A Town Called Valentine(59)

She studied him intently, and he knew he’d said way more than he meant to, but her pain seemed to bring words out of him he hadn’t planned.

Emily wanted to ask him so many questions but knew she was only looking for a distraction, and there was that dismay in his eyes again before he’d turned to start the pickup. He didn’t want to talk to her about his past—he didn’t want her to know things about his family. She understood that, but he’d just given her the realization that something far worse than a divorce had happened to his family.

“You’re right, he was my dad,” she said softly. “And I’ll never know the truth of my parents’ relationship. But I can know the truth of my paternity,” she added, her voice becoming flat and impassive.

“But you can’t solve it right now, not on an empty stomach. My grandmother asked you and me to come to brunch this morning, and since I forgot to tell you in advance, we’ll just pretend I did.”

She had to smile. “How did they know we’d be together this morning—I know you wouldn’t tell them about our doctor appointment. Imagine what they’d think about that information.”

He gave an exaggerated shudder. “Grandma knows I’m helping you with the renovations. Brooke has a big mouth. I got the invitation when I stopped in yesterday to fix the light switch.”

“Did you find little scratches like someone had used a screwdriver to sabotage it? Your grandma might be pretty devious.”

They glanced at each other and smiled, even as Nate drove out of the parking lot.

“I hope you don’t mind,” he said, “but I talked to my dad about your mom. He confirmed that they were just friends, by the way.”

“I can’t believe you actually asked him.” She could only imagine the awkwardness of that scene.

“I didn’t ask him—he volunteered the information. And he won’t tell anyone.”

“I know that.” She should be angry that Nate hadn’t asked her permission first, but she wasn’t. Frankly, it freed her up to talk to Doug Thalberg herself eventually. Sighing, she said, “I guess I’ll have to figure out what to do next about my real dad. I’ll go through my mom’s things again.”

“And maybe you can go back to Cathy Fletcher and see if she can give you the names of some boys they hung out with.”

“She said they didn’t date much.”

“But you know better now.” He hesitated. “And I don’t like hearing you say your ‘real dad.’ You know Jacob Strong was your real dad, too.”

She stared at him in surprise, feeling her eyes sting and her throat close up. Hoarsely, she said, “Cowboy, you better stop being so nice to me, or I’ll start thinking all you ranchers have soft underbellies.”

He rolled his eyes, but she thought his face might actually be getting red. Doug Thalberg had rescued a woman and her son and helped mold Nate out of his love.

Sheesh, she was going to make herself cry again.

The sun had come out by the time they reached the Widows’ Boardinghouse, letting them eat at a picnic table on the back porch. She spent a pleasant hour telling the ladies all about what had been going on, from her renovations, to the lovely curtains, to her new job at Monica’s Flowers and Gifts. All uncomplicated topics.

“Has anyone shown interest in buying your place?” Mrs. Thalberg asked.

To Emily’s surprise, Nate clamped a hand on her knee. She glanced at him, trying not to laugh. Guess he didn’t want her mentioning Leather and Lace. “The real estate agent has contacted me, but he won’t know anything until I’m ready to show the place.”

So Nate thought he could control the conversation, did he?

She looked at his grandma with wide-eyed interest. “Mrs. Thalberg, I finally met your son yesterday. Such a nice man.”

Mrs. Thalberg grinned. “You’re a sweet girl to say so.”

“Nate’s pretty quiet about his family although I do talk to Brooke, as well. I haven’t met his brother yet.”

“That’s a surprise,” the old woman said, narrowing her eyes at Nate, who dug into his pecan pie without looking up. “They’ve always been close, of course, working side by side twelve hours a day. Josh is six years younger, and he used to follow Nate everywhere.”

Nate winced as he washed down his pie with a sip of lemonade.

“Josh wanted to be just like his brother,” Mrs. Thalberg continued. “Once he tried to ride Nate’s horse and got himself thrown. Broken arm, too, but not the first broken bone he’d have, working on the ranch.”