The Memory of You (Sanctuary Sound #1)(81)

“Can we talk?” He gestured with his head, but Emmy stopped him.

“Daddy, Mommy came to surprise us and try that pizza. Now we can all go together.” She hugged his legs like a gigantic monkey. “Please, Daddy. Please!”

Steffi noticed Ryan’s hard expression soften. “Princess, Mommy drove all this way to see you, not me. I don’t want to intrude on your special day together.”

He patted her head.

“Actually, you’re welcome to join us for lunch.” Val smiled at him and Emmy. “If you want to, that is.”

“See!” Emmy tipped her face up at him, bright with joy. “We can eat together, like we used to do.”

How neatly she’d trapped Ryan.

Ryan’s resentful gaze sliced through Val before he kissed the top of Emmy’s head. “Sure, honey. If that’s what you want, I’ll come.”

“Yay!” Emmy jumped and clapped. “I’ll get my jacket.”

Emmy dashed to the front closet, giving Ryan a moment alone—almost—with Val. Only the slight flare of his nostrils hinted at his mood. Steffi braced for his cutting remark, but he merely asked his wife, “Could you please take Emmy to the car? I’ll be out in a second.”

Val’s gaze darted from him to Steffi and back.

“Fine.” Then she smiled at Steffi, her voice sweeter than anything Molly could bake. “Nice talking with you. This room is a fabulous addition to the house, by the way. Love all the windows.”

She gave a little wave and sashayed out of the room, leaving Steffi to stew in the new perspective on Ryan and Val’s history and the domino effect of her own mistakes. Those few minutes with Val rearranged everything Steffi had thought she understood. Everything she thought was right and wrong. Worst of all, it made her feel unworthy of the second chance with Ryan she wanted so much.

Unsure of how to face him after last night’s meltdown, she picked up the drywall knife and got back to work. She’d give everything to avoid all conversation with him until she had time to gather her thoughts.

“I had no idea she was coming,” Ryan said.

“Obviously.” Steffi scraped the freshly laid mud and the rolled tape over the seam. “But it’s not my business, really.”

He stared at her. “Are you okay?”

She could barely speak, with her throat tightening as if she’d swallowed a fistful of mud from the bucket. “Sure, but between getting here late and Emmy and Val’s interruptions, I’m really behind now. I need to finish up and head over to our new project on Hightop Road to check in on my little crew.”

Ryan came closer. “You look tired.”

Unlike her, he looked composed.

“I’m fine.” Steffi attempted a smile.

“I spent the night thinking about how our date ended.” He hesitated. “It’s something we need to talk more about. If you can’t talk to me . . . maybe a professional . . .”

A professional? What the hell was he pushing that for? Fortunately, the horn honked from out front, saving Steffi from having to discuss shrinks. “You’d better go. I don’t like your chances against two impatient women.”

She hoped joking hid her disappointment that Val wasn’t letting Ryan go without one last fight. Normally, she wouldn’t be intimidated. The difference here was that Emmy wanted her family back together. Just like he had moments ago, Ryan might capitulate because that little girl was the one true love of his life. The only person he could still open his entire heart to.

“I know what you’re thinking,” he said, breaking her train of thought.

“I’m not thinking anything,” she fibbed.

He crossed his arms, sighing. “We were pretty honest with each other last night. Let’s not backtrack.”

“Okay. What am I thinking, Ryan?”

“You think Val’s here today to save our marriage and I’m going to let her.”

Steffi shrugged. “I wouldn’t blame you. I saw Emmy’s face just now—the hope and thrill of being with you both again. After last night, you can’t possibly think I’m worth the death of your little girl’s dream.”

“That’s a dramatic take on things. Val’s here because she wants to see Emmy. Messing with you and me—that’s just a bonus she got for her effort this morning.”

“I know this might be hard for you to believe, but you could be wrong.”

“About Val?” He grimaced like she’d suggested the absurd. “I know her a lot better than you do.”

“She really loved you, Ryan. More than you loved her.” She spread another batch of mud along a seam. “That’s a painful kind of love.”

“Trust me, I know exactly how that feels.”

As if she needed that reminder. “That’s not exactly fair.”

“It’s just the truth.” He shrugged.

As much as she wanted to renew their relationship, she wouldn’t stand for constant reminders of her mistakes. “The truth isn’t some flag you can wave to excuse making me feel shitty again. It’s not fair to keep throwing our past in my face. Everything that happened before August shouldn’t matter. We either start with a clean slate and trust each other, or we don’t start at all.”