Sandpiper Way (Cedar Cove #8)(77)

Troy handed it to the girl, who was about six or seven. “What’s your name?” he asked.

“Angela.”

“I’m Bradley,” the older boy announced, staring pointedly at the second cup.

Troy willingly relinquished it.

Angela smiled up at him. “I have a loose tooth. Wanna see?”

“Angela. Bradley.” Scott called his children as he strode ahead. “Come help me cut down this tree.”

The two kids scurried after their father, sloshing hot chocolate as they went.

Troy was grateful for these few minutes alone with Faith. “Megan says you’ve been a good friend to her.”

She nodded and started to join her son.

Troy placed a hand on her arm, stopping her. “Are you angry about something?”

Her head reared back as if he’d shocked her. “Angry?” she asked. “What could I possibly have to be angry about?”

That was exactly his question. He gestured weakly and tried again. “You tell me.”

She turned to face him then, her eyes flashing with fury. “You broke off our relationship.”

“Can we forget about that, Faith? I’d like to go out again.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Then I suggest you contact Sally.”

Troy was stunned. One blind date—which had been a disaster—and it seemed the entire county had heard. Bad enough that he’d bumped into Megan and Craig that night, but now apparently Faith knew about it, too.

“She sounds like your type,” Faith said in a withering voice.

“She isn’t,” Troy told her. “You are.”

Her stance relaxed just a little, and for a moment Troy saw the pain in her eyes. “I used to think you were my type, too, but I was wrong.”

“Come on, be fair.” Troy was losing his patience. “So I went out with someone else—once. You’re taking this too personally.”

She considered his observation, then shrugged as if it was of no concern. “Perhaps I am. Let me assure you, you’re welcome to date whomever you wish.”

“I want to date you,” he insisted. He didn’t understand why she was making this so difficult.

She shook her head. “I’m flattered but it won’t work. I enjoyed our time together, but it’s over.”

“It’s not over for me,” he said.

She laughed softly. “I beg to differ. You’re the one out there dating again. I wish you well, Troy, I really do, but I have a real problem with a man who says one thing and does another.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You told me Megan couldn’t accept the thought of you dating so soon after you lost your wife.”

“Yes, but—”

“I guess that only applied to me. She didn’t appear to have a problem when you went out with Sally. Not that I care, mind you. As far as I’m concerned, this is an integrity issue.”

Troy had heard enough. “You are way out of line here, Faith. I came to you and I tried to make amends—which you rejected because you were stuck in the past. What happened back then wasn’t my fault, I might remind you.”

Faith had the grace to blush.

“If you want to discuss integrity, then let’s talk about you befriending my daughter behind my back.” He had a few questions of his own. Faith wasn’t blameless in all of this.

“Megan sought me out—but not because she knew about us.”

“You certainly didn’t discourage her, though, did you?”

“No, and why should I? She’s a very sweet girl. Maybe that’s why it took me a while to realize the two of you are related—” Faith paused long enough to shake her head. “Sorry,” she muttered. “I shouldn’t have said that. But I did tell her I knew you.”

“Back in high school.”

“True,” she said. “I didn’t feel it was necessary to go into our recent relationship…but perhaps I was wrong.”

“Perhaps you were.”

“Then I suggest that perhaps the best thing for us to do is agree to disagree.”

“If that’s the way you want it.”

Her lower lip trembled slightly. “We gave it a good try. Twice. We both made mistakes. I apologize for my part and you’ve already apologized for yours.”

“Can’t we start over?” he asked.

“No,” Faith said. “I don’t think we should.”

That seemed so final. “We tried and it didn’t work out. I don’t have the heart to make another stab at this. I guess I’m too old and set in my ways. I don’t bounce back as quickly as I used to.”

Troy had no alternative but to accept her decision. “Then I’d like us to part as friends.”

“Oh, I agree.” She removed her hand from her pocket and held it out to him.

Troy frowned at it. “I’d be more receptive to a hug.”

Faith smiled, moving toward him.

Troy enveloped her in his arms and closed his eyes. He breathed in her familiar scent, holding her just a moment longer than he probably should have. When he dropped his arms, he stepped back.

“Since we live in the same town, I hope we can be cordial to each other,” Faith said, sounding like herself for the first time that evening.