Page 129 of Winter Vows

“Oh, that was the least of it. There were bigger issues, like my hours, the way I got caught up in a case and forgot about everything else. Before we had Shane, she was more tolerant of that. Afterward, she felt neglected and taken for granted and put upon. She was right. I didn’t hold up my end of the marriage. But when she divorced me, I didn’t like seeing all those faults listed on a court document, because I didn’t want to believe I was to blame for our marriage failing. I wanted to blame her, so I accused her of being selfish and unwilling to compromise. I even tossed in a few accusations about other men. It got ugly.”

“Was she seeing other men?”

He shrugged. “None I could prove, but I needed to believe that was the real reason she’d left me. I couldn’t deal with the idea that she just didn’t want me. When it didn’t take her all that long to find someone new and marry again, I was convinced I’d been right all along.”

She met his gaze evenly. “Is that really why you gave up custody of Shane? To punish yourself and her?”

“Of course not.”

“Are you sure?”

He sighed heavily. “I don’t know. Probably. I told myself it was the best thing for Shane and at the time, it probably was. Kit and I couldn’t have a civil conversation.”

“Maybe now you can,” Kelsey suggested.

“I hope so,” he said fervently.

“When will you go to see her?”

“Tomorrow. Justin took Jeb out to get my car, so I’ll be able to leave first thing in the morning.”

The thought of him leaving so soon was disconcerting. “Tomorrow?” she echoed, aware that she sounded dismayed.

He studied her intently. “Okay, Kelsey, what’s going on? Why do you sound so worried?”

“I guess I’ve just gotten used to you hanging around,” she said mildly.

Looking very pleased, he looped his arm around her shoulders and planted a kiss on her cheek. “Don’t worry, darlin’. I’ll be back. That’s a promise.”

The intensity of his gaze disconcerted her almost as badly as the thought of him leaving. She glanced away, instinctively searching among the children until she spotted Bobby. He looked worn-out, which motivated her to leave Dylan’s loose embrace.

“Okay, kids, that’s it. It’s time to call it a night.”

“Aw, Mommy, not yet,” Bobby protested.

“Yes. It’s way past your bedtime. Everyone else has day camp tomorrow, too.”

“I want to go to day camp.”

“You’re too little,” Jamey Robbins pointed out.

“Am not little,” Bobby retorted.

Dylan scooped him up before it could turn into a full-fledged battle. “Now you’re bigger than he is,” Dylan said as he settled Bobby on his shoulders.

“See,” Bobby crowed. “I’m the biggest.”

“You still can’t go to day camp,” Jamey told him and went indoors.

“Mommy,” Bobby cried plaintively. “What?”

“What’s day camp?”

Kelsey bit back a grin. Typical kid. If someone he admired had something, he wanted it, too. It didn’t matter that he didn’t even know what it was. “Day camp is a place kids go in the summer and learn stuff,” Dylan told him. “Sort of like school. If you ask me, you’re the lucky one. You get to stay home and play all day.”

“Yeah,” Bobby whooped. “I get to play!” He tugged on Dylan’s hair. “Down. Gotta go tell Jamey.”

As Bobby ran off, Kelsey chuckled. “Well, you’ve certainly given him the momentary edge. Thanks.”

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