Caitlin's Choice (3 page)

* * * *

Caitlin loved the smell of fresh-cut grass. She’d been very specific in requesting an apartment with a courtyard. She got even more than she’d hoped for. The quiet neighborhood had many young families, and she knew instantly that she would be happy in this small town.

She stretched out on the thick blanket of grass and pulled out a dandelion. Tyler rolled over on his stomach and looked for his mother. The humidity was rising, and already the beads of perspiration were forming on his nose and forehead. She ran her hand across his face and he gurgled in appreciation.

“See this, Ty? It’s a dandelion. Some people think it’s a weed, but I’m telling you it’s a flower. A beautiful flower. Just because something’s free doesn’t mean it has no value.”

He clutched the flower in his chubby fingers and tried to put it in his mouth.

“No, no. We don’t eat the flowers. We appreciate their beauty.”

“Isn’t he a little young for botanical studies?” The deep male voice startled Caitlin. She flipped onto her back and propped herself up on her elbows. The morning sun blinded her. She couldn’t see his face, but she didn’t need to. The voice was all too clear in her memory.

She put her hand above her eyes to shade the blinding rays. Why did he have to look so damned sexy? In the past year, she had gleefully imagined him gaining fifty pounds and losing half his hair. No such luck. Time had only improved his handsome features.

“What are you doing here?”

Andrew took a step forward and stood directly above her to block the sun.
“I think you know.”

She jumped to her feet and scooped Tyler up into her arms. Without a word, she turned and headed toward home. She hadn’t reached the front door when Andrew caught up to her, following her into her apartment. Why did Maggie have to interfere? She didn’t want him knowing about Tyler, yet here he was, walking into her house as if he had every right. She scrambled behind the sofa, trying to put a physical barrier between them.

“I don’t want you here.”

“May I see him, Caitlin?”

She held Tyler possessively against her body. “Why?”

“He’s my son, isn’t he?”

“Are you sure you don’t want to make him take a blood test before you commit yourself? Think of the legal ramifications you’re setting yourself up for here. Girls like me are just waiting around for a rich guy like you to put us on Easy Street.”

His mouth twitched nervously. He didn’t appear to care for her tone of voice. But then, she didn’t really care about his feelings when her own were in such turmoil.

“Do you want child support before I can see him? Is that the point?”

“The only thing I want is to see your south end heading north.”

For a few seconds Andrew stared blankly, and then his face flashed with comprehension. Caitlin covered her mouth and feigned sorrow.

“I’m sorry. Maggie told me how you Sinclairs hate our uncouth country expressions. It must have slipped my mind.”

“You’re not being fair.”

Where did he get off talking to her about being fair? As if any of what he had done to her had been fair! Did he think he could waltz right into her life as if the past had never happened?  “Translation: Andrew isn’t getting his way.”

“I didn’t mean for any of this to happen,” he said defensively.

“Oh, Andrew. Let me lay your guilt to rest for you.” Her voice dripped with concern. “You didn’t force me into anything, and I sure as hell don’t want anything from you.”

“Then why all this anger?”

Caitlin was stunned that he asked such a question. He had selective recall. He remembered being there to father the child but conveniently blocked out the rest.
“Because you hurt me. I won’t give you the chance to do it again.”

“Regardless of your feelings for me, he’s still my son. I would like to see him.”

Was he dense? Couldn’t he take a hint, or did he choose to ignore the fact that she didn’t want him in Tyler’s life either. “If I agree, will you leave?”

“Yes.”

She came around the sofa and stood in front of him, holding the baby out for his inspection. He stroked his thumb along Tyler’s arm. The baby gurgled and smiled, apparently unaware of Caitlin’s inner turmoil. Tyler, who normally didn’t react well to strangers, appeared quite content. He clasped his tiny hand around Andrew’s finger. If she weren’t so furious about his unannounced arrival, she might have been touched by the expression of awe on his face. 

“May I hold him?”

She exhaled deeply. What would it take to get rid of him? She would let him have his look so he could go home and pat himself on the back for a job well done.

“Sit down first.”

He lowered himself into the reclining chair next to the sofa. She placed the baby in his arms and stepped back. Now would be a good time for her son to spit up on Andrew’s designer shirt. Run through the diaper. Drool. Anything to bring home the reality of a baby. Unfortunately, Tyler was against her today. He behaved like an angel.

“I know his name is Tyler. What’s his full name?”

Caitlin tapped her finger against her temple. “Figure it out, Andrew. My last name is Adams. I’m not married, therefore his name must be . . . Can you guess it yet? Tyler Adams.”

“There’s no need for all this sarcasm. I meant does he have a middle name?”

“Why all the interest? Since you’re not going to see him after today, what’s the difference?”

* * * *

Andrew bit back a retort. Since he had showed up without calling first, he had to make allowances. She was in shock. But if she thought he would accept the role of an absentee father, she had another shock coming.

“What makes you think I’m not going to see him again?”

“Because I said you’re not.”

He dismissed her statement with a wave of his hand.

“We can discuss that later.”

Caitlin shook her head.

“There will be no discussion, now or later. Leave us alone, Andrew. You’ve done enough damage.”

“What is his middle name?” Andrew asked again.

She mumbled the name under her breath and he raised his head to see her face.

“What?”

She brushed an imaginary spot off her shorts and looked away. A red blush highlighted her cheeks. “Andrew. His middle name is Andrew. Are you happy now?”

He returned his gaze to Tyler, who had fallen peacefully asleep, and smiled. “Yes. I’m happy now.”

