Secrets of their Past by Allie Pleiter

Author:Allie Pleiter
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2021-11-29T18:24:17+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Tessa, Zack and Molly sat on a blanket inside a large octagonal pen where the kittens played. The Monday afternoon sunshine and warm weather made it a pleasant task to sit with Zack as he considered each of the unclaimed kittens. And Molly was a good friend, so it was a chance to catch up on everything that had happened since the barbecue.

“Little Charlie’s doing better?” Molly asked.

“Gaining weight a little bit every day. I have to supplement the weak nursing he’s doing with bottle feeding, which is a bit of a challenge.” Tessa leaned in toward her friend. “But then again, when aren’t boys a challenge?”

Molly raised an eyebrow. “Are we still talking about kittens?”

Tessa sat back on her elbows as Patsy decided to play tug-of-war with the leg of her jeans. “I’m not sure,” she laughed to her friend. The kitten tumbled over herself comically as she swatted at the fraying hem. Tessa jiggled her leg just a bit, and Patsy pounced.

The sight made Molly laugh as well. “Everything okay with Greg? He still having loads of fun out in Utah?”

Tessa sent up another small prayer of thanks that these kittens had come into her life. They were such a welcome distraction. “I may or may not have sulked that someone missed his weekly phone call again Saturday night.” She sighed. “I don’t know whether to call Nick on it or just be happy Greg is having too much fun to remember to call home.”

Zack giggled from the other side of the pen as he lay on his back and three of the kittens began climbing all over his stomach. Zack had his challenges, but he was such a sweet boy. Greg had been a sweet boy at that age, too. That boy was still in there, right? Hiding under the grumpy teenager who usually answered any questions in single words like fine, good, nothing and okay.

“Maybe you can just be grateful that Nick is still at least willing to have some kind of father-son relationship with Greg.” Molly’s voice held a touch of regret. Her split from Zack’s father had been as heartbreaking as Tessa’s own divorce. Both women had fought to save their marriage with a man who simply was no longer interested in fighting to fix it.

“I know I should be glad,” Tessa admitted. “I’m just worried that it’s looking far more like fun buddy than responsible parent.” She sat back up. “Greg texted me a photo of himself on an ATV, looking thrilled, and do you know I couldn’t stop myself from texting back ‘Are you wearing a helmet?’”

Molly offered a smirk of sympathy. “Was he?”

“Yes, but now I look like a total nag instead of someone glad he’s having fun.”

Molly picked up Patsy from her ongoing attack of Tessa’s pant leg. “The problem is you’ve just had too much wonderful parenting. Your mom and dad are some of the best parents I know. That sets a high bar.”

Tessa’s thoughts cast back to the mystery of the baptismal entry.

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