A Simple Wish About love - Karice Bolton Page 0,22
know about him, or . . . ?
“What happened, exactly?”
She let out a loud groan and turned onto a narrow dirt road.
“You don’t have a shovel in the back, do you?” he teased.
“That’s Drew’s job.” She winked at him and turned her attention back to the road.
“Good thing we didn’t take my rental.”
She nodded in agreement. “It is.”
“So, it seems like Scott’s dad is no-go subject . . .” Slade drew in a slow breath and glanced out the window as the tree limbs skimmed the top of the SUV.
“It’s just a long story.”
“I’m here until tomorrow at seven in the morning.” He smiled and noticed her lips turn up slightly.
“So, you’re saying you have time.”
“I guess I am.”
She turned onto an even narrower road.
“I was a teenager when I met Scott’s dad. He swept me off my feet.”
“How old were you?” he asked, turning in his seat.
“I’d just turned eighteen.”
Slade nodded.
“We’d had a whirlwind love affair. He took me on weekend getaways, mid-week getaways, told me loved me.” She laughed cynically. “You know. The usual stuff men say.”
Slade didn’t know where he fit into that category, so he just nodded.
“It lasted two years. On again. Off again. Because eventually, he got tired of me.”
“I can’t imagine anyone getting tired of you,” Slade said honestly.
And he couldn’t. Erika was so full of life and joy.
Pure joy that he wanted to surround himself with.
“Well, I wish it were just a matter of his just getting bored with me, but it turned out he had a family.”
The shock of her statement pushed out a growl that Slade didn’t even recognize, and it came from him.
“I only learned that after I was pregnant with his child.” She shook her head. “And the moment he found out, he not only never spoke to me again, but he also moved his entire family out of state.”
“Wow.” Slade shook his head. “I’m so sorry.”
“It was a violation.”
There was a clearing ahead that Erika pulled into.
“And it made me unable to trust men no matter how charming they are.”
Slade slowly nodded as she turned off the car.
“I can understand why that would be.”
“And I tried to be the better person and keep an open mind that if he ever turned up again, I’d welcome him with open arms so he could know his own son.” She shrugged. “But twelve years later, and he’s had no interest.”
“How has Scott dealt with everything?” Slade asked.
He couldn’t imagine not having his father in his life, and worse, he couldn’t imagine knowing his father didn’t want him.
“He’s a strong boy, and my family loves him beyond measure.” She let out a sigh, and her chest tightened. “But I do wish he had a connection to his father. I don’t ever want him to resent me.”
Slade shook his head. “I don’t think he would. Even though you were hurt, it sounds like you’ve always hoped for the best with Scott’s dad.”
“True enough. He was eight years older than me. I should have known better.” Erika had felt like such a fool when she found out he had a family. “When my sister informed me that the man I thought I was going to spend the rest of my life with and had become pregnant with his child already had a family, my world shattered.”
“I can’t even imagine.” Slade shook his head. “He was a predator.”
“Maybe so.” Erika nodded. “But I have the best gift ever from the worst relationship. Scott has been such a blessing. I’d go through it a million times over just to have him. He’s my everything.”
“And I can tell you he feels the same way. I can see how he looks at you.” Slade smiled. “He respects you.”
She smiled, and warmth spread through her. “I just hope it lasts.”
“It will.”
Erika looked down, not realizing that Slade had been holding her hand. It had provided comfort that she hadn’t ever had, but she didn’t know why it was different.
“Anyway, I try to leave him nameless for my sake, but if Scott ever wants his name, I’ll gladly hand it over.”
“Has he ever seemed interested?” Slade asked.
“No. When he was ten, I had planned on telling him, but when I tried, he wanted nothing to do with the information I had at my fingertips.” She let out a sigh. “I felt I had to respect that.”
A truck came up behind them, and Erika smiled. “Looks like Drew decided to grace us with his presence.”
Drew opened the door to his truck