Willow Brook Road(103)

Mack looked startled by the suggestion. “I can’t imagine that. I thought Kristin and I were on decent terms by the time she left.”

“She was still the woman scorned,” Sam reminded him.

“Well, it doesn’t matter,” Mack said. “Kristin got a better job clear across the country, and we’ve solved the problem once and for all.” He slapped Sam’s hand in a celebratory high five.

“We think we’ve solved the problem,” Sam corrected. “I thought I had it fixed last week, remember? If it crops up again, I’m serious about looking into sabotage. If Kristin is the web genius everyone says she was, she could be hacking in from anywhere.”

“I am not going there,” Mack said. “In fact, the only thing I’m going to do right now is go home and spend what’s left of the evening with my wife. I honestly think we may have turned a corner earlier today.” He gave Sam a weary look. “Of course I’ve thought that before.”

“Did she understand why I had to pick Bobby up myself?”

“Eventually,” Mack said. “But I don’t think I’ll mention that Carrie got involved. It might set her off again. Every time I think those two have mended fences, another incident crops up.”

“Carrie is going to be involved with Bobby and me,” Sam said flatly. “Susie needs to accept that.”

“Then it’s gotten serious?” Mack asked.

“It’s definitely moving in that direction,” Sam said. “I’m scared to death about that. Things in my life are changing way too fast for me. Not that long ago I was the guy who was always ready to move on or go on some dangerous adventure at the drop of a hat. Now, here I am, a dad and putting down roots and thinking about adding a woman to the mix for the long haul. A few months ago, I wouldn’t have bet fifty cents on any of that ever happening.”

Mack laughed. “Was that panic that just washed across your face?”

Sam nodded. “More than likely.” He paused, thought about it, then added, “You know what, though? It’s not quite as terrifying as I expected it to be, because it’s Bobby and it’s Carrie. Do you know what I mean?”

“Believe me—I know exactly what you mean. I was the ultimate player,” Mack admitted, his expression nostalgic. “I had no intention of ever allowing a relationship to get serious. Susie wisely vowed she’d never even go out with a guy who tossed women away the way I did.”

Mack laughed. “And then lightning struck and I realized Susie was the one. For the first time in my life I knew exactly what I wanted and who I wanted to be with.” He laughed. “To my everlasting regret, it took a lot longer to convince her to take a chance that I’d mended my ways.”

“No regrets?”

“Not for me,” Mack said without hesitation. “Not a one, even now when things are rocky. I know we belong together and I believe we will have a child. Susie and I are in this together for the rest of our lives.”

Listening to the deeply held conviction behind Mack’s words, Sam nodded. He wanted to believe that strongly in what he had with Carrie. He was more than halfway there. He thought she might be, too. He wasn’t sure what it would take to get the rest of the way or if either of them were up to the challenge, but, if determination to take that final leap counted for anything, they’d get there.



Bobby had grape Popsicle dribbling down his chin and all over his hands and shirt. Carrie had given up trying to keep up with the drips and figured this shirt, like the one he’d worn earlier, would either come clean in the wash or make an excellent dust cloth.

They were sitting on the back deck to save the kitchen floor from the inevitable stickiness, when Sam found them.

“Hey, buddy! How are you feeling?”

“Better,” Bobby reported. “I’m having Popsicles for dinner.”

“Excellent.” His gaze sought out Carrie’s and held. “Everything okay around here?”

“We’re doing fine, if you don’t count the fact that this is the second shirt we’ve probably lost to Popsicle stains.”

Sam shrugged. “They’re T-shirts. They’re expendable.”

“My sentiment exactly.”

Sam’s expression sobered. He lifted Bobby up and sat him on his lap. In a tone he obviously meant to be casual, he said, “So, pal, maybe you should fill us in on what actually happened at school today.”

“I was in a fight,” Bobby said, as if it were of no consequence.

“I know that much,” Sam said, his tone still light. “You have the black eye and split lip to prove it. But since fighting isn’t on the approved list of school activities and you’re aware of that, maybe you could tell me who hit you and why? Did someone else start it?”