Page 11 of Shaded Amethysts
“Yeah, Max is great. He and Dani are perfect for each other––much like my best friend, Molly, and her husband as-of-today, Grant Chandler.”
Gage’s eyebrows raised in interest, “Oh,that’sthe wedding you were at before bumping into me?”
I nodded, then said, “Yes, that’s going to be big news once it leaks out.”
I hadn’t been trying to imply that he would be the one to leak it, but he responded, “I won’t say anything to anyone about it. I’m not much of a gossip queen.”
The surprised chuckle emerged before I had a chance to contain it. “No, I don’t suppose you are.”
He took in an audible breath as we turned into the park, then said, “Although I seem to be the hot topic of gossip around here. Maybe it will be nice if Molly and Grant take some of the pressure off of me for a while.”
I wanted to appease his worries, but I wouldn’t lie to him. Hehadbeen the main subject of the ever-churning rumor mill lately. “People like to talk, but it will all blow over soon enough. Don’t give up on us. This town is full of some of the most kindhearted, caring, and generous people you’ll ever meet.”
“I’m starting to sense that.” His warm smile beamed down at me and made my cheeks heat with pleasure.
Before I could think of a response, Gage looked down at the little boy in my arms and said, “Do you like to swing?”
The child practically lunged from my arms into Gage’s. Gage looked as surprised by this turn of events as I was. “May I take him over to swing?”
At this point, there wasn’t any other option that would keep the little boy from throwing a tantrum, but I appreciated Gage asking my permission before running off with the child.
After nodding my agreement, I found a bench to sit down on and turned to watch Gage buckle the little boy into the bucket-style, rubber baby swing. The two of them laughed, hollered, and played silly peek-a-boo games as Gage pushed him tirelessly in the swing. I couldn’t help but be charmed by the gentle giant.
As I watched Gage entertain the little boy, I wondered if Noah would be as patient and playful with a child. The vet clearly loved animals, but I couldn’t picture him making goofy faces to make Scout giggle, like Gage was currently doing.
The boy tired out before the man did. When his little eyelids began to droop, Gage scooped him from the swing and carried him over to sit down on the wooden bench beside me.
While we sat in amicable silence, I saw a couple of my mom’s busybody friends pass by the park. From the way they rubber-necked in our direction, I suspected it would only be a matter of minutes until Mom heard that I’d been spotted out with Gage.
Sure enough, it wasn’t long before my phone began blaring. I pulled it from my pocket and silenced it after confirming that it was my mom calling. I didn’t want to explain to her about Gage with him sitting by my side.
“I can take Scout for a walk over by the slide if you need some privacy,” the man offered kindly.
I shook my head. “No, it was just my mom. I’ll talk to her later.”
Gage nodded in understanding before he said, “She probably just heard that you were with me and wanted to make sure that I’m not messing up your chance for romance with the brilliant and wonderful Dr. Noah James.”
I was surprised that he had been able to deduce that so quickly. Suddenly, I felt bad for the tender, caring man by my side. After turning one corner of my lip up into a sad half-smile, I said, “I know what it’s like to constantly be compared to an overachieving brother and feel like you come up short. It gets really old.”
Gage shrugged his wide shoulders, making the one closest to me brush against mine. I tried, unsuccessfully, not to notice the heat that zinged through my arm at that minor connection as he said, “An ex-con isn’t exactly the answer to a mother’s dreams for her daughter. I understand why Noah is the better choice for you. I just wish it wasn’t the case.”
I opened my mouth to dispute the validity of that, but Scout chose that moment to wake up and wail. Gage seemed startled by the noise as he placed the little boy into my arms and said, “Here, he wants you. I should go.”
With that, the man stood and left. I wished I’d had the sense to tell him how I truly felt––if only I could figure that out for myself.
9
Avery
Istood outside the front door of my parents’ house trying to prepare for the onslaught of questions and judgment that was undoubtedly about to head my way. Scout blinked up at me innocently––obviously having no idea of the hot grease fire we were about to step into.
After taking a deep breath to try to calm my thrumming heart, I said to the little boy as I reached for the door handle, “There’s no time like the present. Right?”
As soon as the door closed behind me, Mom yelled from the kitchen. “Avery, darling, come in here for a minute. We need to talk.”
When I passed by my dad sitting in his La-Z-Boy watching television in the living room, I mumbled, “Wish me luck.”
He harrumphed, but wasn’t brave enough to say anything that my mother might overhear.
