need them. Maybe it looked like she didn’t need anyone.
But after speaking with Janet, she realized she did need something in her life. Something that had been missing for years. Zane.
All these years she’d compared other men to him and hadn’t realized she was doing it. She’d not let anyone else have a chance at her heart because he already had it. Problem was, did he feel the same about her? Katie said so, and Janet agreed. But could two people really come together again and step into a relationship held together by … dare she say, love? Holly always thought you chose to love someone. Well, that being the case, she chose to love Zane all those years ago and still did.
Her recent actions, however, said otherwise. “Great, I finally figure this out and now he’s gone.” Well, she was just going to have to wait until he came back. She knew what he was doing in New York. His time there would be stressful enough without her tossing herself into the mix.
Done lamenting and feeling sorry for herself, she trudged out the door to church. Maybe afterwards she’d spend some time with Katie and the kids and remind herself she wasn’t a total imbecile.
Why, oh why, did she think she couldn’t cut it dating a guy who already came with a child?
Because he might not stick around, that’s why. There were no guarantees. Zane’s life could change in an instant. Was it any wonder?
“But I still gave him the silent treatment,” she told herself as she walked into the sanctuary. She spied Katie and the kids near the front of the church and headed that way.
As soon as she reached them, Katie spun to her. “Have you heard?”
Holly scooted into the pew. “Heard what?”
“About Zane…”
Holly blanched. “What about him? How do you know something before I do?”
“Because I got here first?” Katie said then jabbed her thumb over her shoulder at the pulpit. “I just heard from Pastor Brody. He was looking for you earlier.”
Holly scanned the rest of the sanctuary, but there was no sign of Zane’s father. “What did he say?”
Katie swallowed hard. “Zane’s not coming back. At least not for a while.”
Holly sank into the pew. Her heart sank further. “Oh,” came out in a whisper.
Katie sat and put an arm around her. “Haven’t you called him?”
“I was trying to give him some space. Maybe I gave him too much.” She buried her face in her hands. “What have I done?”
“What every other silly female does. You didn’t speak up when you had the chance, but it doesn’t mean it’s too late.”
Holly brought her face out of her hands. “Are you sure about that?”
“Why don’t you wait until after service and then speak with his dad? I’m sure he’ll fill you in.”
“Why didn’t he just call me?”
“They just found out this morning,” Katie said. She let her go and faced the front. “Don’t worry, we’ll find out what’s going on.”
Holly did her best not to worry. She was sure Zane had his reasons for staying. Maybe he felt guilty about Jillian’s actions and wanted to give her parents time with their granddaughter. But if he wasn’t coming back at all, then she had the answer to the thing she’d wondered about ever since he left. How does Zane feel about her?
Obviously not the same way she felt about him.
The service went by in a blur and it was all Holly could do to wait for the usual folks surrounding Pastor Brody afterwards to disperse. When she finally made it through, Zane’s father gave her a sympathetic look. “I was going to call you earlier, my dear, but I thought it best to wait.”
“He’s not coming back?”
“Not for a time. There’s been some problems with Sophie’s other grandparents.”
Holly pinched the bridge of her nose. “May I ask what sort of problems?”
“The very ones Zane feared. They think they should have custody.”
“That’s ludicrous.”
“You know it, and I know it. But the Parkers don’t. However, they’re about to find out.” He sighed. “I suppose I can’t blame them. If our roles were reversed, I’d put up a fight if I thought Sophie’s parent was unfit.”
“The only thing the Parkers think is unfit about Zane is his annual salary,” Holly said. She gave Mr. Brody a sympathetic smile. “I’m sorry. This has to be hard for you.”
“Not at all. I’m not the one having to deal with it. Zane is. It’s him I feel for. It’s such an awful