Page 36 of The Way Back Home
The older man released Noah and leaned down to give his wife an affectionate kiss. He froze when he saw Teagan.
“Sweet Lord, child. I haven’t seen a pair of eyes like that since …” Noah’s dad left the rest unfinished.
“Dad, this is Teagan. She’s spending Christmas with us.”
His father clapped his hands together. “Teagan!” he said excitedly. “I knew it! I may be an old man, but I know an Irish lass when I see one.” He winked at Noahas he gave his wife a knowing squeeze. “Makes a man’s heart skip a beat, eh, son?”
So much for this being easy.
Teagan waited for Noah to correct him, but Noah’s mom saved them. “Martin, stop it. You’re embarrassing her,” Molly said.
Bear whined softly, and Teagan realized she was squeezing the poor dog’s ears. She rubbed him apologetically, and he quickly forgave her, settling his head on her lap once more.
“Teagan, dear, are you feeling all right?” Noah’s mom asked. “You look a little pale.”
“I’m fine. Thank you,” she murmured, hoping that Molly Ziegler wasn’t as good at detecting lies as she looked. “Just a little tired.”
Thankfully, Noah understood. He pushed himself back from the massive table. “It was a long drive,” he said, “and we’ve still got a tree to pick out.”
“You go on,” Molly said, waving them toward the door. “I’ll have someone take this to the cottage so it’ll be there for you when you get back.”
“Thanks, Mom,” Noah said, leaning down to kiss his mom’s cheek.
“Have fun, you two,” Molly called out. “It’s a beautiful night for a sleigh ride.”
Teagan’s smile faded once they stepped outside, guilt draping heavily over her shoulders. “This was a mistake,” she said quietly.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
NOAH
Noah exhaled. The relief in his mother’s eyes and his father’s embrace lingered, deepening the sense of guilt he felt. By staying away, he’d made things easier for himself, not them.
He got it. They loved him. Wanted to help. But that meant questions. Questions he wasn’t ready to answer.
Another self-serving and cowardly move? Hiding behind Teagan. Bringing her along had done exactly what he’d hoped—deflected the spotlight away from him. But she didn’t want their focus any more than he did. Maybe even less.
And now, based on that last murmured comment, she was regretting the decision to accompany him. Not that he blamed her.
Aloud, he asked, “Why do you say that?”
Teagan lifted her face to the sky, blinking againstthe soft white flakes that landed on her lashes. “They’re so nice.”
It wasn’t the recrimination he’d expected. He frowned, confused. “That’s a bad thing?”
“I feel like a fraud, Noah.”
“You said hello. That can hardly be considered deceit.”
“They think we’re together.”
Yes, he knew. And he hadn’t done anything to correct the misconception because it might keep them off his back. He rationalized that it wasn’t acompletelyselfish dick move. If they believed he’d found someone to pull him out of his own shadows, they’d worry less.
As he looked down at Teagan now, with her pink nose and snowflake-covered lashes, he realized that her presence wasn’t only distracting his family but himself as well. He’d been so focused on her over the last forty-eight hours that he’d hardly wallowed in his own problems.
The respite would only last a couple of days, though. After Christmas, they’d go their separate ways, and he’d tell his parents that things hadn’t worked out.
Noah rubbed absently at the unexpected pang in his chest.
