Read Online The Girl He Left Behind by Patricia Kay - Free Book Online Page B

officially over for the summer, and she was a working mother. “I’ve enrolled them in the Y’s day camp this week.”
    â€œCool!” Natalie said, her gray eyes alight with excitement.
    Nathan dimpled, his grin wide and just as happy as his sister’s. “Outstanding!” he said. Outstanding was his current favorite adjective.
    In that moment, standing there with the father they’d loved and adored from the moment they were born, Eve’s heart clutched. They were such terrific kids, and she loved them so much.
    â€œSounds good,” Bill said. “Then, I’ll see you guys Friday night.”
    â€œNo,” Eve said, shaking her head. “They’ll be with me next weekend. You had this weekend, remember?”
    â€œBut it’s Madison’s birthday party next Saturday,” Bill said. Madison was his sister Sheila’s daughter. The family lived in Houston.
    â€œMom, we can’t miss Madison’s party!” Natalie said. “We’re going roller-skating.”
    â€œAnd we’re all going to Chuck E. Cheese’s after the skating!” Nathan said.
    â€œAnd then that night, the girls are having a sleepover,” Natalie said.
    â€œIt’s gonna be outstanding,” Nathan said.
    Eve wanted to cry foul, but she knew, looking at the disappointment on her kids’ faces, that she’d lost before she’d lobbed the first ball. She sighed, looked at Bill. “I forgot.”
    â€œI’m sorry.” He took her hand, his blue eyes filled with genuine empathy.
    That was the thing about Bill. He really did understand how she felt because he would have felt the same way. Why did he have to be so nice? And so fair? Why couldn’t he be an SOB so she could hate him? But of course, if he’d been an SOB she’d never have married him. And he’d never have offered. It was precisely because of the kind of man he was that he had offered. And that he’d never, not once, thrown the circumstances of that offer into her face—not even when they’d divorced.
    â€œI know,” she said. “It’s okay. They’ll be ready Friday night. What time?”
    â€œFive?”
    â€œAll right.”
    The kids gave Bill a hug and kiss, said their goodbyes, and he turned to leave, but not before saying, “Eve? Walk me out?”
    She knew he wanted to talk and didn’t want the kids to hear. What now? she wondered.
    He waited till they’d reached his SUV before saying, “I heard Adam Crenshaw is in town.”
    She stiffened. “Yes.”
    â€œI also heard about what happened at the shelter last night.”
    Eve guessed she shouldn’t be surprised. Bill had lived in Crandall Lake all his life. Most of his clients lived here, too. Someone who knew him was bound to have told him. She should have expected that.
    â€œI didn’t know he would be there when I went,” she said, trying not to sound defensive.
    Bill’s eyes were thoughtful as they studied hers.
    She sighed. “Bill, I promise you, he has no idea...”
    Bill nodded. “I only wanted to remind you that we have a deal. He’s never to know.”
    â€œI know that. I won’t break my promise.”
    â€œI’m their father.”
    â€œYes, you are.”
    For a long moment, they just stared at each other, each remembering that long-ago promise.
    â€œHow long is he staying here?” Bill finally asked.
    â€œI don’t know. Until his mother is back home and settled, I guess.”
    â€œAre you planning to see him again?”
    â€œNo. I—I think it’s best if I don’t.” Oh, God. If Bill knew everything that happened last night...
    â€œYes. So do I.” He hesitated, then added, “Look, Eve, I know this is hard. I know you probably want to tell him. But you can’t—”
    â€œI don’t want to tell him! That’s the last thing I want.”
    He studied