The Promise (Thunder Point #5)(88)

Damn, he thought. She’s right, Peyton’s right. When we talk about this, I’m going to feel really stupid.

He realized he’d been jealous of Ted’s car, for Christ’s sake. He wouldn’t have one of those cars if it was forced on him! So, how was he going to explain thinking Peyton would be drawn to it? He’d been jealous of Ted, his tall good looks, his money, his car and all that diminished him and caused him to act like a fool.

This wasn’t going to be easy to fix. Especially since he was a fool. And there was no excuse for it, either. If he thought about it for thirty seconds, he knew Peyton better than that. She was genuine and valued the things in life that were really important! She liked the feel of small children hugging her legs, cannoli delivered in a brown sack by a man who knew about her sweet tooth, a walk on the beach, a road trip with hours alone to talk.

He shut down the computer, locked the door and went to the house for hoodies. While he was there, he texted Peyton. I really miss you. I wish you could go to the football game tonight. There was no response, but then, why would there be? She hadn’t been in touch too much, and he hadn’t done too much to encourage her to reach out more.

He went to Devon’s house where the kids were all eating their dinner. Devon was standing in the kitchen working her way through a hot dog. “Want one?” she asked.

He shook his head. “What do you have going on this weekend? Like from tomorrow morning to Sunday afternoon?”

She shrugged. “Same old stuff. House, shopping, kids, et cetera.”

“No big social events?”

“No, why?”

“I might need a sitter. Overnight.”

“Oh? What are you doing?”

“I think I better take a drive north. Up to the farm.”

“You took my advice? You actually listened to me?”

“I didn’t look into her. I looked at her, but not into her. I’m a schmuck.”

“That’s what I’ve been saying,” Devon said. “I’ll keep the kids. But you’re going to owe me.”

“I know. I’ll owe you. I already owe you. But I think I’m in trouble here. And if I don’t get her back, something inside me is going to die.”

* * *

It was very rare that Peyton was the only one of the Lacoumette children at the table with her parents. Matt, the divorced brother who worked the farm and lived nearby, was the most frequent dinner guest. He took many meals at his mother’s table because the cost was low, and though he wouldn’t admit it, it comforted him. But Matt was not there this night, so it was just the three of them. Her father talked about potatoes and berries for a while, then he asked about that fancy doctor and his kids, so she told them everything.

Paco snorted and filled his mouth with more food. Corinne said, “Was there no other family?”

“Spread around. I met Ted’s sister and brother-in-law, and it was obvious none of them were close. They didn’t rely on each other for anything—why would Krissy rely on them during the scariest time of her life?”

“A family that works together comes together in the hard times,” Paco pronounced.

“At least Ted takes it all very seriously now. I think he’ll become a better father.”

“Peyton, you’re so sad,” Corinne said. “Do you regret leaving Ted, after all?”

She shook her head. “I admired him so. I still admire him—he’s the most wonderful doctor. But we haven’t loved each other in a long time. It’s just that...” She lowered her gaze to her plate and went quiet.

“What, darling?” Corinne asked.

She lifted her eyes. “If she was so in need of love, why couldn’t she accept mine? I tried so hard.”

“Oh, Peyton, people have troubles. We can’t always help. Even when it’s our own child, sometimes we aren’t what they need.”

“I don’t have children,” Peyton softly reminded her. “Maybe that’s for the best.”

“Pah! God has not spoken yet, that’s all!”

“Well, I hope He sends me a text pretty soon, because I’m not getting any younger.”

“My mother had her last child at forty-six,” Paco said.

“I know. And I’m not doing that!”

Corinne patted her hand. “Nor should you, darling. I don’t know what that woman was thinking. So, tomorrow we’ll pull a little more out of the garden. I have some baking to do because next weekend there are a lot of family here. We’ll can— I have bushels of tomatoes and other things in the cellar staying cool and fresh. You can take vegetables home to your friends. You can rest. After a night in a good bed, you’ll be smiling again. Ted has a gift—a chance to manage his own family.” She squeezed her hand. “He may not know it yet, but he’s very lucky.”

“He knows it, Mama. He could’ve been too late. And he was in time.”

“I hope he thanked you for all you did.”

“He did. Mama, did your children ever give you problems you couldn’t help with?”

Corinne laughed. “More times than I could count. As recently as five minutes ago.”

Peyton didn’t even realize how emotionally drained she was until she turned in at eight. She checked her phone to make sure there were no messages. She texted Scott and told him she hoped he had had a good time at the game, that she was with her parents and would be back Sunday. She then texted Ted and said she hoped he was doing all right, that she had faith in him that he could make things work out in his family.