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He poured a cup of dry food into Leo’s dish and released a painful laugh when Leo used him as a climbing tree before launching himself onto the side counter where Declan put his bowl.
“You know, you’re a little too big to be doing that.”
Leo released an argumentative meow before diving face-first into his bowl.
Declan grabbed a protein bar from the cupboard, heading back down the hallway to knock on his dad’s door.
“Dad? You up? I have to leave early for a job and wanted to say good-bye. I’ve got Kim coming over at eight, unless you’ve cancelled her again, so you might want to get moving.”
The sound of muffled footfalls on the hardwood floors echoed behind the door for several seconds before it swung open. Instead of his dad standing in the doorway, his mom stepped out into the hall to face him, closing the door shut with a soft snick behind her. Her dark hair hung around her shoulders in disarray, silver threaded around her temples, and when she smiled at him the laugh lines around her eyes and mouth were deeper than they’d been the last time he’d seen her.
“Shhhh, your dad’s still sleeping.”
Declan’s mouth hung open as he stared at her, processing what he was seeing at a snail’s pace. It had been ten years since she’d left, and he’d visited with her a couple of times a year since but he always traveled to see her. His mother being back in Mistletoe was something he’d never thought would happen, but here she was coming out of the bedroom in his dad’s robe and looking like they’d just—
Nope. No, not getting that image in my head today.
“What are you doing here?” he whispered.
“I called your dad when you didn’t answer your phone last week or return my phone call—” She gave him a pointed look before continuing, “to let him know I was coming to town. He invited me to have dinner with him and we talked, a lot. He said I could stay with the two of you and one thing led to another.”
All he could do was blink and stutter, “But why—you—there!” Damn, he wasn’t making any sense, but his mind was completely blown. For years his dad wouldn’t talk about her, but here she was coming out of his room after they’d obviously done more than sleep.
“I understand this might seem strange, but we were married for twenty-four years, Declan.” She patted his arm as if he was seven again, upset about dropping his ice cream on the sidewalk. “Why don’t we go out for breakfast and talk? Just the two of us?”
“I can’t. I have a job this morning before I open the store.”
“Okay, then how about I bring you lunch at the store early this afternoon? It’s been a long time since I’ve seen it, and your father told me about all the updates and improvements you’re making. What do you say?”
What he wanted to say, loudly, was that none of this made any sense, but all he managed was to nod.
“Great.” She threw her arms around him and gave him a long, tight hug. “I’ve missed you, sweetheart.”
Anger seethed through him as her words brought back memories of a million hugs just like this one, before she’d left them. Declan had been about to leave for college, but what about his dad? He’d worked his butt off for years to financially provide for them, and she’d dumped him the minute Declan was gone, as if all of her obligations were fulfilled because her child had grown up.
How could his dad let her walk back into their lives now and forgive her without even telling Declan what he was up to?
Declan extracted himself from her embrace and took several steps back. “I’ve got to get going.”
“I’ll see you later,” she called after him when he turned and bolted for the door. Declan exited the house with a hefty slam, shaking his head as he made his way down the walkway to his truck. He looked up and down the street to spot what his mother might be driving, but he recognized all the cars on the block. They’d still been out when he got home the night before, and he hadn’t heard them come in. Had his dad driven without a license? Did she know her ex-husband was sick?
While he backed out of the driveway and cranked the wheel around to make the right onto Evergreen Circle, Declan went back and forth in his mind about what he would say to his mother later. What are you doing back here? Did you run out of money or something? After ten years, what could you possibly want here that you didn’t have before?
If Declan really wanted to save himself a headache, he’d stay out of their business. But there were too many variables to ignore, and the most important of all: Was she back to take advantage of his dad’s failing health?
The Diana Gallagher who’d tucked him in every night and been at every parent teacher meeting was nothing like the woman who’d practically disappeared when he turned eighteen. That woman was a stranger he didn’t trust as far as he could throw her.
He didn’t remember the drive or the walk up to Holly’s door, he was so distracted by his convoluted thoughts. Holly swung the door open before he had a chance to knock, wearing a long cream tunic sweater and dark blue jeans, her long red hair up on top of her head, and a mulish expression on her heart-shaped face. “I wasn’t sure you’d show.”
“I keep my word,” he said, spoiling for an argument. “Unless you want to fire me now?”
“No, we can see if you’re up for the task.” She looked behind him, clucking her tongue. “You really are a one-man band, huh?”
“What?”
“No help at all?”
“Just me.” He waved his hand across the lawn coated with patches of snow. “You want to show me what I’ll be doing?”