“I’ll take him.”

“Show me where to put him.”

His authoritative tone left no room for disagreement. She shrugged and led him to the nursery. With more tenderness than he’d ever known he could feel, he lay the baby down in the crib. When he made no move to leave, Caitlin harrumphed and stormed out of the room.

As Andrew watched her retreat, he felt his body begin to stir. God, she was beautiful. Long, tan legs disappeared under the frayed edge of her cutoffs; her slim hips swayed with the anger of her footsteps. He recalled the sophisticated career woman he’d met last year and compared her to the barefoot beauty with a ponytail. Which was the real Caitlin Adams?

For a few minutes, he simply stood admiring the baby. His middle name is Andrew. Why did a woman who glared at him with such contempt still feel the need to give their child a part of his name?

When Andrew finally joined her in the living room, Caitlin was leaning against the front door, which she had opened wide for his exit. “So nice of you to drop by.”

He paused in front of her. “I’ll call you in a few days.”

Angry sparks danced in her green eyes.

“Am I not speaking clearly, or do you have too much wax in your ears? Don’t bother calling me. I will not return your calls.”

“Good-bye, Caitlin. You’ll be hearing from me.”

She slammed the door behind him.

Andrew pushed his hands into his pockets and walked to his car. He could have handled himself better, but he hadn’t expected to feel such an intense physical pull to her after all this time. Nor had he been prepared for the protective instincts his son had awakened in him. In a few days, when Caitlin accepted the idea that he planned to be a permanent part of Tyler’s life, he felt certain they could sit down and come to equitable terms about their own relationship as well.

TWO

Her sister had been after her for days to come visit and Caitlin was glad now that she had. Maggie’s house in East Hampton was a dream. Caitlin enjoyed the ride every bit as much as she enjoyed the view of the ocean from the back-yard patio.

Gazing out at the waves, Caitlin felt herself slowly starting to relax after days of tension. Andrew had left countess messages on her answering machine, but she’d answered none of them. He had a small case of conscience. He’d get over it.

“Caitlin, how come you won’t return Drew’s calls?” Maggie asked her over coffee.

So much for relaxing. “Whose side are you on?”

“You’re the last person I’d expected to ask me to choose.”

Caitlin looked away.

“I don’t like what he did, but it doesn’t change the fact that he is Tyler’s father,” Maggie said in a softer tone. “There are enough fatherless children in this world. If he wants to see his son, he has the right.”

Caitlin shook her head. “He has no rights.”

“Yes, he does, no matter how much you want to believe otherwise.”

“I know that this whole situation puts you in the middle. I’m sorry if it makes for friction between you and Erik.”

“Erik agrees with you. He thinks Drew’s getting just what he deserves.”

Caitlin placed her cup back on the table and sighed. “You make it sound like I’m doing this out of spite. I’m not. There’s nothing between us. There never was.”

“I don’t believe you. You felt something for him, or you never would have slept with him.”

Caitlin flushed. For over a year, she had coped by ignoring her hurt, by refusing to admit that she had felt anything beyond lust for Andrew. She had denied her feelings until they really had seemed to disappear. But seeing him again . . . she couldn’t let Maggie know how it had affected her.

“How do
you know?” she said. “You hadn’t seen me in nine years before you came to New York.”

Maggie’s expression reflected her sorrow.
“I didn’t have to see you. I thought about you every day after you left. I heard everything they said about you, but I knew it was lies. I used to get into fights at school defending you. You made my life bearable because I knew if you could get out, so could I.”

“That was a long time ago. People change,” Caitlin said.

“The color of their hair, the size of their clothes, perhaps. But not their basic nature. If you didn’t care about Andrew, he couldn’t have hurt you so much. Maybe he can’t make that up to you, but don’t punish Tyler, too. Let him know his daddy.”

“The same man who didn’t think you were good enough for his family? This is who Tyler should use as his role model?”

“He’s changed.”

“The color of his hair? The size of his clothes? Or his basic nature?” Caitlin threw back lightly.

Maggie laughed. “Shot down with my own ammunition. Will you think about it? For Tyler’s sake?”

“I’ll think about it.” And then I’ll dismiss the idea as ridiculous.

Apparently Maggie still believed in fairy tales. Valiant Prince Andrew was going to sweep in on his white steed and save the young peasant girl from a life of shame. Well, Caitlin had stopped believing in fairy tales about the same time she learned there was no Santa Claus.

She took another sip of her hazelnut coffee and sat back, determined to enjoy the view. Maggie started to say something, but stopped abruptly when the maid came out to the patio.

“Excuse me, but there’s a gentleman here to see you.”

“For me?” Maggie asked.

“No, ma’am. Miss Adams.”

Caitlin’s head shot up. She lifted her shoulders nervously. “Did he say what he wanted?”

The maid shrugged. “He said he was to speak to you personally.”

Caitlin rose and walked into the house. The young man was leaning against the wall near the door. He straightened when he saw her and read from the paper in front of him.

“Are you Miss Caitlin Adams?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“This is for you.”

She took the envelope from him and stared blankly.
“What is it?”

“Consider yourself served.”

Caitlin stared blankly after the young man as he left the house. Served? Why was she being served? She removed the contents from the envelope and started to read as Maggie came alongside her.

“That son of a . . . I’m gonna kill him.”

“What is it?” Maggie asked.

“Andrew Sinclair is suing me for custody of Tyler. I have to appear before a judge in family court.”