Page 88 of Twice Shy

“So, Ollie thinks you don’t trust him?” Alyssa said, hitting the proverbial nail on its head. “That’s why you split up?”

“It’s a big deal for him.” He ached to think about how he’d failed to understand the impact of his chronic distrust. “A lot of people didn’t think he could raise the boys. He had to fight hard to keep them. And then I come along and accuse him of…” His voice hitched and he had to scrub at his eyes.

Alyssa patted his shoulder. “And this is why he’s leaving town?” She sounded doubtful. “Because you guys broke up after a couple months? That’s…kind of extreme.”

“It’s not the only reason, but I think…” He forced himself to be honest. “Iknowthat if I’d been there for him, he wouldn’t feel like he had nobody left on his side.” His eyes filled again, the truth hitting home hard, and he sat staring blurrily into his coffee, hating himself. Where had his basic human compassion been when he’d found Ollie in tears after his confrontation with Luca? Nowhere. All he’d seen was his worst fear, all he’d felt was a furious desire to protect himself, and so he’d turned on Ollie when Ollie had needed him the most.

No wonder he wanted Joel out of his life.

“Well,” Jackie said into the strained silence. “Obviously, we need a plan.”

Alyssa perked up. “A plan?”

“We certainly don’t want Ollie Snow to leave New Milton. Good heavens, he’s the only father we’ve had on the PTA Committee since I’ve been chair!”

“Which means pretty much forever.”

“Quite. So, to keep him in New Milton, we need to persuade Ollie to give Mr. Morgan another chance, don’t we?”

Joel stared at her. “I don’t think you can plan—”

“Nonsense. Planning is what we do, and the perfect opportunity lies before us.”

“It does?”

She smiled gleefully. “The Valentine’s Ball. What better place for your grand romantic gesture?”

“My…what?”

Alyssa laughed, squeezing his arm. “Oh God, but I think she’s right. It might work.”

“I’m not—” He held up his hand to stop them. “Now wait. I’m not getting down on one knee in public, if that’s what you have in mind.”

“Oh, Mr. Morgan,” Jackie scolded, rubbing her hands in anticipation. “We can be much more subtle than that.”

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