Emeralds, Rubies, and Camouflage (14 page)

Whenever he was near she didn’t feel anything. No hurt. No anger. Only a sadness that Amelia was going to have to eventually learn that Mommy and Daddy weren’t going to live together anymore. Myra and Bobby would have to alternate holidays and birthdays, shuttling their daughter back and forth
between homes. It wasn’t what she’d imagined life to be like but reality rarely lived up to dreams and fantasies.

Myra sat down on the picnic table bench so she could monitor Amelia playing. “I’m listening.”

Bobby came down to sit beside her, trying to place his hand on hers but she jerked it away. He’d done this too many times and she wouldn’t be patted on the head and placated as she had in
the past. He needed to stand up and own the crap he’d pulled.

Not for Myra’s sake but for Amelia’s. He owed his daughter an apology.

“I can see you’re mad.”

Ah, there it was. That whiny, petulant tone she knew so well. It was the one he used to get his own way.

Too bad.

“I’m not mad. I’m puzzled, really.” Myra kept her eyes on Amelia, playing happily with friends and completely unaware of
the unfolding drama. “What made you think it was okay to just up and leave your daughter? With nothing, I might add. You cleaned out every cent in our bank accounts, Bobby. Did you even think about how I was going to take care of our child? Did it even cross your mind?”

She’d managed to keep her voice even but anger burned in her gut when she thought of how callously he’d treated Amelia. He’d
only thought of himself.

“Geez, Myra. I made a mistake. A bad one. But I’m here now. Isn’t that something?”

“Not really,” she retorted, for the first time really seeing who Bobby was. A child in a man’s body. Not trapped because that would mean he was trying to get out. But instead he was quite comfortable in his infantile role. “You’re Amelia’s father. You’re supposed to be with her. You don’t
get bonus points for doing something you’re supposed to do. And what are you sorry for exactly? Leaving? Sending me a crappy text? Not talking to your daughter for months? Or the other myriad of things you’ve pulled in the past? Which is it?”

Bobby’s face turned a deep red and he shifted uncomfortably on the bench. “You’ve changed since I left, and not for the better. You were always busting
my balls about something.”

Myra was speechless with shock. “I let you get away with everything. I was the only grownup in our home.”

Shoving his hands into his shorts pockets, he stuck his chin out defiantly. “Every time I came home you practically met me at the door with a list of things you wanted me to do. It made me want to stay out on the road.”

Opening her mouth to defend herself, Myra
thought better of it. It wouldn’t change anything and it wasn’t like she wanted to get back together with him. She’d moved on and would never accept that kind of relationship again.

“We’re not getting anywhere here and blaming each other doesn’t solve the issue we have right now. Are you back in Florida to be some kind of a father to Amelia or are you just passing through?”

Bobby gazed down
at his shoes. “I’ve moved in with my folks. Trina and I broke up. Once the money was gone she moved on to another guy.”

Myra didn’t feel any of the satisfaction she thought she’d feel if she ever heard those words. Instead she wanted to roll her eyes and ask him what he’d thought was going to happen but she managed to keep the words to herself.

“So you’re back in Florida to stay?”

“It’s not
the whole reason I came back,” Bobby shrugged. “I knew you had someone asking questions about me. My boss called to warn me you were probably hunting me down for child support. Figured I might as well come back.”

“Your daughter missed you but you never called or anything. Did you miss her at all?” Myra asked almost desperately. Her taste in men sucked. Big.

“Sure. Sure I did. She’s really grown.
Looks a lot like you.”

Myra didn’t know whether to yell or cry. Not for herself but for Amelia. Her little girl was never going to have the father she deserved. If the past was any indication of the future Bobby would continually disappoint their daughter. Maybe not today, but surely time and time again.

“I’m very angry with you, Bobby,” Myra finally said as calmly as she could manage. She’d
kept quiet so many times before she wasn’t going to keep her feelings under wraps any more. “Even if you hated me you shouldn’t have done that to your daughter.”

“I shouldn’t have done that to you–” Bobby began but she cut him off with a wave of her hand.

“This isn’t about me. I’m fine. This is about you and your behavior. Taking ownership of the decisions you’ve made in the past and will make
in the future. I’ve covered for you with her all these months because I didn’t want her to hate you.” Taking a deep breath, Myra had to know one thing. “Let me ask you an important question. What do you want? How do you want this little drama to end? What’s success for you look like?”

Bobby looked up, a sheepish grin on his boyishly handsome face. She used to think he was incredibly good looking
but now she could see the weakness in his chin and the immaturity in the way he carried himself and dealt with others. It felt freeing to see the truth at last no matter what his answer was to her questions.

“I was kind of hoping we could go back to the way it was. You, me, and Amelia.” Bobby grabbed her hand and squeezed her fingers. “We had some good times. It wasn’t so bad, was it? We’re a
family, baby. A family.”

Myra’s gaze settled on her daughter playing on the swings with her friends. She’d do anything for Amelia, even sacrifice her own happiness.

But it wasn’t that simple.

Myra wanted to raise a strong, independent female. A woman that could stand on her own two feet and live on her own terms. What kind of message would she be sending Amelia if she forgave Bobby and they
went back to the way they’d been living? Eventually her daughter would grow older and see that her mother was unhappy and that her father didn’t treat Myra with respect.

“We need to sit down and figure out custody and child support. I’m willing to do this outside the court system if we can stay civil about it.”

A surge of strength ran through her body and she knew she’d made the right decision.
All these months the question of what she would do if she ever saw Bobby again had been weighing on her. Now it had melted away and she felt lighter, younger. Happier.

More at peace with her decision.

