“Yeah, I can’t believe it.” Michael ran a hand over his face. “Chloe is smitten. She said she’s been praying that her mom would come back, and now she has. She thinks this is a God thing.”
Something about his words left me unsettled. “So what happened?”
“The three of us talked for a while after you left—mostly chitchat for Chloe’s sake. When Chloe went to bed, Roxy and I had a chance to really talk.”
Something about the way Michael said the words indicated there had been a big development. Maybe even something life-changing. That’s what my instinct told me, at least.
“Did she have a good reason for being gone so long?” I held my breath as I waited for Michael’s response.
“Actually, she did.” He let out another long breath. “When she left Chloe with me, it was because she had a drug habit and knew she needed help. She realized she couldn’t be a mom with those issues and checked herself in rehab. She said it was a really long journey.”
I hadn’t expected that one. “I see. But why didn’t she just tell you? Why keep it a secret?”
Michael shrugged. “Shame? Embarrassment?”
“Then why stay away for seven years?” I didn’t want to play devil’s advocate here, but . . . I knew my questions were valid. Anyone who’d done what she’d done deserved a little scrutiny, at least.
“For the same reasons. She didn’t think we’d forgive her or even that she deserved forgiveness, for that matter. She said she kept tabs on us and saw that we looked happy. She didn’t want to mess things up between us.”
“So why come back now?”
He rubbed his lips together and let out a long breath. As a car cut him off, he lay on his horn.
Very unlike Michael.
Was it this situation? Or the horribly bad traffic?
I knew what my bets were on.
“Last month, Roxy . . . she was diagnosed with a brain tumor. The doctors have only given her a few months to live.”
I sucked in a breath. That was the last thing I’d expected to hear. “Wow. That’s . . . terrible.”
“I know.”
I rubbed my throat, wishing it would stop burning. “What happened after Roxy told you her story last night?”
Michael’s jaw tightened. “She just got into town, so she stayed on my couch.”
The burning in my throat turned into an all-out fire, so hot that I could hardly breathe. I hadn’t expected that answer. And I didn’t like it.
But how did I express that without sounding jealous or overbearing?
“Wow,” I finally muttered. “That’s . . . unexpected.”
He glanced at me, his gaze pleading for understanding. “I didn’t know what to do. I couldn’t put the mother of my child out on the street.”
“She doesn’t have any money for a hotel?”
“No, she doesn’t. She doesn’t have anything right now.”
That bad feeling in my gut continued to grow. “I see.”
He pulled his eyes from the road for long enough to glance at me again. “Nothing happened between us, Elliot. It wasn’t like that.”
I shrugged, grateful that the heavy DC traffic kept me halfway distracted for a moment. “I didn’t say anything happened.”
“But I know this is all weird. It’s weird for me. I don’t exactly know how to handle the situation.”
“It would be a lot for anyone to know how to handle.” Then another thought slammed into my mind. Before I could stop it, the question escaped. “Is she at your place now?”
The lines on Michael’s face deepened. “Unfortunately, she is.”
I nodded slowly, unsure how I felt about that. But again, I reminded myself that Michael and I weren’t far enough into our relationship for me to put my foot down. What was between us was too new, too fresh. Chloe didn’t even know her father and I were dating.
Michael squeezed my hand. “I know this has to be awkward for you, Elliot. I’m really sorry that you’re in the middle of all this.”
“Maybe you’ll finally get some of that closure that you’ve been looking for, at least.”
“That would be a blessing that would come out of this, I suppose.” His tone sounded unconvinced, however. He stared at the road ahead, a frown tugging at his lips.
“How long are you going to let her stay at your place?” I had to admit that was bothering me. I liked to be level-headed, but even I had my limits.
“I’m not sure. I’m trying to find somewhere else for her to stay. I just know that Chloe really wants to get to know her. The last thing I want is for Chloe’s heart to be broken, and I’m not sure if I can trust Roxy or not. Those are all things that I need to figure out.”
I tried to read between the lines. I was pretty sure Michael was saying that he might need some space right now.
Which seemed like a shame since we had literally just gotten together a few days ago.
But I wasn’t going to stand between Chloe and her dying mom. I couldn’t live with myself if I did.
Always do the right thing, even when it feels wrong. My father’s words echoed in my mind.
Oh, Papa . . . do I have to?
I knew the answer.
As I glanced at Michael, I had to wonder if he still had feelings for the woman. He’d said she was the mother of his child and that she would probably always have a special place in his heart. But was that place platonic? Or was the best thing for Chloe for Michael and Roxy to get back together?
I hated the thought of it.
Lord, what am I supposed to do? I’ve really got no clue. I’m not one to be a shrew. I could really use some help from You.
As much as it killed me to tell Michael this, I had no choice but to say what I was about to say. “Take all the time you need, Michael. I know you have things you need to figure out. And I don’t fault you for that.”
“Elliot, that’s not what I’m saying—” He quickly glanced at me, tension snaking through his features.
I withdrew my hand from his. I hadn’t even intended to—the reaction had been instinctual.
I stared at my arms a moment, wondering what to do with them. Finally, I hugged them across my chest.
But I could still feel the warmth of Michael’s touch on my fingers.
And I missed it.
That realization made my heart lurch with enough force that I flinched.
I hadn’t expected the reaction.
I hadn’t expected this conversation, for that matter.
“Elliot . . .” Michael started. His voice almost sounded pleading—something I’d never heard from him before.
“I mean it, Michael. I’m not going to come between you and your family. Please don’t put me in that position.”
“But you’re the one I care about.”
“Roxy is the one that you had a baby with.”
As my words rang out, we pulled up to the cemetery where Trisha had been found.
It was a perfect distraction from this awkward conversation.
Chapter Thirteen
Michael and I found a parking space at a public lot and walked over to the cemetery where Trisha Thomas’s body was found.