Page 84 of Hold

“Uh-huh. He’s that sorry, so he is.”

Thea’s lips twitched, but Cat didn’t think it was funny. “What in particular,” she said icily, “out of all the stupid crap he’s pulled for fifteen years, is he sorry for?”

“All of it. Apparently.”

Cat gave a sound of disgust. “And what has he said to the boys? And what have the boys said to him?”

“In my presence, he hasn’t said much to them. Benji’s all over him. Jake ignores him. When he’s not yelling at him.”

“Someone better be yelling at him. I’ll do it if you don’t.”

“I did.” She flushed lightly, thinking of how ineffectual her yelling had been and how it had ended up.

“What’s that?” Cat’s sharp eyes caught the flush in her cheeks. “Why are you blushing?”

“Nothing! It’s—I just—”

This was not a time to be lost for words. “Oh shit, T. Do not tell me you believe him.”

“No… But I’m closer to it.” Cat opened her mouth, but Thea preempted her. “I’m not saying I’m taking him back! But think of the boys. Wouldn’t it be better for them to have their father back in their lives?”

“Not the way he was doing it. Besides, they’ve had Antonio. And Kane.”

“Those are uncles. Fantastic uncles,” she amended, nodding her thanks to her brother and brother-in-law’s efforts over the years, “but not their father. They know the difference.”

Liam was different. He watched the boys in a way their uncles couldn’t, brought them out of themselves. Perhaps it was just that, with no children of his own, they’d known he had time for them.

Stop thinking about him. Every moment she remembered was a barb in her heart.

“All right. I see your point. But he can be back in their lives without being back in yours.” Cat’s tone became pleading. “Just tell me you’re not going to take him back.”

“No, of course not. I wish everyone would stop asking me that.”

“’Cause I’m seeing something in your face I don’t like, T. I’ve seen that dippy look before. You’re too soft. You give everyone the benefit of the doubt. You gave that Gabriel”—she spat out his name as if it were Beelzebub—“the benefit of the doubt a hundred times, and he failed you every single time. Do me a favor and remember that.”

Maybe after hardening her heart over the past few years, Liam had opened a crack in it, and she was vulnerable again.

“It’s all very well for you,” she said. “You can rely on Antonio. You have someone to wake up next to in the morning. Someone to hold on to when things are bad. When you don’t have that, Cat, the world can be a wearing place.”

Cat did what she did best: transformed in an instant from claws-out Mother Cat to the warm, loving sister Thea had relied on so much. She launched out of her chair and crouched by Thea’s, wrapping her arms around Thea’s legs, looking up at her. There was gray in her hair, Thea realized. She was getting older. They both were.

“I know, hon,” Cat said. “God, I wish so hard for you to find what Antonio and I have. All the time. And listen, if Kane can find someone to put up with him, there’s hope for everyone.” She smiled the five-hundred-watt Fielding smile, and Thea returned it slowly. Making fun of Kane was their favorite pastime.

“Is he going to pay back the child support he owes you?” Cat went on, reverting to instructional mode.

“I don’t see how he can,” Thea said.

“At least you got that divorce from him. He can’t get his hands on anything you’ve got.”

Thea’s smile faltered.

Cat’s hands fell away from her legs. “Oh shit, T. You told me you’d served the papers!”

“I did! But he never signed them.”

“Goddammit, Thea!” Cat unfolded herself from the floor and began to pace the room. “That’s why he’s back! Holy shit!”

Thea cringed. Cat was right, and she was feeling like such a schmuck for once again taking Gabe’s words at face value.

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