A Father's Name(63)

She was quiet a moment, then nodded. “You’re right. Having a continuity of care in the same house is probably a good thing. No more juggling.” She smiled, and maybe someone else would buy it, but Tyler knew her better. She was putting on a brave face as she nodded again and said, “One week then. You’ll have Jace’s care taken care of, I’ll be getting ready to send Bart off to school and we’ll be over.”

“So, this is our one and only date?”



“I think we’ll both agree that’s best. With Bart gone, for the first time in my life, I’ll be on my own and can try to figure out who I am, and what I want. I want to be a little selfish for a while, and tying myself down with a man and a baby would make that hard.” She kissed his cheek. “But thank you for a lovely…interlude.”

Tyler forced a smile. “It has been great, Tucker. I think it’s what we both needed, but you’re right, it’s time to get on with our real lives.” He took her hand in his. It was a sturdy hand that knew all about hard work, and it fit surprisingly well in his.

He dropped it. “So, could I interest you in a short walk down the beach. If this is our one and only date?” he asked, trying to ignore the feeling of desolation that swept over him as he thought about ending things with Angelina. He knew it was the right thing, that her father was right, she deserved better than him, but that didn’t make it easier to turn around and walk away from the best thing that ever happened to him.

“What you’re suggesting is that we make the most of the night?”

“Yes.” If this was going to end, then he wanted the rest of tonight to be perfect.

“And how about the rest of the week?” she asked. “I mean, we’ll still be juggling Jace’s care, so I’ll be seeing you a lot more than the average employer sees an employee…”

He should say no. After tonight, they’d go their separate ways, well as separate as they could go and still work at the same shop. But he knew he didn’t want to say goodbye, at least not quite yet.

“One week from today we’re done and our little—” he deliberately used a word he knew would minimize what they had “—fling is over.”

“As if it never happened,” she agreed, nodding.

That decided, Tyler knew he wanted to make the most of this week. He wanted to savor every minute, because he knew he’d never find anyone else like Angelina Tucker.



THIS WAS NOT THE WAY Tucker had imagined the evening. She’d all but broken up with Tyler—well, pre-broke up. In a week they’d be done.

She’d walked away from men in the past, she could do it again. But she had a reprieve and she was going to revel in it. “Bart’s planning on spending the night at Pops’ after we go back to your place and get Jace. They’re planning a very early morning fishing trip. He didn’t want to wake me,” she told Tyler as they strolled down the shoreline.

They walked along the water’s edge on the firm, wet sand that was speckled with small stones and bits of tiny mollusk shells. Seagulls perched on the large stone breakwalls that helped stem the beach’s erosion. The sun sank closer and closer to the horizon, where the lake met the sky.

“Bart’s spending the night at your father’s?” Tyler asked.



“You know what that means?” she prompted.

“No.”

“I don’t have a curfew. And since we’ve decided that this,” she waved her hand between them, “is over in a week, I think we should make the most of it.”

“What do you suggest?”

“I suggest you say, Tucker, spend the night with me. The whole night with me. Let me make it the most memorable night in your life.” She tried to infuse the sentence with the right touch of light, flippant humor, although she felt anything but light and flippant.

Tyler let out a long, low whistle. “Wow, that’s a tall order.”

He was trying to keep things as light as she was. “I know from experience that you’re up to the task.”

He groaned. “That was bad. Really bad.”

“Yeah, but ask the question.”

“Tucker, would you spend the night with me? The whole night. I’ll try and make it the most memorable night of your life.” He managed to keep the question light and teasing, despite the decision they’d reached. This is what Tyler wanted. What he’d said since the beginning. Nothing long term. Nothing deep and meaningful.