Page 21 of Deacon (Men of Clifton, Montana #52)
“Because I knew you and Dad would have ripped me apart for not telling him.” She closed her eyes. “At the time, Deacon and I… we only had one night together. We lived miles apart, and with his job—” She shook her head. “I was embarrassed to admit I’d had a one-night stand.”
He clenched his fist on the desk. “What the hell were you thinking? He could’ve been any man. You didn’t know him.”
She leaned forward, voice steadier. “I have good instincts, Tyler. We didn’t just jump into bed; we had dinner, talked for hours. It wasn’t random.”
Tyler snorted, exasperated. “Oh, that makes it so much better, doesn’t it?” He ran fingers through his hair again, eyes dark. “You knew the risks.”
“We used condoms,” she snapped, hurt flickering in her eyes. “Condoms aren’t foolproof.”
“Maybe not, but they work more than they fail,” he shot back. “You just had to be the unlucky exception.”
Her gaze dropped to the carved legs of the desk. “Now you see why I was terrified of telling you. I dreaded disappointing you.”
Tyler exhaled heavily, his posture softening at last. “I’m not disappointed, Ava. I’m more shocked than anything. How did I not see the resemblance?”
She lifted her chin. “I told Deacon I didn’t know how you missed it, but he said when he was with you, he wore sunglasses—”
“Is that why he wore them?” Tyler growled.
“No, he didn’t know it then either, but Ellie has his eyes.
You’d have known right away. Even Dad saw it.
Deacon had no idea she existed until he went back to the house after you showed him the pasture.
I opened the door. We were both shocked, then Dad walked in with Ellie.
He stared at Deacon and said, you’re her father, aren’t you?
Deacon said, apparently I am. He was pissed. ”
Tyler’s shoulders slumped. “I’m sure he was. I’m not thrilled you slept with some stranger, but he deserved to know. I can’t imagine how he felt.”
She managed a small, sad smile. “He was angry at first, but now he wants to know her, and he wants his family to meet her.” She took a deep breath. “Ellie and I are moving to Clifton to live with him. He’s already bought everything she’ll need.”
Tyler’s frown eased into something like relief. “Is that what you want?”
“Yes. I asked Dad what he thought I should do and he thought it was best for all of us.”
“Well, at least Deke’s stepping up. When you said it was him, I was ready to kick his ass, but when I met him, I thought he was a good man.”
“He is a good man,” Ava said softly, feeling the tension drain from her limbs. “It wasn’t anyone’s fault the condom failed.”
“I know. I just wish you would have been honest with us. ”
“I do too, but I was afraid of how you and Dad would react. I wasn’t ashamed of being with Deacon, but since we both decided only one night, I was sure he wouldn’t want to know about Ellie.
” She sighed. “Joella is so angry with me right now. I don’t think she’ll ever forgive me.
Since second grade, we have never kept anything from each other and this was a big one for me to keep from her. ”
“Joella will come around. Just give her time.” Tyler cocked his head. “I’ll have to tell Jeanie.”
“I know. That’s fine. She deserves to know too. I just don’t want her to hate me.”
“Ava, no one is going to hate you. It’s just that none of us have kept something important from the family.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I know you are. It’ll be fine.”
“Well, on a better note, Deacon will be in Maple Ridge tomorrow. Smith wants to talk with him.”
“Did he tell you that?”
“No. He called Dad while I was at his house.”
“I hope Smith gives him something. I know those two Winchester boys know more than they’re saying.”
“That’s just it, they’re not saying anything. That’s why Deacon thinks their father is involved.”
“Now that I wouldn’t doubt.”
When a knock sounded on the door, Tyler called out for them to enter and Jeanie opened the door, stuck her head in, and smiled.
“Hey, Ava. The movie is over, so Ellie is ready to go when you are. No rush, though.”
“Thanks, Jeanie. I’m going to head out.” Ava stood and smiled when she saw Tyler wink at his wife, causing her to blush. She wanted that kind of love. Tyler adored Jeanie and she felt the same about him. After fifteen years, they still acted like they were on their honeymoon.
As Ava and Jeanie walked back toward the rec room, Jeanie smiled at her.
“Did you have a good time last night?”
Ava could feel the heat in her cheeks. “Uh, yeah. I had a wonderful time.” Boy, did she ever!
“Mama!” Ellie ran toward her, lifting her arms to be picked up. Ava hugged her.
“Hi, baby. Did you have fun last night?”
Ellie nodded. “Yep!”
Ava and Jeanie laughed. “I need to get going. I just want to relax today.”
“Can’t blame you there. We’ll see you later. Be careful.” Jeanie hugged her, then kissed Ella’s cheek. “Bye, Ellie.”
“Bye-bye.” Ellie waved with a smile, then Ava carried her down the steps, buckled her into her car seat, and drove home, wondering if she’d see Deacon tomorrow.