grip, betraying his emotion. "Not at all. She just walked away without a fight."
"She didn't want custody?"
"Nope."
The single word had a harsh undertone of anger.
She wasn't sure what to say.
"Sorry. Didn't mean to bring in old history," Wyatt said after a heavy silence.
"That's so sad. She's missing out on a lot." Adele felt a surge of sympathy for Wyatt and the girls. To have been so completely abandoned. "She hasn't had any contact?"
He was quiet a moment, his eyes taking on a faraway look. “I shouldn’t say any contact at all. I got an e-mail from her a while back saying that she’d made a mistake and that she wanted to see the girls. I was reluctant but figured it wasn't right of me to keep Maya and Maria from her, so I said I would arrange something that would work for her. I never heard from her again."
"I'm sorry to hear that."
"Well, I'm sorry to be talking about her." He shifted, lifting her face to his, stroking her cheek with his thumb. "I'd sooner talk about you and me."
"And I'd sooner talk about you," she returned, smiling.
"Boring subject." His expression shifted, and she saw the invitation in his eyes. She leaned in, and as their lips met, all thoughts of other people fled.
It was just she and Wyatt and the connection that grew deeper, stronger, each moment they spent together.
This was real. She knew it in her heart.
And as she nestled her head in his neck, catching her breath, her heart pounding, she also knew that she had to make a decision.
"So I'll meet you at Beef’n Such?” Wyatt asked. “It’s just a burger place, but I figure it’ll do.”
Adele had come early this morning in time to help with breakfast. Dean wasn't even up so he hadn't been aware she was gone.
At breakfast he was his usual cheerful self, which eased her concerns.
"I'll be there," Adele said, zipping up Maria's jacket, touching her finger on the little girl's nose. Maria launched herself at Adele, giving her a tight hug. "You come with us," she announced.
"Don't worry, muffin, I'll see you for lunch." She held Maria by the arms, grinning at the little girl.
Seriously, she was so adorable.
She kept thinking about Theresa. Wondered how a mother could just walk away from her children. Dean wasn't even her own son, and it was hard enough to even think about leaving.
Her heart beat with a mixture of hope and anticipation as she straightened Maria's toque and tied her scarf. She was meeting the real estate agent this afternoon. So far no one else had expressed any interest in the building and the bakery equipment. Adele guessed it was because the owner wanted to sell it as an intact business, which would scare away many potential buyers.
"So, I'll see you later," Wyatt said, a faint question in his voice. As if he sensed she might bail on him. She wanted to reassure him. To tell him her plans, but she hesitated, allowing herself the tiny space she needed.
"For sure. I'm looking forward to trying those burgers you keep raving about."
"Best burgers for a hundred miles," he assured her. "Let's go, kiddos," he said, reaching out to take Maya and Maria's hands.
Dean trailed along behind, glancing back at Adele, a question in his eyes. Since they’d arrived, this was the first time he was going somewhere without her, and she read the concern on his face.
"I'll see you later," she assured him, giving him a quick hug.
He smiled then followed Wyatt and the girls, who were skipping alongside him, happy to be getting off the yard.
Adele watched them go, trying not to feel as if they were leaving her behind.
She shook off the emotion, then went back into the house.
She waited until Wyatt drove away before she called Leah.
"So, any thoughts about what we talked about the other night?" she asked, trying not to sound too breathless.
"Yeah. Lots of them. I just wish we didn't have to do this two days before the auction. It's fantastic equipment that's getting sold. From what I can see better and newer than the stuff in the bakery you showed me.”
"But it could also mean we might lose out if we can't bid high enough," Adele said, injecting a practical note into the discussion, trying to be impartial. She didn't want to influence Leah.
But it was a very real scenario they had to take into consideration.
"We always knew that," Leah said.
"True. Which is why it would be