Page 25 of Bleeding Hearts

Barney is a habitual cheater. And Susanne always looks the other direction. It put a strain on the family, and both girls were reluctant to trust men because of his behavior. Every day I had to prove myself to Stephanie, even though I never gave her a reason not to. It was the one thing we always fought about, and I hated it. Hated that her father’s unfaithfulness affected our marriage so profoundly.

“Me, either.” With a frown on her face, Stacy turns her attention back to the view outside. “No way would I allow Levi to behave like that. I’d divorce him,” she snaps her finger, “without a second thought.”

I know she would. Just like her sister, Stacy won’t tolerate cheating. If she ever suspected Levi, things would get ugly fast.

“So, what now?”

The fakest smile I’ve ever seen crosses her face. “She’s moving here. Planning to stay with us until she finds a place. I’m ecstatic. Can’t you tell?”

A chuckle wells up from deep within, a rumbling sound that escapes my lips in an uncontrollable burst of laughter. It’s not because I think it’s funny, it’s because life is about to take one hell of a turn. There’s a reason Stacy and Stephanie were happy when their parents moved to Atlanta, their hometown, where her dad joined his brother, who ran a successful auto repair shop. Stephanie told me it was to get her cheating dad away from the woman he’d been having an affair with after ending things. I guess his mistress got a little crazy and causing problems. It was meant to be a fresh start, a clean slate for them to rebuild their lives. It happened right before I met Stephanie, so I don’t know all the details, just what she shared.

I absentmindedly rub my chin, the slight stubble tickling my palm, and swallow. “She just showed up with no warning?”

“Yep. I guess she has a few interviews in the area for teaching positions. Says once she’s been hired by a district, then she’ll find an apartment or rent a house.” There is a gleam in her eye as she giggles. “You better hope she doesn’t get hired at the girls’ school.”

“Did she apply there?” I ask with trepidation.

“I don’t know. But can you imagine?”

“Do I have to try?”

Laughter erupts from both of us, cut short by the opening of the backdoor. A wild, black blur darts inside, racing ahead of the girls and Susanne.

Mollie spots me first and runs. I barely get my coffee set on the counter before she leaps trustingly into my arms. “Daddy, did you see the puppy?”

“I saw a blur.” I squeeze her and nod at the woman staring at me with a sour expression on her face. “Susanne, nice to see you.”

“Don’t be coy.” She crosses her arms, looking at me with disapproval in her gaze. “Did Stacy share the good news?”

“She told me you were moving here. I’m not sure that’sgoodnews, but it’s definitely news.” I set Mollie down. “Girls, we need to go. I want to get the yard mowed, ours and Miss Bethany’s, before taking a nap. Go grab your stuff.”

Hand-in-hand, Kellie pulls Mollie up the stairs.

Once the girls are out of earshot, Susanna glares at me. “Is she your newest lady friend?”

I tilt my mug back, savoring the rich aroma and warmth of the last sip. “She’s my neighbor and was in a bad accident a few months back. I’ve been helping her out while she heals.”

“I’m sure you have.” The way her nose turns up pisses me off. “Are you sure that’s a good idea? The girls?—”

“Are my problem not yours?” I cut her off, not willing to hear her say more. “My personal life is not your concern.”

“It’s mine if it affects my granddaughters.” As she narrows her eyes, a steely resolve takes hold of her expression. “No one can replace their mother.”

That does it, sends me over the edge. “No one is trying to replace her. But if I decide to bring a woman around, that’s my call, not yours. You’ve got enough of your own problems to contend with; please don’t take on mine as well.”

Mollie runs back in, oblivious to the tension hanging in the air. “Can Grammy watch us next time you work? She said she could. So, can she?”

“She did, huh?” I touch Mollie’s nose with my finger. “We’ll see. But that’s three days away and Aunt Cora was planning to take you to the zoo, remember?”

Mollie nods and glances over her shoulder at my mother-in-law. “Maybe next time, Grammy. I really want to go to the zoo with Aunt Cora. She knows the zookeeper, and we always get to do special stuff when we go.”

Kellie is already at the front door, waiting. I guess she’s ready to go. Unlike Mollie, Kellie’s old enough to see through her grandmother’s fake façade.

Stacy breaks the tension by pulling Mollie in for a hug. “I had a blast. We’ll do it again soon.” She lets her go and walks over to Kellie, leans in, and says something I can’t hear, but it makes my daughter smile.

As I push Mollie out the door, Stacy grabs my arm. “I like her. Bethany. Steph would have liked her, too. It’s time, Nolan. My nieces need you to be happy, and from what I’ve heard, this lady does that. Ignore my mother and get back to living. I miss the Nolan I once knew who had us all in tears with laughter.”

“I miss him too.” My attention is drawn to the girls as they climb into my truck. “I’m trying. That’s why I’m late. I needed to tell Stephanie I wouldn’t be coming by alone anymore.”

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