Page 16 of The Only Goal

“Is it the beard?”

“Did he have that when you guys were kids?”

Tammy’s laughter is soft and melodic. “No, he didn’t. I’ve never seen him with a beard before.”

“It’s big.”

“And wild and bushy. He looks like a mountain man, don’t you think?”

“Or a big, scary bear.”

Tammy growls, and Kai squeals, then bursts into fits of laughter. She’s probably tickling him by the sounds of things.

I ease away from the door and creep down the corridor, rubbing my beard and figuring I’ll be shaving it off tonight. Don’t want to go scaring the poor kid.

Rachel meets me halfway up the stairs, holding Fezzik and looking worried as she strokes his head. “Do you know who parked in our driveway?”

“Yes.” I nod.

“What’s going on?”

“A friend of mine from high school showed up unannounced. She needs a place to stay for a few days, and I said she could. Hope that’s okay.”

“Of course it is. Where have you put her?”

“In the Juniper suite. She’s got a kid with her, so I figure they could use the space.”

“Good idea.” Rachel looks around me, like she’s itching to get up there and make sure they have everything they need. “I’ll get some fresh towels for them. Did you check the en suite to make sure there’s enough toilet paper and shampoos? Soaps?”

“No.” I shake my head. That hadn’t even occurred to me.

Rachel tuts and is walking past me before I can stop her.

Two minutes later, she’s standing in the room, hugging Tammy and welcoming her to the Ponderosa Countryside Villa. As soon as Rachel hears Tammy’s name, she spins to give me a look that makes me want to die of embarrassment—why did I ever mention anything about my past to her?—but thankfully, she doesn’t say anything.

She really is the hostess with the mostest. She’s treating my little TT like a VIP guest and then crouching down to welcome Kai too. She gets a smile out of him within seconds, and he’s soon nodding happily when she asks if he likes to read books and play games.

“We have a bunch I’m sure you’re going to love. Let me get you a stack of books, and I’ll bring them up here so you can read on the bed while Mommy gets freshened up, okay?”

“Okay.” His eyes dart to me as I loiter in the doorway, and his smile is quickly replaced with a cautious frown as he inches closer to his mother and wraps his arm around her leg.

She brushes the top of his black hair while she chats with Rachel, and I ease out of the room, giving them the space they so obviously need.

My chest is swelling and aching at the same time.

It’s so damn good to see Tammy again, but it’s different now. She’s not the mischievous, playful girl I grew up with. Life has toughened us both up. Loss, heartache, and now betrayal teaching us that joy and security can be fleeting.

She’s a mama now. All grown up.

A hurting mama who’s trying to be strong for her son while her heart breaks over a husband who never deserved her in the first place.

CHAPTER 7

TAMMY

Rachel is an angel. There is no other way to describe her. Not only did she get a smile out of my very shy son, but she also brought him snacks, books, games… and even managed to get him petting Fezzik. The little dog sat, his tail wagging, while Rachel coaxed Kai away from my leg.

“That’s it.” Rachel grins. “I’ll hold his collar, and you can pet him here or here.” She points at the dog, and Kai reaches forward, then jumps back when Fezzik whips his head around to sniff him.

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