Yuletide Proposal by Lois Richer

Author:Lois Richer
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Steeple Hill
Published: 2012-08-19T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

“What did you say?” Brianna’s jaw sagged.

She’d imagined a thousand scenarios for this “date” with Zac, and not one of them even came close to this.

“I said—”

“Never mind. I heard you. But I don’t understand why you would think my son would resent me.” Anger bubbled up at the injustice of it. “I’ve never done anything but my best for Cory.”

“I don’t doubt it.” Zac fiddled with his straw. “And I am not accusing you. It was something Cory said. He’d been asking questions about our past relationship. He said your mother told him we were engaged but our breakup was your fault.”

“Oh, no.” She felt the blood drain from her head. How dare she!

“Then he got into memories about all the Christmases you two spent alone when you could have been here, sharing them with his grandparents.”

Brianna listened as Zac related Cory’s comments, trying to hide her pain. She worked so hard to keep her precious boy away from the misery her mother had imposed on her own life, and now Cory thought she’d cheated him out of a family? He resented her for saving him from the very things that had marred her own life?

Betrayal burned deep. Despite her best attempt, Brianna couldn’t stop the tears from welling or dribbling down her cheeks to her chin.

“I’m sorry,” Zac murmured. “I never wanted to hurt you. I just thought that if you knew—” His words faded into the shadows of dusk.

Brianna sniffled, glad that the sun had gone down, that here in the dark, no passersby would see her weeping. Because she couldn’t stop.

“It’s not fair,” she mumbled.

“Oh, Brianna.” Zac’s arms came around her, and he hauled her against him, cupping the back of her head in his hand and drawing it against his shoulder. “I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything.”

“Yes, you should have.” She dragged one hand across her face to erase the tears and leaned back just far enough to glare into his eyes. “Just because it hurts doesn’t mean it isn’t the truth. I have kept Cory away from Hope, deliberately. I had to.”

“But, why?” His face conveyed his confusion. “Would it have been so terrible to come home for Christmas? Or invite your parents to Chicago?”

She reared away from him, incredulous that he could even ask.

“You’ve heard my mother, Zac. She can’t stop criticizing me.”

“Now, yes, it is bad,” he agreed. “But that’s her disease talking.”

“No, that is my mother talking. That’s how she’s always been.” She saw his disbelief and laughed, though there was no mirth in her eyes, only misery. “Why do you think I wanted so desperately to escape this place after high school? Why did you imagine I begged you to tutor me so I could get a scholarship? I couldn’t stay here, work in her store and get ground down anymore. I had to get away.”

“You never told me this before.” He frowned, fiddling with the curls at the nape of her neck as he tried to puzzle it out.

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