Page 110 of The Challenge

“Katerina’s here.”

Chapter 40

EVAN

“Daddy!” Effie ran toward me. “Mommy came back!”

I cringed at the hope in her voice, knowing it was never for good, despite Effie’s prayers. I’d just arrived at Drew’s house, the morning after he’d called to tell me Katerina had shown up there unannounced.

“I heard, sweetheart,” I said as I bent to hug her. “She’s here?”

Effie nodded.

Despite the annoyance I always felt when my ex would spring a surprise visit on us, I tried not to let it show for Effie’s sake, tried not to rain on her parade. With everything else going on lately, though, the timing was horrible.

Last night when I’d found out Katerina was in town, I’d chosen to ignore it. After what Chloe had been through, she needed to be my priority, and I knew Drew and Maura would keep Effie safe. So, I didn’t immediately tell Chloe, wanting her to get a good night’s sleep.

But this morning, before I left to pick up Effie, I admitted that Katerina was in town. Needless to say, Chloe seemed just as unnerved by it as I was. And Chloe had already told me she planned to fly back to Chicago tomorrow to attend a project kickoff meeting her boss had been pressuring her to be present for. She said she’d be back after a week or so and wouldn’t be taking all of her stuff with her. It still put me on edge.

Just as Effie left the living room, Katerina entered. She came toward me hesitantly, her long brown hair falling over her shoulders. “Hi, Evan.”

I knew Drew had let her sleep in his guest room so she could be with Effie last night. Normally when Katerina came back to Dry River, she stayed at her mom’s house, whether Lydia was there or not. But since she’d gotten in late, Effie had already been in her pajamas and ready for bed, and she’d asked Drew if her mom could stay with them.

“Why not call and let us know you’re coming?” I asked, low enough that Effie couldn’t hear.

“When do I ever call first?”

“Doesn’t make it right.” I bit my lip to stop from chewing her out.

“I wanted to surprise Effie.”

“How long are you staying?” I asked.

“I need to talk to you about that. I was hoping after Effie and I have brunch together, you and I could chat.”

“Whatever…” I shrugged. “But I can’t stay too long.”

Effie reappeared and pulled her mom into the kitchen. My daughter was in her glory, so innocent and forgiving.

I stayed behind in the living room, rubbing at the tension in the back of my neck.

Drew came up and placed his hand on my shoulder. “How’s Chloe?”

“She would’ve been better had this not happened on top of everything else.” I exhaled. “She’s heading back to Chicago tomorrow, actually.”

His eyes widened. “That’s it? She’s just gonna go back there and pretend like nothing happened with the two of you?”

“It’s supposed to be temporary. Before we found out Katerina was here, I’d suggested she go back there for a while to handle her business. Then she checked her email and saw that her boss had asked her to come back anyway to attend an important meeting. So she booked a flight. The trip is apparently only for a week.”

“You encouraged her to leave because you’re scared?”

“Just the opposite,” I assured him. “I took your advice to heart. I want to know that what’s developed between us isn’t just some temporary distraction from her mother being sick. If she goes back to her life there, I think she’ll get a better idea of what she wants long term.”

“That makes some sense, I guess.” Drew sighed. “Let me grab you a beer.”

“Thanks. I could use one.”

He went to the kitchen and returned a minute later with two bottles. He handed one to me and said, “Well, they don’t have that old saying about letting something go and seeing if it comes back to you for nothing.”