“Ian is an engineer and he doesn’t come close to what I earn most years.”
Cole clicked on the gas log and heat began to flood the room. Something told him this might take a while. “What is it you do?”
“Custom welding. Ornate gates, fences, decorative doors. Stuff people pay big money for,” Zac said. “Lissa’s dad is a three-piece-suit kind of guy. That’s the kind of man he wants for her.”
Cole knew how much that had to hurt. Even though back in high school he’d been irritated that Meg hadn’t told her parents they were seeing each other, his irritation had been tinged with relief. What would Mr. and Mrs. Fisher have thought of him? He doubted they’d have approved of a C-student who lived with a stepfather cops knew by name for all the wrong reasons.
“What does Lissa think?” Cole asked.
“She’s proud of me,” Zac said. “She wants to marry me. Or at least she did....”
After a long moment, Zac continued, “She told me I was using her dad as an excuse. That I was scared to commit. Can you believe it?”
“Is it true?”
“Hell, no,” Zac retorted. “One thing is true. Her old man isn’t going to rest until he drives me totally out of her life.”
“Seems to me whether you stay together is up to you and her, not to him.”
“Yeah, well, whatever.” From Zac’s tone, Cole knew the conversation was over.
“I’ll tell Meg you called.”
“Were you really going to take the kid from my sister?”
Cole inhaled sharply. Of all the things Meg believed, that hurt the most.
“Is that what she told you?”
“Answer the question, Lassiter.”
“I considered it…at first. But that was a mistake in judgment. Meg is Charlie’s mother now. He loves her and she loves him.”
“What about you?” Zac asked. “Do you love Margaret?”
Cole fought the urge to sweep the love he felt for Meg under the rug like he’d done for so many years. But to say he didn’t love her would be a lie. He was done lying, to himself and to others. “I do.”
“Did you tell her you didn’t plan to take the kid from her?”
“She doesn’t believe me,” Cole said. “I tried to explain that I wasn’t going to file the papers, but she wouldn’t listen.”
“Make her listen.”
“She’s already made up her mind. You can’t change a woman’s mind.”
“The hell you can’t.”
Cole smiled even as he recalled how he’d begged and pleaded with his mother not to go. His stepfather had laughed, telling him he was wasting his breath. A woman makes up her mind to leave, and that’s that....
Of course, Wally was hardly an authority on relationships. For the first time in days Cole felt a glimmer of hope. He would try again. And again. And again. As many times as it took for her to forgive him and believe he was sincere.
“Margaret is worth the effort,” Zac said, as if he could somehow read his thoughts from hundreds of miles away. “Whether you choose to try is up to you.”
Cole paused. “You know, I believe you just gave me the same advice I gave you.”
Zac laughed and the line went dead.
Chapter Eighteen
New Year’s Eve Day
Meg sensed something was different the second she walked through the front door. Perhaps it was because Charlie wasn’t running up to greet her. While she’d been out looking at apartments, Travis had called and asked if he could pick up Charlie and have him spend the night.
Saying that the twins would be easier to handle if they had a friend to play with didn’t make sense to her, but she didn’t argue. Meg knew Charlie would enjoy himself. Since Cole had mentioned something about going to a party with Ryan tonight, she’d have the house to herself.
Though it meant she’d be ringing in the New Year alone, at least she wouldn’t have to walk on eggshells all night. Having to be around Cole these past couple of days and pretend everything was okay for Charlie’s benefit had been difficult. But soon, she promised herself, soon she’d have a place of her own. She wondered why the thought didn’t make her happier.
“You’re home.”
Meg’s head jerked up from the packages she was juggling in her hands. Cole stood in the kitchen wearing jeans and a denim shirt that brought out the blue in his eyes.
“I thought you were going with Ryan tonight.”
“Change of plans.”
“Kate unexpectedly available?”
“Something like that.” He gestured with one hand toward the oven. “I have pizza.”
“I’m not hungry—” To Meg’s horror, her stomach chose