RECLAIM MY HEART(61)

She didn’t get it, Tyne realized suddenly. Her mother truly didn’t comprehend that some of the things she said, some of the names and phrases she chose to use in certain contexts, could come off sounding offensive to others. Had that been caused by her upbringing? Tyne’s grandparents had died when she was a young child, so she had no way of knowing what kind of parental influence her mother had had. It could have been that her mother’s parents were bigots too, and that her mother was so comfortable in the standards set for her that she wasn’t able to see that those standards could be raised. But if racism was a learned trait, why hadn’t Tyne picked it up?
Was it plain ignorance on her parents’ part? Ignorance had nothing to do with lack of brains or education. It was possible for people to be bright and ignorant at the same time. Was her mother’s an entire generation that society had to make allowances for? Tyne dismissed that idea immediately. This type of shallowness had nothing to do with age. She’d met plenty of older folks who were open-minded and accepting of others, people who had adopted a ‘live and let live’ attitude, not just when it came to race but religion, politics, sexual orientation, whatever. However, she’d also encountered people, of all ages really, who seemed bent on building walls rather than bridges.
Her mother had invited Zach and his friends swimming. And if she made a habit of throwing a party for the landscaping crew then maybe she had become a little more enlightened over the years.
Her mother sighed. “Tyne, I really wanted tonight to be special. I had hoped we could get through the evening without—”
“I agree, Mom.” She stepped forward, offering a warm smile and holding out her arms in invitation. Her mother eagerly stepped into her embrace. “Tonight should be special,” Tyne said. “Tonight is special.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Lucas stood near the deep end of the pool watching Zach bounce on the diving board. Tyne’s father had noticed Zach eyeing the pool and suggested he use one of the suits in the pool house and take a swim before dinner. The teen jumped at the chance. Zach launched himself into the air and made an awkward arch with his body, his hands pressed together above his head. The elaborate splash made Lucas grin surreptitiously; the kid obviously needed some practice.
“Loog shiith hks like he’s enjoying himself.” Richard Whitlock joined Lucas, a bottle of beer in each hand.
Lucas accepted the beer with a nod. “He is. Thanks for inviting him to swim.”
Richard regarded his grandson for several long seconds. “I hope he comes to visit often.”
The man was probing, wanting to know if Lucas would be a help or a hindrance when it came to him developing a relationship with Zach. A mulish streak kept Lucas silent. He tipped up the bottle and drank. He didn’t feel obligated to alleviate the fears of the person who had forced him and Tyne apart sixteen years ago, who had so drastically changed their lives.
Because of Richard Whitlock, you have a law degree.
He scowled, strangling the life out of the voice in his head. Benevolence wasn’t high on his list when it came to Tyne’s father.
“Lucas,” Richard said, “I want you to know I feel bad about how things happened when you and Tyne were kids. I also want you to understand that I only did what I thought was best for my family, what was best for my daughter.”
Both men watched Zach climb out of the pool and traipse back toward the diving board, water dripping from the hem of his borrowed suit, the tips of his fingers, even his nose and locks of his dark hair.
“I’m going to try a jack knife,” the teen announced.
“We’re watching!” Richard reassured his grandson.
Lucas smiled, but he was sure it looked as forced as it felt.
He remained silent while Zach jogged the three steps to the end of the board. The instant his son hit the water, he turned to Richard. “It would have been nice to know she decided to keep Zach. That she was planning to raise our child on her own. I might have been able to help her. From what she tells me, they had a hell of a rough time of it.”
Richard’s gaze slid to the ground, his chin dipping a little closer to his chest. His sigh was heavy. “I was angry. I wasn’t thinking straight. And it only got worse when Tyne continued to be so damn stubborn. I was sure she would come around. Finally see that we were right. That our plans were for the best. But she never did.”
Lucas shook his head, whispering, “Thank heavens for that.”
Patricia Whitlock called out her husband’s name. “The grill’s hot. Time to put the steaks on.”
The man glanced at Zach who was once again hauling himself onto the ladder and then looked Lucas directly in the eyes. “You probably won’t believe me when I say this, but I agree with you. Whole-heartedly.”
Watching him walk away, Lucas felt his gut knot. He didn’t trust the man, didn’t know if he could ever or would ever trust him. Tyne’s father had proved himself to be selfish and egocentric; the kind of person who looked down on others, who only watched out for his own interests.
The magnanimous voice he’d choked off attempted to revive itself, and Lucas blanched as it reminded him of his own selfish behavior years ago. Did he dislike Richard Whitlock because of the man’s character and the things he’d done? Or was it because some of the man’s traits reminded him too much of his own?
“Hey, ah, hey. You okay?”
His son’s voice knocked him out of his stupor. He fixed a pleasant expression on his face. “I’m good. That was a great dive.”
Zach laughed. “You weren’t lookin’ ’cause if you had been, you would have said I sucked.” He pointed to his cherry-red belly.