Bobby’s mouth was hanging open in surprise. He’d truly thought he could waltz back in, say he was sorry, and all would be forgiven. She’d go back to cooking and cleaning and he’d pick up where
he left off on his latest video game. It said nothing good about their relationship before.

“Shit, Myra, you’ve really turned cold. I just want to see Amelia now and then, you know, when I’m in town. I’ll be on the road most of the time. As for money, I’ll send you what I can. I owe some people.”

Myra choked back a bitter laugh. “Of course you do. Is that why you really came home?”

He flushed
again and hopped to his feet. “Let’s drop Amelia off at your house and then we can go get a cup of coffee or something. Talk everything out. It’ll all be good. What do you say?”

She didn’t bother correcting him that it was Holt’s house. Knowing Bobby as she did, he wasn’t going to be around long enough for it to matter. He liked to travel and move around – new places, new people. He’d wander
in and out of their lives and that was just who he was. It wasn’t bad and he wasn’t evil. It was easier to accept who he was without wishing he would change.

“How about we take our daughter for some ice cream? I want you to be able to spend as much time with her as you can before you leave again.”

Bobby tilted his head and looked at her for a long moment as if trying to decide if she was serious
or not. He must have decided she was because he jogged over to Amelia, lifting her onto his shoulders and spinning around until the little girl squealed with delight.

Myra could do this. She could put the past behind her while keeping Amelia’s happiness her number one priority. She might have to bite her tongue on occasion and hold her temper, but perhaps she and Bobby might end up as friends.

*

Holt finally heard
the front door open and the sound of Amelia’s voice drift through the office door where he’d been working until Beck had shown up about a half hour ago.

“See? She’s back. You can relax now.” Beck tossed a crumpled ball of paper at Holt and laughed. “You’ve barely listened to a word I’ve said the entire time I’ve been
here.”

“I’ve listened. You want to build a house or something, right?”

Holt stood, wanting to greet Myra when she walked through the door. She’d told him she’d come find him and he couldn’t wait to be found. He’d missed her all morning and he wasn’t too macho to admit it.

He was in love. And damn did it feel good.

“Something like that. Do I need to make myself scarce now that your woman is
home? I wouldn’t want to cramp your style or anything.”

Holt grinned at his brother who was already moving toward the office door. “I’d tell you to get the hell out but I’m too polite. Besides, while Amelia is awake we won’t have much alone time so you might as well stay.”

Beck flung open the door with a laugh. “Then I will hang around. Maybe Amelia would like to go riding with her future Uncle
Beckett.”

Holt thought that sounded like an excellent idea but he’d have to clear it with Myra first. There was also the chance that Amelia would be spending some time with Bobby.

When Holt and Beck entered the foyer it was only Bobby standing there studying an old black and white photo of Holt’s parents. Myra and Amelia were nowhere to be found.

“Where’s Myra and Amelia?” Holt asked, eyeing
Bobby dubiously. He wasn’t sure he trusted the laid back man after what the PI had told him. Bobby liked fast women and playing poker. Unfortunately he didn’t do the latter well. He owed a few people in Vegas.

“They went upstairs so Amelia could change. She got pretty dirty at the park. We’re taking her for ice cream.”

We?

Beck extended his hand to Bobby. “I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Beckett,
Holt’s brother.”

“Bobby. Nice to meet you. Do you live here too?”

“No, I have a condo at the beach actually.” Although Beck had said mere minutes ago that he wanted to sell it.

Bobby’s expression brightened. “Wow, that must be awesome. I’d love to have a little place on the beach. Just me, Myra, and Amelia. Maybe a dog too.”

What the hell?

Beck elbowed Holt but kept his attention on Bobby.
“Nothing like man’s best friend. So you’re thinking about a family home? Prices aren’t too bad right now.”

“At least a three bedroom,” Bobby replied with a wide smile. “I think Myra wants more kids.”

Holt almost choked on his spit. Bobby was making future plans with the woman Holt loved. Had Myra already changed her mind now that Bobby had returned?

“So you two are back together?” Beck asked,
his voice booming in the silence and bouncing off the high ceiling. “Myra is a wonderful woman.”

Bobby grinned, his chest puffed out with pride. “Some things are meant to be.”

Myra’s ex sounded way too confident and Holt wanted to smash his fist in the man’s pretty boy face. He couldn’t believe that last night meant nothing to her.

“I have work to do.” The pain in Holt’s heart made it hard
to breathe and the last thing he wanted to do was watch Myra and Amelia leave with this dipshit. “I’ll be in the office.”

Holt quickly turned on his heel and retreated behind the closed door, falling heavily into the leather chair. Leaning back, he stared at the ceiling until the door opened and Beck came into join him.

“Are you okay?”

Holt shrugged, determined to ignore the pain of betrayal
that was growing larger with each passing minute. He’d thought they had something together.

He’d thought she loved him too. That this time was going to be different.

“I’m fine. I just have a lot of work to do.”

He swallowed hard, trying to dislodge the lump that had somehow taken up residence in his throat. If he’d been thinking straight he wouldn’t be this hurt. This disappointed. He would
have been guarding his heart the entire time. But he’d let Myra in and now he was paying the price.

“There’s always plenty of work, brother. And I can tell you’re not okay.”

“Then why did you ask?” Holt stared unseeingly at the screen of his laptop. “Listen, I’m fine. I never believed that she was serious about me. I’m just disappointed that I won’t get to have sex with her anymore. That’s all.”

Beck whistled and sat across from Holt. “You were only in it for the sex then? Smart. Women are fine but you can’t really trust them. They’re mostly just after a man’s wallet. Then his dick. Use ’em and keep them in their place. That’s what I always say.”

“You sound like Dane used to. And I’ve never heard you say any of that.” Holt raised his gaze so he was looking his brother in the eye. “Myra’s
not like that.”