Chapter Thirteen
“It’s not easy being a parent,” July said with a sigh.
“For some maybe.” David covered her hand with his and gave it a squeeze. “You’re a natural.”
Unexpected tears flooded July’s eyes. “I love him so much.” Her voice broke despite her best efforts to control it. “I only want what’s best for him.”#p#分页标题#e#
“Hey, I may be hassling M.K., but at least I don’t make her cry.” Travis’s tone might be light but there was a distinct undercurrent of concern to his words.
Mary Karen leaned close. “Is everything okay?”
“I’m fine.” July pulled her hand from David’s and swiped the tears from her face with a quick brush of her fingers. She forced a bright smile and pushed back her chair. “I’m going to get some air.”
“I’ll come with you.” Mary Karen began to rise but July put a hand on her shoulder.
“Stay.” July met her friend’s worried gaze. “I won’t be long.”
Several people looked up as she wove her way through the tables. Somehow July managed to keep the smile on her lips.
She pushed open the front door and headed down the winding drive. A couple of tears slipped down her cheeks. By the time she reached the golf course, several more had fallen. July leaned against a large shed, feeling as if she was teetering on a precipice ready to fall. She could blame the tears on postpartum hormones. But July knew it was stress.
She wanted so much to tell David the truth but saying she was sorry to two-year-old Logan this morning had been incredibly difficult. Thankfully he’d just looked at her with those big blue eyes and said “I sorry” back to her. Then, he’d smiled.
Yes, she was making progress but not as quickly as she’d like. Still, crying never changed anything, even if it did make her feel better. July straightened her shoulders and took a few deep breaths of crisp mountain air. The tightness gripping her chest slowly eased.
“I know you said you wanted to be alone, but I was worried.”
July’s heart fluttered and she turned. David stood silhouetted in the overhead light. His shoulders were broad and there was a strength to his face that said this was a man who could handle whatever life threw at him. A man that a woman—and a child—could count on.
“Say the word and I’ll leave.” His gaze searched her eyes.
“Stay.” Impulsively she took his hand. Although a familiar heat traveled up her arm, it was his strength and comfort that she needed now. “I’m sorry I got teary. Honestly, before I came to Jackson, I never cried. Lately it seems it’s all I do.”
“No worries.” David’s fingers curled around hers. “It’s a new mother thing. And, yes, that’s a professional assessment.”
He said it with such authority she couldn’t help but believe him. “That’s good to know.”
“Mary Karen called and checked on the boys. They’re all doing fine, including Adam,” he said, his eyes never leaving hers.
A feeling of relief washed over July. “I hated leaving him with someone I didn’t know.”
“If it makes you feel better, I’ve known Esther for most of my life. I guarantee Adam is in good hands.”
“That’s reassuring. I—” The sound of applause drifted from the clubhouse.
David grinned. “Who knew fashion could be so entertaining?”
July released his hand. “You should go.”
David shoved his hands into his pockets, but made no move to leave. “Sick of me already?”
“Not at all.” July smiled. “I just don’t want you to miss any more of the fashion show because of me.”
“Your exit gave me a great excuse to leave.” He shot her a wink. “You realize if we’re not careful people may think our departure was staged.”
“You mean they’ll think you…and me…”#p#分页标题#e#
“Exactly.”
To July’s surprise the thought didn’t bother her like it would have only a few days earlier.
“If we go back now, it’ll be right in the middle of the show.” David rocked back on his heels. “People will really have something to talk about then.”
July kept a straight face. “Can’t have that.”
“I’ve got an idea.”
She had to smile at his excitement. “Tell me.”
“We don’t go back until just before it’s over.”
“What about Rachel?”
“Rachel is one of the stars. She’ll be modeling throughout the entire program.”