Country Romance - Carolyne Aarsen Page 0,9

ever felt in my life. I had the girls with me, and I was trying to get them to change from their chore clothes into regular clothes. And then while they did that, I sat on the couch. And that's all I can remember." He looked over at her with a pained expression. "I wasn't drunk. I... I..."

"I know," Adele said, feeling a glimmer of sympathy for the man's obvious discomfort. "I could tell as soon as I came in the living room that you weren't well."

He took another sip of coffee, then sat straighter, looking as if he was trying to gain control. "So. Who are you and why are you here?"

The moment of truth.

Adele paused, glancing behind her, listening. "I don't want the kids to hear..." her voice trailed off, concerned.

"I don't know how your little boy sleeps in the morning, but the girls will be solidly out of it for the next two hours."

She pulled in a breath and shifted so she could monitor the stairs and Wyatt at the same time.

"Okay. My name is Adele Marten. The little boy with me is Dean." She swallowed, wishing she could still the thudding of her heart. Slow the rapid beat that threatened to choke her. "He's...he's your son." She paused, letting those ominous words settle.

"Say what?" Wyatt frowned at her, his eyes blinking as he tried to absorb what she was saying.

"He's your son. Sally Henshall is his mother. I had hoped to call you and let you know I was coming, but neither Sally nor I had any information for you. No phone number. Only the town where you lived."

"Sally Henshall," he repeated slowly, his confused frown deepening. He shook his head. "I don't remember anyone by that name.”

This was a problem she thought might come up but hoped wouldn't.

"She told me you two had been together. In Mexico," she said, pressing on. "And Dean was the result of that."

He looked at her, his expression growing hard. "No. No way. I'm not taking this on. I don't believe it. I don't believe you."

Adele swallowed, thinking of Dean and how excited he was to see his father. Should Sally have told him? Should she have followed through with this?

"I'm not lying. Dean's mother, Sally, knew your name and that you lived in Rockyveiw on a ranch with your father and brothers. She told me your one brother was named Reuben-"

"She could have found that out anywhere," he snapped, interrupting her. "And if I'm his father, why didn't she tell me sooner?"

He sounded angry, and while Adele couldn't blame him, her own frustration grew with the situation. I didn't ask for this, she wanted to tell him.

But then, neither did he.

"She was going to, but then she found out you were married." As soon as she spoke the words, she realized how lame they sounded. "She was afraid of disrupting your family."

"I would be afraid too," he said, pulling in a deep breath. "It's a lie. She would have had some information on me if we'd spent any amount of time together."

She sucked in a breath at his bald declaration. "I have a letter that Sally wrote to you naming you the father. Explaining the situation."

"That proves nothing. Anyone can write a letter full of lies."

"Sally wasn't a liar." Her own frustration spilled out into her voice. What would she do if he didn't believe her? What would happen to Dean?

"I told you, I don't know who this Sally is." He sighed. "I may not be well, but I'm not that sick."

"What if I showed you a picture of her?"

Wyatt closed his eyes, dragging his hand over his face. He looked like he was fading again. "Sure. Go crazy."

Adele got her purse and pulled her phone out. She flicked through her pictures, her heart flickering at the sight of her old friend. She found the best picture of her. One with Dean when they are both smiling and happy.

She expanded the picture and brought her phone over to Wyatt, laying it on the table in front of him.

Wyatt set his elbows on the table, resting his chin on his hands as he looked down at it. He blinked again, then rubbed his eyes and shook his head. "Sorry. I got nothing."

Annoyance flared through her at his quick dismissal. "You met her in Mexico. At Welks Resort in Cabo-"

He snorted. "Of course I did."

She ignored his sarcastic tone. "It was in September. You were there on a holiday with your