Country Romance - Carolyne Aarsen Page 0,71

reinforced her concerns.

"And what about Dean?"

What about him indeed?

Her heart twisted at the thought of how she would explain to Dean what was going on. For a few bright and shining moments she had seen herself as his mother, as Wyatt's wife. Even though he hadn't asked her, she knew Wyatt was a responsible person. He wouldn't do anything to jeopardize his little daughters’ emotions by bringing someone into their life if he wasn't serious.

She wondered how Theresa would be with him.

She slammed her mind down on those thoughts. She couldn't go any further than the next few moments.

"The financials on that bakery looked good,” Leah said. "And the price is high, but I'm sure we can swing payments and wages based on the income. Are you sure you don't want to go ahead with it anyway?"

Adele held that thought, then shook it off. Did she want to be around Wyatt and see him with his wife?

Did she want to see Dean with her?

"I don't. But we still have time to hit the auction in Edmonton. I can meet you there this afternoon.”

"Okay, I guess that's what we’ll do then. You'll have to rush. The first items are going on the block at five o'clock."

Adele glanced at the clock on the dash. No time to go back to the Airbnb to get her stuff. She could grab a change of clothes at a mall. "Did you rent a hotel?"

"I did."

"Do you mind if I bunk up with you tonight?"

"Of course not. I’ll see you later."

Adele said good-bye, then held the phone a little longer, knowing she had one more job to do. She pulled in a hard breath and sent a text to Wyatt, asking him to tell Dean she would be gone tonight but would be back soon. She hit send, then turned her phone off, turned around and headed north. When all this was done, she would come back to Millar’s Crossing and say good-bye to Dean properly.

Hopefully without Wyatt around.

Wyatt stared at the book on his lap he’d been trying to read for the past hour, but none of the words made any sense.

It was nine o'clock. The kids had been sleeping for the past two hours.

Ruby had made supper for them and then left, promising to come again tomorrow.

Adele’s last text still rang through his head raising more questions and creating more anger. All she had said was to please tell Dean she needed to go to a sale. That she would be back in a day or so. No personal message for him.

Dean had been stoic when Wyatt had passed the message on, but he could tell that the little guy was concerned.

Anger flashed through Wyatt. It was one thing for Adele to leave him, but to leave Dean like this?

She had sent him another text telling him she was in Edmonton at the auction.

Of course. Her dream.

Is that why she’d abandoned them? Was that what she had on her mind?

Wyatt laid his head back against the couch, closing his eyes. He had tried to pray, but wasn't sure what to pray for. He thought he knew Adele, thought they had something going. He’d been daring to make some plans for the future.

And now?

A hard knock on the door broke into his questions.

Again his heart did that stupid jump of hope. He pushed it down, got up, and walked to the door wondering who else would come this time of night.

He opened the door and his heart twisted and clenched in his chest.

"Hey there, Wyatt," Theresa said, wavering as she stood in front of him, illuminated by the lights of the car parked behind her. She held out a plastic bag. “I bought this for the girls."

Wyatt stared at her, trying to figure out what was going on. "What are you doing here?"

"I told you. I brought my little girls a present. A good-bye present."

Her words were slurred, and her eyes glassy.

She'd been drinking.

Wyatt took the bag from her, still confused, old anger rising against her. Anger not only at her, but at himself. Theresa was a solid reminder of his taste in women. Obviously he couldn't find one who understood commitment.

But even as all this went through his head, he latched on to the last thing she had said.

"What you mean, a good-bye present?"

She gave him a goofy grin just as the door of the car opened and another woman came up and onto the porch. Wyatt had to squint against the bright lights