Hidden in the Shadows by T. L. Haddix

Author:T. L. Haddix [Haddix, T. L.]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Streetlight Graphics Publishing
Published: 2012-01-28T15:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty Four

Monday found Wyatt in an unsettled mood. Though he had enjoyed most of the weekend, having spent it with Maria, his happiness was overshadowed by his anger and concern about the extortionist. He’d been particularly upset by the damage done to Ethan’s relationship with his family. Jason’s disappointment also weighed heavily on his mind. Both were things he’d discussed with Maria yesterday evening as they walked around his property.

“Julie and I couldn’t have children, and over the years, I’ve ‘collected’ young people who mean a lot to me, like Ethan and Jason. And Stacy. I don’t want to let them down, and I certainly don’t want to see them hurt. Ethan? That boy’s like a son to me, Maria. If I could get my hands around the neck of the bastard who’s doing this…” He was so angry he couldn’t continue.

She stopped him, moving to stand in front of him. “You are not responsible for this, Wyatt Dixon. You have to stop blaming yourself. No one else does.”

He tucked his hands into the pockets of his jacket and stared at her. “It isn’t that simple.”

Her smile was winsome. “I know, but you have to try. We’ll figure this thing out. Now, how about a different subject?”

Wyatt groaned and pulled her into his arms. “I’m being a bear, aren’t I?”

“You’re entitled. I just don’t want to see you get lost in worrying about it.”

Coaxed into a better mood despite himself, he kissed her. After several long, breathless minutes, she pulled back and resumed walking, her arm linked with his.

“So did you want kids?” she asked.

“Yeah, I did. I always thought I’d have a houseful, but it didn’t turn out that way. What about you?”

She shrugged. “When I was younger, no. I didn’t think I’d ever want kids, especially not after the way I grew up. My relationship with my mother kind of soured me on the whole thing. But the last few years, especially after Georgia had Cody, I… I don’t know. I think I’d love being a mother.” Her laugh was self-deprecating. “Whether I’d be a good mother or not, well, that’s up for debate.”

Wyatt stopped her. “For what it’s worth, I think you’d be an excellent mother.”

“I… it’s worth a lot,” she stammered.

The unspoken question of whether she would consider having his children or not seemed to hover in the air between them, and for several seconds, they just stared at each other in the deepening twilight. A rustling sound in the field next to where they were walking broke the tension, and they turned to watch a deer dart off into the underbrush.

“We’d better head back to the house,” Wyatt said. “It’s going to be too cold to stay out her much longer.”

For the rest of the evening, he managed to focus his mind away from the extortionist. When he took Maria home late Sunday night, he hadn’t wanted to leave, but understood she wasn’t ready to take their relationship into true intimacy so soon.

After he

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.