. But how could she walk away from her child? Perhaps shared custody was the answer.
The thought buoyed her spirits for a few seconds. She would find a permanent job. Granted there weren’t many options in the area but her upbringing had taught her how to live cheap. Adam could split his time between her and David. It wouldn’t be ideal but lots of kids did it. At least he’d have his father and his mother.
We had lots of houses but no home. A.J.’s words taunted her.
An ache filled July’s heart. She remembered the feeling of never belonging anywhere. If she and David shared custody would she be dooming Adam to the same fate?
It was time to get to know, really know, the father of her child. And she still had to tell him the truth.
That meant instead of pushing David away, she was going to have to get close to him. With her days in Jackson Hole slipping away, that needed to happen sooner than later.#p#分页标题#e#
Despite knowing July had found a new place to exercise, David returned to the Elk Refuge on Saturday. Like many early mornings in April, the temperature hovered just below freezing. David hoped the clean, crisp air would help clear his thoughts. Last night he’d realized how attracted he was to July. Not just on a physical level, either.
He rounded a bend in the road and skidded to a stop, unable to believe his eyes. The last person he thought he’d see stood stretching by the side of the path. “July. What are you doing here?”
She straightened, not appearing the least bit surprised to see him. “Waiting for you.”
David tilted his head, not sure he’d heard correctly. “You were waiting for me?”
She flashed a smile. “I thought it’d be fun to walk with you this morning. If you don’t mind…that is.”
“Yes. No. I mean I don’t mind.” He took a moment to compose himself. “Walking is a good break for me.”
There. At least that didn’t sound like a gawky teen in the presence of his latest crush.
“Great.” She started hiking down the road.
In several long strides he was beside her.
“I was thinking,” she said when he pulled alongside her, “that it might be fun if we did this every morning.”
“Really?” He stumbled but caught himself. Her rapid turnabouts were giving him whiplash. Must be post-pregnancy hormones.
“Yeah.” She kept her gaze focused on the road ahead. “I enjoyed the last time so much I thought it’d be fun to do it again.”
Was she talking about the exercise or the kiss? His body stirred at the memory of her sweet lips on his. Still, he didn’t want to presume too much. “Sounds good.”
“Okay, then.” Something that looked a lot like relief crossed her face. “Got big plans for tonight?”
“I’m going to a hospital fundraiser at the Country Club.” David knew he should feel more excited about the event, but he couldn’t seem to drum up much enthusiasm. Still, he was getting out and that was a first step.