Tempted by Her Innocent Kiss (Pregnancy & Passion #3)(33)

“Yes, I know,” Ashley said with a grimace. She took another sip of her tea and then looked back at her mom. “So what happened? What made you decide to let him move back in?”

Her mom sighed and a faraway look entered her eyes. “We were separated for six months and in a way, those six months were some of the best times of my life.”

Ashley’s eyes widened. “But Mama!”

“I know, I know, but listen to me. I didn’t say they were easy. They weren’t. But those six months outlined to me in clear detail what I wanted my life to be. And who I wanted to spend it with. I had opportunities. There were plenty of men who flirted with me and would have jumped at the opportunity to date or have an affair.”

Ashley’s mouth dropped open and her mother smiled at her reaction. “Darling, you don’t think the need for sex goes away when you hit thirty, do you?”

“Oh, my God,” Ashley muttered. “I’m so not hearing my mother talk about all the hot guys she had a chance with while she was separated from my father.”

“I had opportunity, yes, but I couldn’t do it,” her mom said.

“Because you loved Daddy?”

“Because it would have been dishonorable. Your father didn’t deserve it. Because I honestly didn’t want to be with anyone other than him. And I realized that I’d been blaming him for my own unhappiness. It was easy to say he’d been neglecting me or that he spent too much time at work. But the truth was, after you children grew up and left the nest, I simply didn’t know what it was I wanted to do next. And I took out my frustrations on the closest available target because I didn’t want to take responsibility for my own failures and feelings of inadequacy.”

“Wow, I never realized…”

Her mom smiled and reached up to touch her cheek. “What, that I’m human like everyone else? That your mom isn’t perfect?”

“Well, yeah, I guess,” Ashley said lamely. “It’s a totally shocking discovery. You may not survive the fall from the mom pedestal.”

Her mom laughed and tweaked Ashley’s nose. “Such a smart alec like your father. I always thought you were so much like him.”

“What? I’m nothing like Daddy. He’d probably be horrified to hear you say that. He despairs of me because I have no head for or interest in business.”

Her mom smiled indulgently. “But you have a huge heart like your father does and when you love, you love with everything you have. Just like William. He was devastated when I asked him to leave. And even though I knew I absolutely had to do what I did, it was the most difficult decision I’ve ever made. Our marriage is better for it. When we got back together, I was a stronger, more confident woman. I didn’t need him to make me complete. I wanted him. But I didn’t need him and therein was the difference.”

Ashley set aside her cup and then impulsively threw her arms around her mom in a hug. “I love you, Mama. Thank you for talking to me. It was just what I needed today.”

Her mother stroked her hand over Ashley’s hair and hugged her back. “You’re welcome, darling, and I love you, too. You know I’m always right here if you need me.”

Devon sat across from William Copeland as William completed his order with the waitress. The two had met at William’s favorite place to eat lunch, but Devon wasn’t in the least bit hungry.

“You not eating, son?” William asked as the waitress looked expectantly in Devon’s direction.

“I’ll just have a glass of water,” Devon said.

After the waitress left, William leaned back and for a moment looked visibly discomfited.

“I wanted to talk to you about some changes in the organization.”

Alarm bells clanged in Devon’s already aching head. Two nights without decent sleep and the image of Ashley’s tearstained face were wearing on him. The very last thing he needed was the old man to renege on their agreement. Wouldn’t that be the height of irony?

He must have seen the wariness on Devon’s face because he quickly went on.

“It’s not what you think. I want you to take over my position at Copeland. I know the merger with Tricorp wasn’t supposed to be splashy, that we agreed to keep the Copeland name and that Tricorp would be more of a silent party, but I’m ready to resign and I want you to take my position.”

Devon shook his head in confusion. “I don’t understand.”

William sighed wearily. “I’m sick, son. I’ve been having health issues. I’ve been trying to see to matters because I want my family provided for. I want Eric to have a position but he isn’t ready to take over. And the thing is, I’m not sure he wants his future locked into the family business. Lately he’s hinted that his interests lie in other areas. And Ashley… It’s why I pushed so hard for the marriage to take place. I wanted her settled with a man I trusted and whom I knew would take good care of her. If it got out that my health was failing, the vultures would have descended and she would have been easy pickings.”

“Sick?” Devon managed to get out. “How sick?”

“I don’t know yet. I won’t lie. I’ve been in denial. I haven’t even discussed this with Gloria and she’s going to hit the ceiling when she finds out. I’m not ready to die yet, though. I want a lot of years with my children and eventual grandchildren. I spent decades working my ass off to get where I am and now I want to retire and enjoy time with my wife and watch my grandchildren play. But in order to do all that, I have to make sure my company is in good hands. I don’t want Copeland to die, which is why I wanted this merger so badly. It wasn’t Tricorp I was after. To be honest I could have picked a dozen other companies who would bring as much to the table. But I went with Tricorp because of you. You’re who I want for my daughter and my company.”